Bún Bò Huế vs Phở: What's the Difference, and Where to Try Both in Hanoi

Outside Vietnam, phở is the famous one. But more and more people abroad are discovering bún bò Huế, and once they try it, some never go back. Both are beef noodle soups, both are breakfast staples here, and they could hardly be more different.

The short version

• Phở: clear, aromatic broth; flat rice noodles; gentle and clean.
• Bún bò Huế: spicy, lemongrass-heavy broth; thick round noodles; bold and punchy.

Phở: patience in a bowl

Good phở broth simmers for hours with beef bones, charred onion and ginger, star anise, cinnamon and a few other spices. The result is clear and fragrant, not heavy.

The noodles are flat rice noodles (*bánh phở*). Toppings are usually thin slices of beef: rare (*tái*), well-done brisket (*chín*), or both.

Hanoi-style phở is simple. You get a plate of lime, chilli and sometimes garlic vinegar on the table, but not a mountain of herbs. Southern-style phở comes with basil, bean sprouts and sauces. Locals in Hanoi will tell you the broth should speak for itself.

Bún bò Huế: the spicy cousin from the old capital

This soup comes from Huế, the former imperial capital in central Vietnam, where food tends to be spicier. Its broth is built on beef and pork bones, lots of lemongrass, and *mắm ruốc*, a fermented shrimp paste that gives depth and a slight funk. A layer of red chilli oil sits on top.

The noodles are thick, round rice noodles, chewier than phở. Toppings can include beef shank, pork knuckle, crab or pork cakes (*chả*), and cubes of congealed pig's blood. If that last one isn't for you, just ask for it without.

It's served with herbs, banana blossom and lime on the side.

How to order

• Phở: *"Phở bò tái"* (rare beef) or *"phở bò chín"* (well-done). *"Tái chín"* gets you both.
• Bún bò: *"Một bún bò"* (one bún bò). Add *"không huyết"* to skip the blood, *"ít cay"* for less spice.

What it costs in Hanoi

A bowl of phở at a local shop is usually 40,000–70,000 VND, more at famous places or with extra toppings. Bún bò Huế is in a similar range. Iced tea on the side costs a few thousand dong.

Where to find them

Phở shops are everywhere in Hanoi; follow the queue at 7 am, and choose places that sell only phở. Bún bò Huế shops are fewer but easy to find, often with "Bún bò Huế" on a big sign. In the evening, some places sell both.

Which one should you try first?

If you like clean, comforting flavours, start with phở. If you love spice and strong broth, go straight for bún bò Huế. Then try the other one the next morning. That's how most visitors end up having noodle soup for breakfast every day.

Written in October 2026. Prices are typical local ranges and vary by shop.