This vermicelli soup restaurant has been around since Ms. Yen started selling in Hang Bun Street, Hanoi. From the very beginning, she personally cooked each pot of vermicelli soup from the freshest ingredients, preserving the traditional flavor of this dish. Many regular customers came to the restaurant thanks to its reputation for delicious, full bowls of vermicelli soup and rich broth, made from fresh field crabs and Hanoi vinegar.
Over time, Ms. Yen decided to transfer the shop on Hang Bun to her son to continue to pass on the passion and the family business. After that, she moved to Hang Khoai and now Luong Su alley - where Ms. Yen, Mr. Viet and his wife, her daughter and son-in-law, continue to keep the fire burning for this special vermicelli shop. Mr. Hoang Minh Viet, the current owner of the shop, said that Ms. Yen sold vermicelli on a shoulder pole from 1991 to 1994. "Now my mother is old and can't sit on the sidewalk selling forever, so I advised her to move here," he said.
The shop is nestled in a small corner of the street.
The restaurant space seems to take diners to another reality.
Located deep in a small alley at the beginning of Quoc Tu Giam Street, the restaurant stands out with a space unlike any other restaurant in Hanoi. At first glance, the restaurant seems modest and simple like many other restaurants in the old quarter, but when entering, diners will immediately feel the difference. The interior space is meticulously decorated, bringing a feeling of "classical aristocratic" style, as if lost in an old but solemn Hanoi. Antique items from ceramic vases, tea sets, to wall paintings are all selected and arranged by Ms. Yen's daughter. Each bowl, pair of chopsticks and spice jar are also carefully selected to create a sophisticated and artistic dining space.
This delicate decoration not only creates a highlight for the restaurant, but also honors the traditional cultural values of Hanoi. Customers coming here not only enjoy a bowl of vermicelli soup but also immerse themselves in the cultural and artistic space, as if going back in time to the old days. The lighting in the restaurant is designed to be soft, not too bright but not too dark, creating a cozy, gentle atmosphere.
But space alone is not enough, what makes the restaurant famous is still the special flavor of vermicelli soup that Ms. Yen brings. A bowl of vermicelli soup here is a delicate combination of many traditional ingredients, each ingredient is carefully and meticulously prepared. The restaurant's broth is the biggest highlight, because of the natural sweetness from fresh field crab, combined with the light sourness of vinegar, creating a harmonious flavor. Crispy fried tofu, chewy pig's ear, fish cakes, beef and fragrant crab topping are skillfully arranged on top of the bowl of vermicelli. Each bowl of vermicelli is also sprinkled with fragrant, crispy fried onions, enhancing the rich flavor. Once tried, it is hard for anyone to forget this special flavor.
A full bowl of Bun Rieu at the restaurant includes rice noodles, broth, green onions, shallots, crab soup, fried tofu, snails, pork ear mushrooms, Hai Phong fish cakes, fresh beef and beef balls. In addition to the two main ingredients that remain unchanged: crab soup and fried tofu, diners can order as many toppings as they like.
Bun rieu restaurant with full range of toppings
The restaurant's customers are of all ages, from young people who want to explore traditional cuisine, to the elderly who are looking for the familiar taste of Hanoi's crab noodle soup. Many customers come from far away and have heard about the restaurant so they do not hesitate to come and experience it. Each person has their own impression of the restaurant, but the common point is that everyone feels the uniqueness in every detail, from the space arrangement to the taste of the dishes. There are regular customers who, every time they come to Hanoi, must stop by Ms. Yen's crab noodle soup restaurant to enjoy a bowl of rich crab noodle soup, as a habit that cannot be missed.
Those who listen to Rock music will recognize him as Viet James - a member of the group "Red Tide".
Anh Viet confided that he did not expect the restaurant to attract such strong attention on social networks. For him, expanding the business or changing according to trends is not the goal at the moment. What he really wants is to keep everything as it is, so that the restaurant can maintain stability and fully preserve the traditional flavor of the noodle bowl. He shared that sometimes there is no need to change too much, just doing well what is available, keeping the noodle bowl always delicious and flavorful is enough to make diners satisfied and want to come back.
Not only a vermicelli soup restaurant, Bun Ziu Ganh - Ms. Yen in Luong Su alley has also become a cultural destination, where diners can immerse themselves in the space imbued with Hanoi, not only to eat but also to feel the cultural values that are preserved. For Ms. Yen and her family, this vermicelli soup restaurant is not only a place of business but also a source of pride, a love for traditional cuisine, a place for them to share their passion and the cultural quintessence of Hanoi with everyone.
On the small street corner is the business of Mr. Viet's family.
A cozy, warm and "aristocratic" space
