The short answer
Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh: what visitors should know first
Go if you want a straightforward bowl of cao lau in a relaxed, semi-open setting and you eat pork. It is not a vegetarian stop. Look carefully for the alley entrance, as one guide calls it easy to miss.
Useful facts
Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh facts at a glance
- Location
- 687 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ancient Town alley
- Dining style
- Simple, semi-open eatery with lanterns
- Price signal
- About 40,000 dong a dish per Wikivoyage; check current prices
- Signature order
- Try: cao lau with roast pork
- Good for
- A quick local lunch for meat-eaters
Why it matters
Why Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh is worth your time
Cao lau is the dish most closely tied to Hoi An, and an eatery that does little else gives a good test of it. This one appears on three independent pages we opened, which is a better signal than a single review.
It is also a low-cost meal in a town where restaurant prices run higher near the river. For an older traveller, a short, seated, one-bowl lunch is easy to fit between sights without a long wait. Vegetarians should look at the other listings in this guide instead, as no source describes a meat-free option here.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Cao lau with roast pork
One guide found the pork thicker and fattier than at other cao lau shops.
- 02
Short menu
Wikivoyage also lists wonton noodles, dumplings and chicken rice.
- 03
Easy to miss
The entrance is an alley, so check the street number first.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Order the cao lau, the Hoi An noodle dish of thick, chewy noodles with roast pork, herbs and greens. Will Fly for Food chose this place for value and for portions it found larger than elsewhere, with thicker, fattier slices of roast pork. Wikivoyage gives a similar price of about 40,000 dong a bowl, though it adds that some visitors find the portions small, so opinions differ.
The menu is short. Wikivoyage also names wonton noodles, white rose-style dumplings and chicken rice, while Intentional Travelers praises the grilled pork with vermicelli. Ask about spice and about any ingredient you avoid before ordering, as the dishes are pork- and meat-led.
The setting is an open, plain space with trees and paper lanterns. Take the Hai Ba Trung Street number to a map before you walk, because the alley entrance is easy to pass.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Confirm the street number before you set off
- Ask about spice and ingredients before ordering
- Allow a short stop of under an hour
- Skip it if you avoid pork
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- 687 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ancient Town (in an alley)
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Best time
- Lunch or early evening, off the peak hour
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Seating is simple and semi-open under trees, so it can feel warm at midday. The approach is through an alley, which is flat but easy to miss; keep the address handy.
- Tickets and access
- No booking is usual for a small noodle eatery. One guide lists hours of about 09:30 to 21:00 daily; confirm locally before a special trip.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Seating is simple and semi-open under trees, so it can feel warm at midday. The approach is through an alley, which is flat but easy to miss; keep the address handy.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is it vegetarian?
No source we opened describes a vegetarian dish here, and cao lau is made with pork. Vegetarians should eat elsewhere.
How much does a bowl cost?
Wikivoyage gives about 40,000 dong a dish, and Intentional Travelers a similar figure. Prices change, so check on the day.
Is it easy to find?
Not always. It is in an alley off 687 Hai Ba Trung Street and one guide calls it easy to miss.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
