Vietnamese noodles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vietnamese noodles

A bowl of phở
Type	Noodle
Place of origin	Vietnam
Variations	Many

Imagine a world where noodles are a super important part of almost every meal! That's what it's like in Vietnam. Vietnamese food uses lots of different kinds of noodles. You'll often find them swimming in tasty soups, but they're also served on their own or stir-fried. These noodles come in all shapes, sizes, and textures, making Vietnamese cuisine exciting and full of flavor.

What are Vietnamese Noodles?

Vietnamese noodles are a big part of the country's cooking. They can be found fresh (called tươi) or dried (called khô). Each type of noodle has its own special texture and is used in different dishes.

Popular Noodle Types

• Bánh canh: These are thick noodles. They are made from a mix of rice flour and tapioca flour, or sometimes wheat flour. They look a bit like Japanese udon noodles.
  • Bánh canh bột lọc: This version is made only from tapioca flour.
• Bánh phở: These are flat rice noodles. They come in many different widths. You can find them in the famous phở soup or in stir-fried dishes.
• Bún: These are thin rice vermicelli noodles. They have different thicknesses and textures.
• Cellophane noodles: Also known as miến, bún tàu, or bún tào. These are thin, clear "glass" noodles. They are made from the starch of the dzong plant.
• Mì: These noodles are made from wheat flour. They can be either white or yellow.
• Bánh đa: These are red noodles. They are a special ingredient in Bánh đa cua, a crab noodle dish from Hải Phòng.
• Nui: This is Vietnam's version of macaroni. The name comes from the French word nouille (noodle).

Delicious Noodle Dishes

Vietnamese cuisine has many amazing dishes that feature these noodles. Here are some of the most famous ones:

Dishes with Bún (Rice Vermicelli)

• Bún bò Huế: This is a famous spicy noodle soup from Huế. It has rice vermicelli in a beef broth. It's flavored with beef, lemon grass, and other yummy ingredients.
• Bún riêu: A rice vermicelli soup with meat, tofu, and tomatoes.
  • Bún riêu cua: This version is made with crab.
  • Bún riêu cá: This one uses fish.
• Bún chả cá: A vermicelli soup with tasty fried fishcake.
• Bún thịt nướng: This is a cold noodle dish. It has bún noodles with grilled pork. It's often served with fresh herbs and a dipping sauce.
• Bún bò Nam Bộ: This dish features stir-fried bún noodles with beef. It's topped with roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, and a special sauce.

Dishes with Mì (Wheat Noodles)

• Cao lầu: A special noodle dish from Hội An. It uses yellow wheat flour noodles in a small amount of broth. It's served with different meats and herbs.
• Mì Quảng: Another signature noodle dish, this one from Quảng Nam. It also uses yellow wheat flour noodles in a small amount of broth, with various meats and herbs.

Dishes with Bánh Phở (Flat Rice Noodles)

• Phở: This is probably the most famous Vietnamese noodle soup! It uses bánh phở noodles in a rich broth made from beef and spices.
• Phở xào: This is a stir-fried dish using bánh phở noodles.

Dishes with Bánh Canh (Thick Noodles)

• Bánh canh cua: A thick noodle soup with crab.

Dishes with Hủ Tiếu (Chewy Noodles)

• Hủ tiếu Nam Vang: A popular noodle soup.
• Hủ tiếu khô: This is a stir-fried version of bánh hủ tiếu noodles with a special sauce.

Noodle Rolls

• Gỏi cuốn: Also called "summer rolls" or "salad rolls." These are cold rolls with different ingredients, including bún noodles. They are wrapped in moist dry rice paper.
• Phở cuốn: These are "Pho rolls." They are cold rolls with ingredients like Pho noodles, beef, lettuce, and coriander. They are wrapped in moist fresh rice paper.