Bun Dau Mam Tom – A Special Dish
If your travel bucket list includes trying worldly cuisine, there should be room in it for bun dau mam tom – Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste noodle. Sure, pho, bun cha, banh mi, banh xeo may be among the most popular in Vietnam, but if you would like to try something a little more unique, then bun dau mam tom should be in that list. We know it sounds a little unappetizing when we say fermented shrimp paste noodle, but hopefully this article will be able to convince you as to why you should try it at least once.
A portion of bun dau mam tom contains vermicelli (bun roi), pork belly, young rice cake, tofu, herbs, cucumber and shrimp paste
What is Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste noodle?
I bet you thought durian was probably the smelliest food you could find in Vietnam. Wrong! Bun dau mam tom gives it a good run for its money. Like durian, people get addicted to it very easily and the fact is that it’s one of the local’s favorite dishes – especially those from the North. It is so true when people say that Vietnamese cuisine doesn’t win any points for complexity. If it is too complicated, it can’t be classified as a street food. This is also the key to success in the street food business.
Bun dau mam tom has three main ingredients: Vermicelli noodle, fried tofu, and shrimp paste. So, if you easily have access to these three main ingredients, you can become a vendor owner or even start your own F&B business in Vietnam. However, there is one kind of veggie called Vietnamese balm, accompanying other kinds of vegetables on the plate like perilla leaf, fish mint, or cucumber, that play a really important role in making the delicious flavor in your mouth.
It is so true when people say that Vietnamese cuisine doesn’t win any points for complexity. If it is too complicated, it can’t be classified as a street food. This is also the key to success in the street food business.
You can tell a good bun dau mam tom by the fried tofu and the shrimp paste they serve. The tofu should be deep fried until it turns yellow on the outside but still retains moisture, softness, and the original taste on the inside. The shrimp paste shouldn’t be too salty or too thick, but it definitely needs to have a specific sour taste from the lemon or kumquat served and the spice from the chili.
Recommendation
The restaurant/stall version of bun dau mam tom will have steamed pork, green rice pork nuggets, small pig intestine, large pig intestine that is stuffed with veggies and grilled, and fried spring rolls as extra options for you to choose from. Order as you wish.
Where to find fermented shrimp paste noodle in Vietnam
AB is a popular dish in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Almost every Hanoian loves this dish. It is such a simple dish and moreover, it is cheap. Just spend 15, 000 VND (less than 1 USD) and you will have a full belly afterward. Lucky for you, because of the fan club trailing this dish, it has spread throughout the country. You can now find bun dau mam tom in Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Saigon, etc, but you will have to do some research on where you can find it in these cities.
A delicious platter!
Generally, in Vietnam you’ll see many a street food vendor carrying a bamboo pole that supports two magical baskets, one at each end. If she also carries a pan, a mini gas stove, a bag of veggies, a plastic box of shrimp paste, and many tofu pieces, then you’ve hit the jackpot! These women know how to serve the dish best but you can also find it in restaurants.
If you ever visit Hanoi, you should try bun dau mam tom in a small alleyway located off Hang Khay street, right opposite Hoan Kiem lake. This tiny alley is numbered 31 and has two different spots that serve bun dau mam tom. Both vendors serve the dish beautifully and both are equally delicious. Many foodies make detours here. The average price for a flat winnowing basket of bun dau mam tom with accompanying sides is about 40, 000 VND~almost 2 USD.
Read More: Pho Vietnam – A Special Traditional Dish
