Bánh Đa Cá or Turmeric Fish with Noodles; Must Try in Hanoi, Vietnam



One of the highlights of my Vietnam trip was my try for the authentic noodle soups of the country. I was delighted by exploring their rich noodle dishes in the Philippines and so it is now time for the countrymade ones.

This Bánh đa cá noodles soup (fish with noodles) was a true hit! It was the first Vietnamese food I've tried and had it the first day we've landed. It is merely a noodle soup with fried fish which used Banh da do (red rice noodle) and added additional distinct flavor to the dish. I think the best time to visit Vietnam for their noodle soup is in the winter (December to March). Who would think that Vietnam has winter! It can be 8 degrees in the northern part of the country and soup perfectly serves its purposes, to fill the tummy and to warm one's soul.



If you want to try Vietnamese cuisine, make sure to have some locals to tour you around so you know where the best ones are. In my case, my friend (who travelled with me) has friends who lived there for seven years. Their length of stay is reasonable enough to trust their recommendation.



We had this noodle soup for lunch before having their intriguing egg coffee, Cà Phê Trứng. It is just around Hoan Kiem Lake in a small restaurant where you need to seat on a very low stool.



Lime wedges, vinegar with garlic slices, shrimp paste or sate, chili and MSG (monosodium glutamate) are commonly present on the table in case you want to adjust your bowl's taste.



This fish noodle soup is consists of noodles, fried fish, vegetables like spring onion, tomato, tamarind and a soft fish cake which is similar to Korean odeng.



Everything mixed up in one bowl is a perfect combination to create this savory fish noodle soup. I fell in love with it and keep it in my heart until I left Vietnam. I told myself before I leave the country that I'll be coming back to have another bowl, but then time restrained me to do so. It is second on my top favorite dishes in Vietnam. What is my first then? Stay tuned on my blog to be updated!

I can't wait to go back and have a bowl with my future husband, GJ. Hihi.

2 comments:

  1. I love noodles!!! That last photo really got me craving for some. :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow that looks delicious! I've tried some Vietnamese noodles on some restaurants and food shops here in the Philippines, some tasted good and some bad. I want to visit Vietnam someday too para mag food trip.

    Enjoyed reading your food posts, btw :)

    Bia S. | www.biasambrano.com

    ReplyDelete

Powered by Blogger.