# Bún thang: Hanoi's most delicate noodle soup

> Bún thang is one of Hanoi’s most refined noodle soups: fine rice vermicelli in a clear chicken broth, topped with thin strips of egg crepe, shredded chicken, pork sausage and herbs. It usually costs 40,000–60,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một bát bún thang”.

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

If phở is Hanoi’s everyday bowl, bún thang is its Sunday best – every topping cut thin and arranged with care.

## At a glance

- **What it is:** Fine rice noodles in clear chicken broth, with strips of egg crepe, chicken, giò lụa (pork sausage), herbs and sometimes dried shrimp.
- **Where:** Hanoi, especially older shops in the Old Quarter.
- **Typical price:** Around 40,000–60,000 VND a bowl.
- **Eat green:** Eat in and finish the broth – it’s the best part, and soup in takeaway bags is one of the city’s biggest plastic habits.

## How to order

> “Cho tôi một bát bún thang.”

One bowl of bún thang. In the north, a bowl is **bát**; in the south you’ll hear **tô**.

## The story

Bún thang is often said to have begun as a way to use up the chicken, eggs and sausage left over after Tết, the Lunar New Year. Today it is made from scratch, and a good bowl has many small toppings, each prepared separately.

## How to eat it

Taste the broth first – it should be clear and gentle. Then add a touch of shrimp paste or chilli from the table if you like, a squeeze of lime, and herbs.

## Questions travellers ask

### What does bún thang mean?

Bún is rice vermicelli. Thang is often explained as the word for a herbal remedy, a nod to the many carefully measured ingredients.

### How much does bún thang cost?

Around 40,000–60,000 VND a bowl in Hanoi.

### Is bún thang spicy?

No. It is mild and clear; you can add chilli at the table.

### When is bún thang eaten?

Any time of day, and it is especially popular around Tết.

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Photo: Nguyễn Thanh Quang / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C3%BAn_thang.JPG
Source: Eat Green Vietnam, https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/bun-thang-hanoi. Prices are typical ranges and change often. You may quote and summarise with attribution and a link to the original page.