is hanoi tourist-friendly like hcmc? i mean like, for e.g. in hcmc, most rstnt/eatery menus have english translation for tourists
In really depends on the area you are talking about.
The old quarters are very "tourist friendly" though some vendors can be irritating.
Do not expect places with good local food to have english translation. Most importantly, reputable places with good local food should have prices written on the menus, or even more simplistically, a board with/without photos on the wall for all to see. If you look blur, some nice vietnamese might talk to you in english if they realize you have trouble understand the shopkeepers. As said, there is no harm trying to ask young vietnamese people around you. The standard of english is surprisingly decent nowadays.
