According to the list of typical Vietnamese dishes, phase 1, announced and certified by the Vietnam Culinary Association (VCCA) on September 29th in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City ranked second after Hue, with the inclusion of 5 dishes: Saigon broken rice, Saigon banh mi, fish sauce hot pot, Saigon spring rolls, and crispy fried noodles.
For many food lovers in Ho Chi Minh City, the inclusion of crispy fried noodles is a delightful and novel addition to the already familiar dishes. So, what makes this dish so appealing that it made it onto this list?
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Originating from China, crispy fried noodles have become popular in Vietnam since their introduction, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. It's easy for diners to find a crispy fried noodle restaurant here, particularly in areas with large Chinese communities like Cholon.
The crispy fried noodle cart of Mr. Ly Dieu Han's family has been passed down through three generations.
Having sold crispy fried noodles and other typical Chinese dishes in front of alley 237 on Ha Ton Quyen Street (District 11) for nearly 40 years, Mr. Dam Chi Van (59 years old) said that his family's noodle cart has been passed down through three generations.
Previously, his father, a man of Cantonese origin, decided to sell typical Chinese dishes to make a living. After his father passed away, he passed the noodle cart to him. To this day, Mr. Van's two sons have also continued their father's business.
"Crispy fried noodles are one of the signature dishes of my family's noodle cart. Many customers order this dish because it's suitable for people of all ages. Knowing that it became one of the 5 dishes from Ho Chi Minh City to be included in the list of 121 typical culinary dishes, I was surprised and happy. I believe that this traditional family dish will become more widely known and sought after," he said with a smile.
The noodle dish costs 85,000 VND at the restaurant.
[CLIP]: A three-generation crispy fried noodle cart in Cholon Market.
Mr. Ly Dieu Han (30 years old, Mr. Van's son) has nearly 15 years of experience selling noodles, having helped out since he was a child. Currently, he is the head chef cooking crispy fried noodles at this noodle cart, using the experience passed down from his father.
According to him, authentic Chinese-style crispy fried noodles consist of two parts: the golden, crispy noodles and the sauce and toppings. He believes the secret to his family's noodle stall lies not only in the quality noodles that stay crispy for a long time, but also in the preparation of the sauce. The secret lies in the combination of ingredients such as shrimp, liver, skin, pork, octopus, etc., stir-fried with bok choy and other vegetables, and seasoned to perfection.
The thick sauce, containing the aforementioned ingredients, is poured over the fried noodles, allowing you to experience the freshness of each ingredient combined with the crispy, chewy texture of the noodles.
The noodles are a beautiful golden color, very appealing.
The crispy fried noodles at this noodle stall are quite expensive, starting at 55,000 VND for the cheapest portion and 85,000 VND for a full serving. However, the price matches the quality; I'd give the noodles here an 8.5/10, making it a worthy favorite.
Affordable prices
However, not all crispy fried noodle stalls are as expensive as Mr. Van's family's three-generation noodle cart. Not far away, in alley 341 on Lac Long Quan Street (District 11), the eatery of Mr. Bui Quang Trung's family (32 years old) offers surprisingly affordable prices.
The restaurant mainly sells typical Chinese dishes, with a menu of nearly 25 items, but prices start from only 28,000 VND. The owner said the restaurant has been open for 7 years, mainly catering to working-class people.
Trung has been selling crispy fried noodles and other Chinese dishes for 7 years now.
The crispy fried noodles at this restaurant are a favorite among customers.
Mr. Bui Quang Trung, the owner of the restaurant.Based on his experience, he says the crispy fried noodles have a unique appeal, alongside other dishes at the restaurant. The crispy noodles, soaked in his rich, flavorful sauce, combined with the freshness of the accompanying ingredients, create a delightful culinary experience.
That's also why Ms. Truc Le's family (40 years old, residing in District 11) visits Mr. Trung's restaurant 5-6 times a week and orders crispy fried noodles almost every day. She said she has been a regular customer of the restaurant for many years and is also a fan of crispy fried noodles.
Ms. Truc Le is a big fan of crispy fried noodles.
The dish is a harmonious combination of ingredients.
Coming from a family of Chinese descent, she said she loves and is deeply attached to Chinese cuisine. Upon learning that her crispy fried noodles were one of the five dishes from Ho Chi Minh City included in the list of typical Vietnamese dishes, she felt proud and happy, knowing that Ho Chi Minh City's cuisine, especially Chinese dishes, is becoming more widely known.
Similarly, the crispy fried noodle shop of Chinese origin on Phan Dinh Phung Street (Phu Nhuan District) owned by Mr. Luu Gia Cuong (63 years old) has been in business for nearly 30 years. The owner said that with a menu of only 5 dishes, highlighted by the crispy fried noodles, the shop has received widespread support from customers.
"What's so appealing about the crispy fried noodles at my restaurant is that the noodles themselves are handmade using traditional methods. The noodles are fried until golden brown and crispy, then drizzled with a rich sauce made according to the restaurant's own recipe – this is the secret to the restaurant's longevity," the owner revealed.
Mr. Cuong's restaurant is popular with customers.
With all dishes priced at 50,000 VND, Ms. Phuong (30 years old, residing in Phu Nhuan District) said she frequently visits this place. Because her son loves the crispy fried noodles, the two of them often come to the restaurant to support it. According to her, this dish can be enjoyed by people of all ages, which is why it is so popular with diners in Ho Chi Minh City.
Hue is "the champion".
With 6 dishes making it onto the list of Typical Vietnamese Cuisines in phase 1, Thua Thien - Hue is temporarily the "champion" with the following dishes: Hue beef noodle soup, tapioca pudding with roasted pork, clam rice, tapioca dumplings, vegetarian mixed fig salad, and vegetarian steamed rice wrapped in lotus leaves.
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