When it comes to noodles, Vietnam takes the “all-day, every-day” approach. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, noodles are a staple of Vietnamese cuisine, offering a world of flavors and textures for foodies to explore. Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Vietnamese noodles and discover some must-try dishes during your visit.
Main Types of Vietnamese Noodles
Phở (Steamed Flat Rice Noodles)
Phở noodles are made from rice and have a flat and rectangular shape, making them more substantial for heartier meals. You may be familiar with the delicate soup called phở bò or phở gà, which is widely enjoyed for breakfast across the country. In addition to the soup, you can also try stir-fried and fresh roll dishes featuring phở noodles when visiting Hanoi.
Bún (Steamed Round Rice Noodles)
Bún is highly versatile and offers a hint of sourness from the steaming process, which complements Vietnam’s savory and sweet dipping sauces perfectly. These thin and round snow-white noodles are commonly found in iconic noodle soups and are often paired with grilled meat in noodle salads and spring rolls.
Miến (Dried Glass Noodles)
Miến refers to clear glass noodles or vermicelli in Vietnam. These thin and cylindrical noodles have a slightly chewy texture. You can enjoy miến in soups like miến gà (glass noodles with chicken), as a base in dishes like miến lươn trộn (dry glass noodles with crispy eel), or even as a filling for deep-fried snacks like bánh gối (pillowy pork and mushroom empanadas).
Mì (Wheat or Egg Noodles)
Mì, also known as thin wheat noodles, are often mixed with egg yolk to add a yellow color. These noodles are commonly used in dishes like mì vằn thắn, a Vietnamese wonton noodle soup that combines steaming green onion and shallot broth, char siu pork, and sliced boiled eggs.
Cooking Techniques and Preparation
Noodle Salads
When the weather gets hot, Vietnamese cuisine offers refreshing noodle dishes with an abundance of crisp herbs and greens. For a satisfying summer lunch, try bún chả or bún thịt nướng. These dishes feature grilled pork on a bed of dry bún noodles, accompanied by shredded lettuce, sprigs of herbs, and a light fish sauce dressing.
Noodle Soups
Vietnam is famous for its phở bò, but the world of Vietnamese noodle soups goes beyond just phở. Don’t miss out on the flavorsome bún bò Huế, hủ tiếu Nam Vang, and bún riêu. Vietnamese noodle soups are usually seasoned to taste at the table, with lime, chili, and aromatic herbs.
Noodle Rolls
Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its small rolls packed with big flavors. Fresh noodles play a crucial role in mouthwatering rolls such as nem lụi, bò bía, and gỏi cuốn. These rolls often feature fresh fish, either fried or grilled, along with noodles and an array of vegetables designed for hand-rolling and dipping in fish sauce.
Fried Noodles
Stir-fried noodles, known as mì xào, are popular in Vietnam. Cooked with the freshest vegetables and sautéed alongside onions, meat, or seafood, these noodles are garnished with coriander leaves and served with chili-infused soy sauce. For a unique fried noodle experience, try phở chiên phồng, which features deep-fried squares of pho noodles topped with cooked tomatoes, choy sum, beef, and gravy.
One-of-a-Kind Noodle Dishes
Mì Quảng
Originating from the Quảng Nam region in Central Vietnam, Mì Quảng noodles are truly unique. Each bowl consists of wide, flat rice noodles, a peanut-infused broth, sliced pork, boiled shrimp, fresh lettuce, quail eggs, and sesame rice crackers. Look for Mì Quảng in the alleyways and restaurants of Đà Nẵng and Hội An.
Bánh Đa Đỏ
Thin, flexible, and chewy, Bánh Đa Đỏ is a rectangular noodle delight originating from Hải Phòng City along the northern coastline. These noodles have a distinct brown color, thanks to a special combination of caramel and gấc fruit powder. You can enjoy them with a crab and tomato or fish and dill broth at eateries in Northern Vietnam.
Bánh Canh
For a taste of thick tapioca noodles, try bánh canh. While less famous than other Vietnamese noodles, bánh canh is worth a try for its delightful slippery texture. It is often prepared with pork knuckles, sausage, and crab meat in many parts of Vietnam. In the Mekong Delta region, bánh canh soup is a nourishing breakfast option made with freshwater fish, delicate fish bone broth, and gently cooked herbs.
Cao Lầu
Authentic cao lầu can only be found in the former trading port of Hội An. These udon-like noodles are traditionally dipped in mineral-rich water from the local well, giving them a unique texture and flavor. Cao lầu noodles are served with a savory sauce infused with lemongrass, topped with roasted pork slices, and accompanied by bean sprouts and leafy greens.
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