Mention Hanoi Pho, and familiar names instantly come to mind. Icons like Pho Khoi Hoi, Pho Ho Loi, and Pho Bat Dan dominate. Pho Tu Lun, Pho Suong, and Pho Lam also draw massive crowds. Each shop boasts its own recipe and unique flavor. Their dining rooms always buzz with customers. Prices remain quite similar, usually ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 Dong. Some locations even charge nearly 100,000 Dong a bowl.
Yet, in mid-2026, soaring costs make price hikes completely inevitable. Despite this economic pressure, a hidden shop in Alley 1 of Kham Thien Street shocks everyone. They serve Pho for just 23,000 Dong. An iced tea costs a mere 2,000 Dong.
Kham Thien Street sits close to downtown Hanoi, not in a remote area. This central location makes these low prices incredibly rare. Recently, young people began recommending Tuyet Thuc Pho to one another. They treat this spot like pure gold during this raging price storm.
This Pho shop in Alley 1 of Kham Thien Street stuns many with a 23,000-Dong bowl and 2,000-Dong iced tea.
That is Tuyet Thuc Pho shop.
The shop opened in 2003. Now over 20 years old, it matches the age of many Gen Z youths. According to the owner, a bowl cost just 3,000 to 4,000 Dong in the early days. Prices then crept up to 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, and 20,000 Dong. Around seven years ago, rising electricity costs forced a shift to 23,000 Dong. The price has remained frozen ever since.
A weathered space, yet warm like grandparents’ home
The shop’s space is simple, yet cozy and neat.
Operating right from home, the shop captures the exact atmosphere of a family kitchen. Inside, a few wooden, stainless steel, and plastic tables sit in neat rows. The floor is spotless. The tabletops are thoroughly wiped. On the wall hang a round clock, a TV, and a wooden cabinet holding everything from motorcycle helmets to teddy bears. Nothing here is luxurious or fancy, yet it brings a strangely comforting familiarity.
Dining inside, guests feel as if they are sitting in their own grandparents’ home.
A 23,000-Dong bowl of Pho remains shockingly hearty
I ordered a bowl of rare and flank beef. The beef was fresh and the flank tender, with six to seven slices in total. The bowl came loaded with green onions, white onions, and cilantro. The portion of noodles was surprisingly large, never skimping despite the 23,000-Dong price.
The broth is clear and light, never too fatty or greasy. The cook seasons it with a touch of MSG. If you prefer otherwise, you can ask the owner to leave it out. Overall, this easy-to-enjoy soup suits almost any palate.
Packed with green onions, white onions, and cilantro, the bowl offers a generous portion of rice noodles.
The shop’s fried dough sticks are soft, priced at a mere 5,000 Dong a plate.
At first, I thought a 23,000-Dong bowl would just be a novelty. Yet, finishing the entire soup, the fried dough, and the iced tea left me completely full.
For just 30,000 Dong, I enjoyed a complete breakfast right in downtown Hanoi. Granted, it is hard to compare this to the 50,000 or 70,000-Dong bowls at famous establishments. However, when weighing the quality, portion size, and price, this is truly an exceptional value.
The beef cuts, both the rare and flank, were quite fresh and tender.
For over two decades, the shop never needed flashy advertising. It never once appeared on famous food review websites. Even Google Maps holds virtually no information or ratings. Yet, they quietly serve customers every single day without fail.
Social media recently exposed the secret, bringing influxes of younger crowds. Still, the shop’s timeless rhythm remains completely unchanged. The owner offers no aggressive welcomes or loud solicitations. She softly takes orders and prepares each bowl with slow, deliberate care.
Inside this narrow alley, time seemingly stands still. That 23,000-Dong bowl delivers something far deeper than just a full stomach.
Photo: Bich Ngoc/Kenh 14
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Source: Vietnam Insider