Top Vietnamese Soups to Savor on Your Vietnam Tour

Pho – The most famous Vietnamese Soup

This is very simply the most famous noodle soup from Vietnam, which could either be in beef flavor, then called pho bo, or chicken flavor, then called pho ga. The broth, which has been prepared through simmering bones, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon for several hours, provides the aromatic and flavorful treat. Served with flat rice noodles, this iconic dish gets completed with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime, and chili.

Where to try:

• Hanoi: Pho Gia Truyen restaurant (49 Bát Đàn Street) serves the most authentic beef phở in Hanoi. With over 5000 google reviews and 4.3 star rating they have a trust factor backing them.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Pho Le restaurant (413-415 Nguyễn Trãi Street) provides oldies but goldies.
• Price Estimate: 30,000–50,000 VND ($1.30–$2.20) per serving.

Bun Bo Hue – Spicy Beef Noodle Soup from Hue

Originated in the imperial city of Hue, it is well known for its spicy broth and lemongrass flavor and thicker round rice noodles. The soup features beef shank and pork knuckles and is usually topped with lime, cilantro, and banana blossoms.

Where to Try:

• Hue: Bun Bo Hue Me Keo (20 Bạch Đằng Street) is a local favorite.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Bun Bo Hue Dong Ba restaurant (140 Nguyễn Gia Trí) serves authentic flavors.

Price: 40.000–60.000 VND ($1.70–$2.60) per bowl.

Bun Rieu – Crab and Tomato Noodle Soup

Bún Riêu has a sour broth made from tomato, crab paste, tofu, and rice vermicelli. It's finished with fresh herbs and a solidified pig's blood for the truly adventurous eater.

Where to Try:

• Hanoi: Bún riêu Cô Hoàn Hàng Lược restaurant (near Hoan Kiem Lake) comes highly recommended.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Bún Riêu Gánh restaurant (163 Lê Thánh Tôn) offers a great experience. It's affordable and we personally loved the service and overall taste of Bun Rieu we got here.

Price: 25,000–40,000 VND ($1.10–$1.70) per bowl.

Hu Tieu – Southern-Style Noodle Soup

Hủ Tiếu is the super popular noodle soup all over the Southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City. The broth is light, savory sauce which might include pork, seafood, and various vegetables. It comes with either chewy tapioca-based noodles or more delicate rice-flour one.

Where to Try:

• Ho Chi Minh City: Nhan Restaurant. Service was pretty quick with traditional seating. It's not a premium restaurant but a perfect place to try delicious Hu Tieu.

Price: about 35.000-55.000 VND ($1.50-$2.40) for a bowl.

Mi Quang – Turmeric Noodle Soup from Quang Nam

Mì Quảng is a special dish in Quang Nam province, which consists of turmeric-flavored rice noodles, a small amount of rich broth, and toppings such as shrimp, pork, quail eggs, and peanuts. Sesame rice crackers are served with it along with the fresh herbs.

Where to Try:

• Hội An: Mì Quảng Bà Minh restaurant (Ngọc Thành). It has a near perfect google rating of 4.9 stars and we absolutely love the Mi Quang we were served there!

Price: about 30.000 -50.000 VND ($1.30-$2.20) for a bowl.

Banh Canh – Thick Noodle Soup

Thick, chewy noodles made either from tapioca or tapioca-rice flour blend. Again, regional broths vary, but most popular ones include Bánh Canh Cua (crab) and Bánh Canh Giò Heo (pork hock).

Where to Try:

• Ho Chi Minh City: Bánh Canh Cua 14 restaurant at 223A Trần Bình Trọng Street is a local favorite. With over 2000 generally positive google reviews the Banh Canh served there was one of the best we tried in Vietnam!

Price Estimate: 30,000–45,000 VND ($1.30–$1.90) per serving.

Bun Cha – Grilled Pork with Noodles

This isn't really a soup; bear with me. This Hanoi delicacy (which I tried while on a Hanoi walking tour) consists only of grilling pork patties and slabs of meat served over rice vermicelli, fresh herbs, and a side of dipping sauce. It is so good that I had to include it in the list because it is that good!

