Vietnamese Noodle Glossary

Every term used across NoodleDex's coverage of this cluster — Hangul, romanization, and meaning.

banh-phobánh phởbanh pho/ɓaɲ˧˦.fəː˧˩˧/
The flat 3mm rice noodles used in phở. Not interchangeable with Thai sen lek.
bunbúnbun/ɓun˧˦/
Thin round rice vermicelli used in bún chả, bún bò Huế, and cold spring rolls.
cha-luachả lụacha lua/t͡ɕaː˧˩˧.luə̆˨˩/
Vietnamese steamed pork roll — pale pink, smooth-textured, sliced thin for noodle soups.
hung-quehúng quếhung que/hʊŋ˧˦.kwe˧˩˧/
Thai basil — purple-stemmed, anise-sweet. The most identifiable herb on a Vietnamese herb plate.
mam-tommắm tômmam tom/mam˧˦.tom˧˦/
Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste. Pink-purple, intensely funky. Used in bún bò Huế and bún đậu mắm tôm.
ngo-gaingò gaingo gai/ŋɔ˧˦.zaːj˧/
Culantro / sawtooth herb. Stronger, more aromatic than cilantro. A staple of Vietnamese pho garnish.
nuoc-chamnước chấmnuoc cham/nɨə̆k˧˦.t͡ɕam˧˦/
The dipping sauce for bún chả and spring rolls — fish sauce + sugar + lime + chilies + garlic.
nuoc-mamnước mắmnuoc mam/nɨə̆k˧˦.mam˧˦/
Vietnamese fish sauce. Anchovy and salt, fermented. The defining seasoning of Vietnamese cooking.
rau-thomrau thơmrau thom/zaːw˧.tʰəːm˧/
Vietnamese for 'fragrant herbs' — the collective term for the herb plate served alongside noodle bowls.
rieu-cuariêu cuarieu cua/ʐiə̆w˧˦.kuə̆˧˩/
Freshwater crab paste used in bún riêu. Pulverized crab forms fluffy 'crab cakes' when simmered.