Bún Thang Bà Đức

Bún Thang Bà Đức is a long-running bún thang shop at 48 Cầu Gỗ, near Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam. Bún thang is one of the capital's most refined noodle soups and is closely associated with Hanoi Tết cooking, when households use leftover chicken and pork to make an elaborate bowl. The dish is built from a delicate, clear broth of chicken, pork and dried shrimp poured over rice vermicelli. It is topped with shredded chicken, thin strips of egg omelette and slices of pork sausage, and finished with herbs and a little shrimp paste. The flavour is subtle and layered, quite different from the stronger flavours of bún chả or bún đậu. The shop also serves bún riêu, a crab-and-tomato noodle soup, as a second signature dish. The dining room is casual and traditional, with simple tables and quick service. There is no dress code, and the atmosphere is calm compared with the busiest street eateries in the Old Quarter, though noise rises at mealtimes. Because assembling a bowl involves many components, service can take a little longer than for simpler dishes, but the result is a more complex bowl. Prices are low, with a typical meal costing about 60,000 to 90,000 VND per person. There is no wine programme; tea, soft drinks and coffee are the usual choices. The shop is open daily from 7AM to 9PM, so it works for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. Reservations are not taken, and diners find a seat and order. Visitors who want to understand the range of Hanoi's noodle soups often try bún thang here alongside phở and bún chả elsewhere in the city. The location on Cầu Gỗ, a short walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the surrounding cafes and shops, makes it easy to include in a morning walk.