Over the last year end holiday season, we spent quite a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to sample the various street foods this biggest city in Vietnam has to offer and do a bit of introduction to you, so here goes.

Bun Bo Hue 31, at District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Bun Bo Hue 31, at District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

This was my 10th time to Ho Chi Minh City, but previous 9 were all due to work and happened more than 9 years ago, I was greeted with a rush of nostalgia, so much of the city has changed, yet so much stayed exactly the same as when I first stepped foot here more than a decade ago.

Thankfully, part of the latter includes what Saigon has to offer when it comes to the rich variety of local cuisine.

Bún bò Huế
Bún bò Huế- spicy beef and vermicelli soup

We start off the introduction with Bún bò Huế. 

While Vietnamese pho gets all the attention, bun bo, in a way, is one that I find more interesting. Originated from Hue, a former capital city of Vietnam situated somewhere in the middle geographically, bun bo has a spicy soup base made from boiled beef shank, chunks of oxtail, and even pig’s knuckles, which gives it a sweeter flavor and a bit more kick.

Like most Vietnamese noodle soup, it also comes with a generous portion of vegetable on the side, including sliced banana blossom, green onion, bean sprout, cilantro, and more. Squeeze a slice of lime, and add some fresh green chili in the soup and you’re good to go. The vermicelli used is also usually the round & thick type, which I think is perfect for this application, simply beautiful and absolutely delicious.

spicy beef and vermicelli soup
spicy beef and vermicelli soup

I had my bowl at Bun Bo Hue 31 near the middle of the city, a shop frequent mostly by the locals with staffs who spoke almost no English. To order, you can simply point to the menu, or use the phone as a translator. Give it a try when you’re in Vietnam.

Bun Bo Hue 31 map

Address:
Bun Bo Hue 31
P. Q.1, 31 Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Đa Kao,
District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
GPS: 10.784853, 106.699163
Tel: +84 8 3827 7257
Hours: 6 am to 9 pm

KY eats – Vietnamese Street Food 101 – #1 Bun Bo Hue
Tagged on:                         

20 thoughts on “KY eats – Vietnamese Street Food 101 – #1 Bun Bo Hue

  • January 3, 2017 at 9:04 am
    Permalink

    I wish we had Vietnamese here, just to full-fledged Thai places, no Vietnamese. 🙁

    Reply
    • January 3, 2017 at 4:17 pm
      Permalink

      suituapui: they’re just starting to get more and more popular in KL, I’m sure in a couple more years you’ll get them there.

      Reply
  • January 3, 2017 at 1:10 pm
    Permalink

    food in vietnam always looks good! nine years ago, during your last visit, you might not have been able to use your phone as a translator yet! 😀

    Reply
    • January 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
      Permalink

      Sean: those were the GPRS days!

      Reply
  • January 3, 2017 at 3:39 pm
    Permalink

    Never bored of a good Vietnamese Pho! I’ll keep this on my list, hope to check it out in the near future! Happy New Year KY!

    Reply
    • January 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
      Permalink

      Ken: yeah, some places serve this version here in M’sia too.

      Reply
  • January 3, 2017 at 9:12 pm
    Permalink

    KY, since Vietnamese started busineses on this street alone it grew to a better neighborhood now. Grocery stores and restaurants now people have to go.

    Reply
    • January 4, 2017 at 1:25 pm
      Permalink

      Vickie: US has always have a very good presence of Vietnamese cuisine isn’t it?

      Reply
      • January 4, 2017 at 6:49 pm
        Permalink

        Oh yes. Since now people just love banh mi and pho so much, We have eating contest ob huge pho 4 time extra large and some people won a free pho from it. Foot long banh mi now.

        Reply
        • January 4, 2017 at 9:28 pm
          Permalink

          Vickie: so you eat a lot of pho, and then gets free pho? haha, sounds like a fun contest.

          Reply
  • January 4, 2017 at 7:22 am
    Permalink

    It’s been a while since our last trip to Saigon. Must make a return visit.

    Reply
  • January 4, 2017 at 9:56 am
    Permalink

    Vietnam is in our Travel wish list of 2017. and for sure we’ll taste local cuisine.

    Reply
    • January 4, 2017 at 1:25 pm
      Permalink

      Azad: it’ll be glorious!

      Reply
  • January 4, 2017 at 6:36 pm
    Permalink

    I really want to go there in Malaysia to try their different culinary excellence. I am a food lover and I am sure I will enjoy the food in Malaysia. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • January 4, 2017 at 9:27 pm
      Permalink

      Charley: you’ll love it here.

      Reply
    • January 6, 2017 at 9:26 am
      Permalink

      Choi Yen: haha yah especially for Malaysians, since we love everything spicy

      Reply
  • January 20, 2017 at 4:15 pm
    Permalink

    The local cuisine of Viet Nam’s great. They made me remember the good taste of it. And certainly Viet Nam is in the list of our tour 2017

    Reply
    • January 23, 2017 at 3:28 pm
      Permalink

      Marry: won’t be a bad destination at all.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Choi Yen Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *