Banh Canh - A simple soup in Vietnamese cuisine

Banh canh is a kind of rice noodle soup in Vietnam. It can be made from a mixture of tapioca flour and rice or just only tapica flour. The name “Banh canh” can be translated into “cake soup”, which refers to the chewy, thick noodles that are seasoned with star ingredients. 

Banh canh has a wide range of versions such as Banh canh cua (thick crab soup), Banh canh cha ca (fish soup), Banh canh tom (shrimp soup) or Banh canh gio heo tom thit (pork knuckle and shrimp soup). However, the traditional version is made with pork. 

The name “Banh canh” can be translated into “cake soup”, which refers to the chewy, thick noodles that are seasoned with star ingredients

First, you have to prepare all the necessary ingredients including large yellow onion, pork neck bones, pork knuckle, fish sauce, kosher salt, dried banh canh noodles, mung bean sprouts, cilantro and so on. 

Next, preheat the oven and roast the onion for 1 hour until it becomes soft and easy to ooze. When it is cool, peel it and cut in half. While waiting for the onion, you can make the stock. Put the neck bones, knuckle slices, and water into a pot for 3 minutes. After that, rinse them under cold water. Add quarts fresh water and onion halves into the pot and simmer for 2,5 hours. Add banh canh noodles and cook together till they are tender enough to have some bite. In the meanwhile, you can arrange bean sprouts, basil, cilantro and scallions on a platter. Drain the noodles and put them into the warmed soup bowls. Add a piece of pork knuckle on each serving. Pour the hot stock above and enjoy the meal. 

Banh canh is one of the simplest and purest cuisines in Vietnam

There are a lot of places in Vietnam offering Banh canh. However, not all of them can bring the best flavor of the soup. Now, we will introduce you to some of the greatest options:

Banh Canh O Buom

Address: No 2 Chi Lang Street, Hue City

Opening hours: 4pm-10pm

Price: 0.5$-1$/bowl

Banh Canh Ghe Ut Coi

Address: 2B Quang Trung Street, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Opening hours: 8am-10pm

Price: 2$-5$/bowl

Banh Canh Gia Truyen 79 Vinh Vien

Address: 20/2 Phan Van Hon, Tan Thoi Nhat, 12 District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Opening hours: 7am-10pm

Price: 1.5$-2$

There are a lot of places in Vietnam offering Banh canh

In short, Banh canh is a very famous traditional food in Vietnam. Thus, if you have a chance to visit this country, let’s spend at least 1 time trying it. I am sure that the delicate flavor of this food can stay long in your memory.

Hang Moon

Image sources: Internet