Joanna James
If you love Vietnamese food, chances are you’ve already tried pho. After all, it’s the most famous Vietnamese noodle soup. But Vietnam also has a whole lot of other noodle dishes you should try.
If you’re used to spicy flavours, Bun Bo Hue is a must-try. It comes from Hue, which is a city known for its royal cuisine and spicy food. This is a noodle soup, but entirely different from pho. The broth here is richer, darker, and has a kick of heat thanks to chilli and lemongrass. But the real difference comes from the fermented shrimp paste that gives the soup a deep umami punch. The noodles are thicker and rounder than pho noodles, which means they hold the broth really well. Floating in there, you’ll find slices of beef and pork hock. Some vendors like to add congealed pig’s blood cubes. It’s hearty and packed with flavour. If you’re an adventurous foodie, you should definitely give Bun Bo Hue a try.
Another totally different experience, Bun Rieu is popular in northern and central Vietnam. Its broth is the star, made from crab paste and tomatoes. It’s a soup with both sour and sweet notes and has a beautiful bright red colour. The noodles here are thin rice vermicelli, similar to pho, but the toppings are different. You’ll get crab meat or crab cakes, fried tofu, and sometimes even freshwater snails. What most people love about Bun Rieu is the fresh herbs and shredded banana flower served on the side, which you can add yourself. Now, while you’re on the subject of dining in Vietnam – how would you like a dining experience accompanied by luxury, comfort, and gorgeous scenery? Check out The Vietage by Anantara, a name that always pops up when it comes to Vietnam train travel.
This isn’t for everyone, but if you’re the adventurous type, you should try Bun Mam. It has an exceedingly fermented fish flavour, which can be described as intense. However, if you love bold flavours, you’d love this dish. It comes from southern Vietnam. The dish is particularly famous in the region around the Mekong Delta, where fermented fish sauce is a kitchen staple. The broth is salty and sour, underlined with umami flavour. Typically served with rice vermicelli noodles and seafood like shrimp, squid, fish, fresh herbs, and veggies, the dish hits all the right notes. Brace yourself for the smell – it can be quite strong – but once you get past it, you’re in for a delicious treat.
This is one of the dishes you don't see a lot outside of Vietnam, but once you try it, it’s hard to forget. It’s from Quang Nam province in central Vietnam and is quite like a noodle salad with a small amount of broth. The noodles are wide and flat, usually made with turmeric, which gives them a lovely yellow colour. Made with pork and shrimp and infused with herbs and peanuts, the broth is lighter than most noodle soups. Toppings of rice crackers, fresh herbs, and shredded banana flower are absolutely delicious. Mi Quang is a great choice if you want a break from all the soupy noodle dishes.
Highly popular in regions like Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, Hu Tieu is another noodle dish tourists come to love. This one is versatile because it comes with different types of noodles – it could be rice noodles or egg noodles. It’s much lighter than most other noodle dishes but doesn’t slack when it comes to flavours. Toppings usually include pork, shrimp, squid, and sometimes quail eggs. The best thing is that you get to customise the dish with hoisin sauce, chilli, lime, and fresh herbs at the table.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
