# Bún riêu cua: Vietnam's tomato and crab noodle soup

> Bún riêu cua is a tangy noodle soup made with freshwater paddy crabs: the crab is pounded and cooked into soft clouds (riêu) floating in a tomato broth with fried tofu and rice noodles. It usually costs 30,000–50,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một bát bún riêu”.

- URL: https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/bun-rieu-cua
- Region: North Vietnam · City: Hanoi
- Published: 2026-09-29 · Last updated: 2026-09-30
- By: the Eat Green Vietnam team (https://eatgreenvietnam.com/about)

Red, tangy and full of texture, bún riêu is the bowl locals choose when they want something lighter than phở.

## At a glance

- **What it is:** Rice vermicelli in a tomato-and-crab broth, with crab ‘riêu’, fried tofu and sometimes beef or pork.
- **Where:** All over Vietnam; the northern version is especially sour and clean-tasting.
- **Typical price:** Around 30,000–50,000 VND a bowl.
- **Eat green:** Eat at the stall. Soup to go usually means several plastic bags tied with rubber bands.

## How to order

> “Cho tôi một bát bún riêu.”

One bowl of bún riêu (say **tô** instead of **bát** in the south). Ask for **bún riêu cua** for the classic crab version.

## How to eat it

Add lime, a little chilli and, if you’re brave, a small spoon of shrimp paste to the broth. Tear in herbs and shredded morning glory or banana flower from the plate.

## When to go

Breakfast and lunch are most common, but many stalls serve it all day.

## Questions travellers ask

### What is riêu?

Paddy crabs pounded and strained, then cooked so the crab meat forms soft, fluffy clouds in the broth.

### How much does bún riêu cost?

Around 30,000–50,000 VND a bowl.

### Is bún riêu spicy?

Not by default. You add chilli at the table.

### Is there a vegetarian bún riêu?

Yes – bún riêu chay uses tofu and tomato and is common at vegetarian restaurants.

---

Photo: TarnishedPath / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C3%BAn_ri%C3%AAu_%C4%91%E1%BA%B7c_bi%E1%BB%87t.jpg
Source: Eat Green Vietnam, https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/bun-rieu-cua. Prices are typical ranges and change often. You may quote and summarise with attribution and a link to the original page.