The old house of Cantonese cooking
Tan Hai Van is the old Cantonese house on Nguyen Trai — a deep-jade dining hall where Peking duck is served two ways, Hong Kong-style tofu steams on porcelain plates, and dim sum has been pleated the same way for decades.
Why Tan Hai Van earns a visit
Four things make Tan Hai Van: Peking duck served two ways, Hong Kong-style tofu, dim sum pleated the old way, and a jade dining hall that has not chased trends.
Photos: Tan Hai Van / Google Maps · 10/2026
The dishes that tell the story
Three glimpses from the Tan Hai Van table — described so you can picture them, never priced.
Peking duck, two ways
Crisp skin first, then the second course — the duck ritual of the old house.
Hong Kong-style tofu
Silky steamed tofu on porcelain — the quiet Cantonese classic.
The jade dining hall
Deep jade, old gold — the Nguyen Trai room built for the long run.
The Tan Hai Van story
Three glimpses of Tan Hai Van — the old house, the duck ritual, and Nguyen Trai.
Old Cantonese institution
Deep jade, old gold — Tan Hai Van plates old Cantonese at the level Nguyen Trai expects, unchanged for decades.
Served two ways
Crisp skin first, then the second course — the duck ritual of the old house.
A District 1 address
On Nguyen Trai in Ben Thanh — lunch and dinner seatings daily.
Finding Tan Hai Van
Everything you need for an old Cantonese meal in District 1.
Address
158-164 Nguyen Trai, District 1
Daily 10:00–22:00
hours as published by the restaurant