Australian visitors impressed with 'world of spices' of bun rieu

Australian food writer commented that the vermicelli soup is rich, containing "a whole world of flavors and ingredients" in one bowl.

Australian editor Ben Groundwater wrote an article in late March praising the popular Vietnamese dish of vermicelli soup with crab soup. Groundwater is a writer and journalist with 20 years of experience, currently the main travel columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald.

In the first lines of the dish's introduction, Ben describes the crab vermicelli soup as having a rich, slightly spicy flavor, combined with square pieces of blood. He was "surprised" that the crab vermicelli soup contained all kinds of flavors but fit into one bowl.

Hanoi-style crab vermicelli soup with pork fat. Photo: bachuaviahe — Hanoi-style crab vermicelli soup with pork fat. Photo: *bachuaviahe*

The dish has broth made from simmered pork bones, tomatoes and crab paste. The noodles are thin and topped with a variety of tomatoes, crab cakes, blood, pig's feet, and tofu. The dish is served with vegetables including shredded water spinach, chopped banana flowers, bean sprouts, perilla, and basil. Ben said that some local diners often add spices such as vinegar, shrimp paste, lemon, and chili. This dish can be eaten at any meal of the day, from breakfast, to lunch or dinner, providing enough energy and nutrients.

The food writer also researched the origin of Bun Rieu. Most of the locals he interviewed said the dish originated in the provinces of the Red River Delta in the North, then spread to many places and each place had its own variation.

When learning about Vietnamese cuisine, Ben found that Northern-style vermicelli soup often has simple ingredients including crab soup, tofu, cartilage ribs, and snails. Some northern localities also have crab noodle soup served with pork and betel leaf rolls. Southern-style vermicelli soup has a variety of toppings, including pork, pig's feet, blood, crab rolls, and dried shrimp soup.

Ben Groundwater said there are also a number of Vietnamese-owned restaurants selling bun rieu in Australia. The writer suggested that diners try this dish at Pho Song Huong in Bankstown, Sydney. In Melbourne, the recommended restaurant is Bun Cha Co Dao in Footscray.

Ben said he had enjoyed the southern version of Bun Rieu in Ho Chi Minh City. He suggested that visitors visit the restaurant on Nguyen Canh Chan Street, Cau Kho Ward, District 1.

Vietnamese vermicelli soup with crab soup has won the hearts of international diners many times. In July 2023, American food blogger Max McFarlin, who has a YouTube channel with nearly 700,000 followers, posted a video expressing his surprise at the taste of vermicelli soup with shrimp soup in Saigon. Max commented that the vermicelli soup had a clear broth and a light taste, different from the vermicelli soup he tried when he came to Hanoi. The vermicelli soup had a fragrant smell of dried shrimp.

Bich Phuong (According to Sydney Morning Herald )

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