Vietnamese noodle soups captivate American tourists.

When it comes to Vietnamese cuisine, foreigners often only know about pho. But according to Alison Spiegel, an American journalist, it would be a mistake to overlook the following equally delicious noodle dishes:

It was a day Alison and her husband had just arrived in Vietnam, and the air was a little chilly. The couple eagerly began their street food tour, starting with bun cha (grilled pork patties with vermicelli). She still remembers them sitting on green plastic chairs, savoring the dipping sauce that generously coated the delicious patties. These patties were made from marinated pork, grilled over charcoal, creating a very distinctive aroma. Two types of patties were served: meatballs and sliced ​​patties, accompanied by vermicelli and various herbs. For Alison, nothing could be more appetizing. “We ate and felt truly happy. This was definitely one of the best dishes we’ve ever tasted,” Alison said.

Hanoi's bun cha, the most captivating dish in both winter and summer. Photo: Tourinhanoi.

After that first time, the couple decided to eat it again. However, this time she mistook it for "fish noodle soup," thinking it was "grilled pork noodle soup." "Just one letter 'h' missing, but it gave us a wonderful experience," she shared. Alison learned that fish noodle soup originates from Nha Trang city and the South Central provinces. The delicious broth, made from boiled pork or chicken, is poured over a bowl of noodles already arranged with fried fish pieces, onions, dill, and, of course, tomatoes. "Like many other Vietnamese dishes, fish noodle soup also uses many herbs to enhance the flavor, and that's a characteristic feature of Vietnamese cuisine," Alison said.

Fish noodle soup with taro stems

In Hanoi, Alison and her husband also had the chance to enjoy Vietnam's most iconic dish: pho. "My husband calls pho 'flat noodles'," Alison says with a laugh, referring to the two signature flavors: beef and chicken. The broth, with its essential spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves, onion, and ginger, is poured over a bowl of rice noodles topped with thinly sliced ​​beef, and garnished with bean sprouts, scallions, and herbs. Pho is a popular breakfast choice for most Vietnamese, although it's so delicious you could eat it at any time of day.

According to Alison, Vietnam is very different from the West in that, when it comes to street food, Western tourists often think of dishes that can be taken away like hotdogs or tacos. But in Vietnam, most street food is soup-based, requiring diners to sit in one place and savor it slowly. The dishes always have multiple layers of flavor and texture, along with a blend of various herbs, ensuring that diners never get tired of the taste.

During their trip, Alison and her husband were determined to try Hue-style beef noodle soup. She learned about this dish from a reality show by American chef Anthony Bourdain. Also made with beef, Hue-style beef noodle soup is incomplete without lemongrass and shrimp paste, embodying the authentic flavors of Central Vietnam. "I found it spicier than most Vietnamese soups I've tried," Alison said. In chef Robert Newton's Nightingale 9 show, he also commented to Food Republic that "Hue-style beef noodle soup is the most soulful and quintessential dish, one of the best dishes in Vietnam."

Bun bo Hue is considered to have the soul and essence of Hue cuisine. Photo: Alison Spiegel.

Alison also said that although pho has become a favorite dish among Americans, she can't find the same delicious taste as in Vietnam. She shared, "Vietnamese cuisine completely captivated me, especially because you can almost sample all kinds of food, even if you're just wandering around a small neighborhood."

According to VNE