Where to Try:

• Hanoi: Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant at 24 Lê Văn Hưu Street gained great fame because of its visit from President Obama which explains the insane amount of reviews on google and tripadvisor totaling more than 11000!

Price Estimate: 40,000–60,000 VND ($1.70–$2.60) per serving.

Tips for Trying Vietnamese Soups

• Etiquette: Slurp your noodles. Trust me, it's alright. That is how you know you're enjoying your food.

• Fresh Herbs: If they give it to you, it's meant to be used. Get a handful of herbs and squeeze a slice of lime into your bowl.

• Spice Levels: Chili is on the side most of the time, so go easy with it if you are not big on heat.

• Timing: Traditionally, soups like pho and bun bo Hue are breakfast items. Of course, you can find these soups anytime throughout the day, but to have the most fresh experience, go early in the morning.

• Street Food Areas: Some of the best bowls have come from street stalls. Where large crowds of people are eating, the food is always good.
  

Travel Tips for Lovers of Vietnamese Soup

If you love soup and you travel through Vietnam, dive deep into the culture of Vietnamese soup; here are some practical tips that will help you explore this world of food.

• Always keep small denomination bills with you because street foods deal mainly in cash, and you will need the small denomination notes to buy quickly, ranging from 10.000 to 50.000 VND.

• Language Barrier: Knowing a few words of Vietnamese will help. Try these:

• “Pho bo, lam on” - Beef pho, please

• “Khong cay” - No spice

• “Cam on” - Thank you

• Regional varieties: Flavor profiles of soups vary quite a bit from north to center to south. Take, for example, the Hanoi version of Pho, which is less sweet when compared to that served in Ho Chi Minh City. Pair them up with local drinks-such as fresh sugarcane juice or iced Vietnamese coffee-to make the entire meal complete.

• Timings: Pho Gia Truyen in Hanoi is always packed, so breakfast time from 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM could get very busy. For Bun Bo Hue, try to have it for lunch in Hue. The best timings for lunch will fall between 11.00 AM and 2.00 PM.

• Serving Size: Most Vietnamese soups are big in serving size, but it's recommended to share a few bowls with your fellow travelers in order not to get full but to try more instead.

OTHER IDEAS FOR SOUVENIRS FOR THE SOUP LOVERS

Have you fallen in love with Vietnamese Soups? Bring a piece of it home! These will include concentrated soup or spice kits, which can be found in several markets like Ben Thanh and Tan Dinh in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Vietnamese Cookbooks: See recipes on how to make genuinely authentic Phở and Bún Riêu at home.

• Specialty Noodles: Find a local store where you can purchase dried rice noodles or bún.
  

Frequently Asked Questions About Vietnamese Soups

• Q1: When is the best time for foodies to visit Vietnam?
  A1: Generally, Vietnam is considered an all-year destination for foodies, but the best time for a visit to Vietnam would be in spring-that is, March-April-and autumn-that is, September-November-when the weather remains pleasant to stroll around the street food and local markets.

• Q2: Do vegetarians stand a chance to relish Vietnamese soups?
  A2: Absolutely! Many places offer vegetarian pho or bún chay-vegetable broth with tofu. Look out for signs reading “Chay” outside vegetarian-friendly restaurants.

• Q3: Is street food hygienic for tourists?
  A3: In general, yes. The busiest stalls undergo quick turnover, at least of customers. Just stick to cooked-to-order dishes, and avoid raw garnishes if you are really concerned about hygiene.

• Q4: How spicy is Vietnamese soup?
  A4: The broth of most soups is fairly mild; the spiciness is added according to one's taste. Normally, chili paste or fresh chilies are added by the person eating them.
  And if you have had enough of spices then why not try the best desserts of Vietnam!

• Q5: How much does a bowl of soup cost?
  A5: A bowl of soup in Vietnam costs about 30,000–60,000 VND ($1.30–$2.60). For other special variations or if sold in high-starred restaurants, you may have to pay a little more.

• Q6: Is it possible to take part in cooking classes about soup in Vietnam?
  A6: Of course! The bigger cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An do offer cooking classes and allow guests to understand how to make phở and bún riêu, among others. These types of classes cost higher and range from $20–$50 for one session.