Where can you find an authentic bowl of Hanoi-style vermicelli soup with meatballs in the heart of Saigon?

Bun moc is a type of noodle dish originating from Moc village, Nhan Chinh commune, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, and has long been a specialty of the capital city. Bun moc is a noodle dish with a refreshing flavor, combined with minced pork and a sweet and savory broth made from simmered bones.

A delicious bowl of bun moc (vermicelli soup with meatballs) always requires meticulous attention to detail and a harmonious blend of spices. The broth is also carefully prepared, simmered from pork bones, and skimmed to ensure clarity without excessive seasoning. Furthermore, the delicious broth is thanks to the pork ribs, which are simmered thoroughly to extract the sweet flavor and tender texture, making it easy for diners to eat.

But the most elaborate aspect of a bowl of vermicelli soup lies in the "toppings," that is, the various types of meatballs served with it. Most of the meatballs are made from minced pork, however, the different preparation methods create a surprisingly rich variety in a bowl of vermicelli soup with meatballs. Meatballs, also known as raw pork sausage, are made from minced pork mixed with onions, peppers, and shiitake mushrooms. Minced pork that is thoroughly kneaded, wrapped tightly, and boiled becomes pork sausage (or pork roll), but if a little cinnamon powder is added and then grilled until browned, it's called cinnamon sausage. Minced pork that is shaped into balls and fried is called fried sausage, and if seasoned with a little pepper and garlic and wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, it's called leaf sausage.

The distinctive flavor of bun moc (vermicelli soup with meatballs) leaves a lasting impression on anyone who tries it. Some people who have been away from the capital for a long time miss the taste of bun moc and rush to the market to buy ingredients to cook it to satisfy their craving. Others take this dish far away to introduce it to their relatives in foreign lands. When it arrived in Saigon, this dish was mistakenly called bun moc.

Speaking of bun moc (vermicelli soup with meatballs) in Saigon, almost everyone knows Thanh Mai restaurant, located right at the corner of Truong Dinh and Nguyen An Ninh streets, next to Ben Thanh Market. The restaurant is packed from dawn until well past noon, famous for its single dish: bun moc. A bowl of bun moc at this restaurant contains all the aforementioned meatballs.

It's strange, though, that each type of sausage, made from the same minced pork, has such a distinct flavor. Eating them is not only enjoyable but also offers a delightful experience with each type's unique taste. If a bowl were served without one of these, diners would surely find it hard to resist. The delicate sweetness of the pork sausage, the fragrant aroma of the cinnamon sausage, the rich sweetness of the leaf-wrapped sausage, and especially the crispy texture of the meatballs will surely leave a lasting impression. And that's not even mentioning the very inviting pork ribs…

According to many diners, the flavor of the dish has changed somewhat from the day it first opened until now, but the ingredients and types of meatballs in the noodle soup have remained the same. And perhaps, that is what creates the unique flavor and service style here.

A dish, or rather a delightful Hanoi culinary experience, right in the heart of Saigon. Eat to see just how diverse Northern-style pork patties are, and to understand why bun moc (vermicelli with meatballs) has gradually become a familiar part of Saigon's culinary scene.

Bo Di