Discovering Bun Bo Hue: A Journey to Hue City

Dustin Cheverier, a content creator from the U.S. born in 1988, has captured the hearts of Vietnamese audiences with his YouTube channel that boasts 820,000 subscribers. He has made Ho Chi Minh City his home for the past decade, where he shares insights on travel and culinary experiences across various regions of Vietnam.

On a recent cycling trip across the country, he visited the historical city of Hue. His journey took him from Dong Hoi City in Quang Binh to Hue, as he aimed to savor the authentic Bun bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup) in its birthplace.

Recognized by the Asian Record Organization in 2016, Bun bo Hue stands among the 100 most valued dishes in Asian cuisine and was also included in the top 100 Vietnamese specialties from 2020 to 2021.

Initially a fan of pho, Vietnam’s national noodle soup, Dustin has shifted his preference to Bun bo Hue. He enjoys various noodle dishes, including ‘mi Quang’ (Quang-style noodles), ‘hu tieu’ (noodle soup with pork and shrimp), and ‘bun rieu’ (crab noodle soup).

In Hue, Dustin dined at a well-established restaurant on Hanoi Road in Vinh Ninh ward, which has served locals for the past two decades.

While he had tasted Bun bo Hue in Ho Chi Minh City before, this was his first experience enjoying it in its original setting.

He opted for a special bowl loaded with various toppings like pig’s trotters, leg pork, meatballs, tendons, blood pudding, and crab cakes. The presentation, complete with fresh lettuce, bean sprouts, and Vietnamese balm, was visually appealing.

Dustin appreciated the generous portions of meat compared to other places where he felt servings were sparse. He expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I like big pieces of pork like these,” and rated the dish a perfect 10 out of 10.

He praised the dish for its balanced combination of vegetables and meat, making it a healthy choice, especially for those with an active lifestyle seeking a protein-rich diet.