# Bún bò Huế: the spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup

> Bún bò Huế is the imperial city’s famous noodle soup: thick round rice noodles in a beef-and-pork broth flavoured with lemongrass and fermented shrimp paste, topped with beef shank, pork knuckle and chilli oil. It usually costs 35,000–60,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một tô bún bò”.

- URL: https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/bun-bo-hue
- Region: Central Vietnam · City: Hue
- Published: 2026-09-29 · Last updated: 2026-09-30
- By: the Eat Green Vietnam team (https://eatgreenvietnam.com/about)

Phở whispers; bún bò Huế shouts. It’s bolder, spicier and more fragrant – and many Vietnamese will tell you it’s their favourite noodle soup.

## At a glance

- **What it is:** Thick round rice noodles in a lemongrass-scented beef and pork broth with mắm ruốc (shrimp paste), beef shank, pork knuckle and chilli oil.
- **Where:** Huế, where it began, and all over Vietnam.
- **Typical price:** Around 35,000–60,000 VND a bowl.
- **Eat green:** Eat in and skip the takeaway bags. In Huế, many shops use real bowls and metal spoons – just sit down.

## How to order

> “Cho tôi một tô bún bò.”

One bowl of bún bò. Say **không lấy huyết** if you’d rather skip the cubes of congealed pig’s blood, or **ít cay** for less spicy.

## Bún bò Huế vs phở

Phở uses flat noodles and a clear, spiced beef broth. Bún bò Huế uses thick round noodles and a cloudier, spicier broth with lemongrass and shrimp paste. Add banana flower, herbs, lime and more chilli from the plate.

## When to go

Breakfast is traditional in Huế, but you can find a bowl at almost any time of day.

## Questions travellers ask

### Is bún bò Huế spicy?

It has more heat than most Vietnamese soups, mainly from chilli oil. Ask for “ít cay” for a milder bowl.

### How much does bún bò Huế cost?

Around 35,000–60,000 VND a bowl.

### What is the red oil on top?

Chilli oil flavoured with lemongrass – it gives the soup its colour and kick.

### Does bún bò Huế contain blood?

Often, yes: cubes of congealed pig’s blood (huyết). Ask for “không lấy huyết” to leave them out.

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Photo: Minh28397 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C3%BAn_b%C3%B2_Hu%E1%BA%BF_minh28397.jpg
Source: Eat Green Vietnam, https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/bun-bo-hue. Prices are typical ranges and change often. You may quote and summarise with attribution and a link to the original page.