Bun thang – the true taste of Hanoi

Talking about Hanoi’s rice noodle dishes which have captured the hearts of not only Vietnamese gourmets but also many foreign travelers, there are a long list with different names such as Snail rice noodles, Crab rice noodles, Beef rice noodles, etc. Among them, Bun thang has long been a symbolic image of an elegant gift as well as the most delicate dish of Hanoi cuisine.

Bun thang (Hot rice noodle soup) - an elegant gift of Hanoi cuisine
Bun thang – an elegant gift of Hanoi cuisine

Bun thang has appeared in the food culture of Hanoi capital for a very long time. This well-known rice noodle was originated from a kind of soup named “thượng thang”. A bowl of Bun thang contains not less than twenty ingredients; including dried shrimp, chicken, Gio lua, egg, onion, a little bit Belostomatid essence and other spices. These main ingredients are traditional foods of Tet holiday. A resourceful woman can make use of leftover foods to cook a delicious bowl of Bun thang. As a result this dish is a great suggestion for your meal. It also expresses the ingenuity, frugality of Hanoi old women. Visit Hanoi with Indochina travel

 

A traditional bowl of Bun thang contains not less than twenty ingredients
A traditional bowl of Bun thang contains not less than twenty ingredients

If you have a chance to enjoy Bun thang in Hanoi, you will find out that this dish is attractive thanks to both its flavor and its appearance. You can see all the ingredients on the bowl as an iridescent flower. But don’t forget to mention “mam tom” (shrimp paste). It is a special spice that makes bun thang different from a variety of rice noodles in Vietnam. A guest once commented that eating bun thang without shrimp paste like enjoying Pho lacks of broth. Vietnam tours

 

“Mắm tôm” - a special spice of Bun thang
“Mam tom” – a special spice of Bun thang

In Hanoi, there are so many address famous with Bun Thang  for foreign travelers to enjoy this popular street food.

  • 59  Hang Luoc, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • 144 D2 Giang Vo, Dong Da, Hanoi
  • 28 Lieu Giai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

 

A bowl of Bun thang appears like an attractive iridescent flower
A bowl of Bun thang appears like an attractive iridescent flower

Although you can find Bun thang in almost every place in Vietnam, it is one of the most popular yet hidden fares in Hanoi. Enjoying a bowl of Bun thang at a street vendor in Hanoi, many people can surprisingly still fit in the two storey old house behind the stall. It is going to be an interesting experience in this unique capital city.

The Indochina Voyages team.

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