Bánh đa cua: Hải Phòng's red crab noodle soup
Hải Phòng is a port city about two hours from Hanoi, and locals will tell you its noodles are better. Bánh đa cua is their proof.
Bánh đa cua is Hải Phòng’s signature noodle soup: flat, chewy red-brown rice noodles in a crab broth, topped with crab ‘riêu’, water spinach, fried tofu and pork. It usually costs 35,000–50,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một bát bánh đa cua”.
At a glance
How to order
“Cho tôi một bát bánh đa cua.”
One bowl of bánh đa cua. Add thêm chả for extra fish cake or pork sausage.
Why the noodles are red
The noodles are made from rice flour and are traditionally coloured with cane molasses, which gives them their reddish-brown colour and a slightly sweet, chewy bite. They hold up well in the hot broth.
When to go
Breakfast is the classic time, but many shops serve it until the afternoon.
Questions travellers ask
What is bánh đa đỏ?
Red rice noodles from Hải Phòng, flat and chewy, used for bánh đa cua.
How much does bánh đa cua cost?
Around 35,000–50,000 VND a bowl.
How far is Hải Phòng from Hanoi?
Roughly two hours by road or train, depending on traffic.
Is bánh đa cua similar to bún riêu?
Both use a crab broth, but bánh đa cua has flat red noodles and water spinach, and a different, deeper flavour.
Prices are typical ranges we’ve seen and change often; tourist areas can charge more. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Last updated 2026-09-30.
