Ben Tre's skillfully-crafted rice noodles delight foodies near and far

Renowned for its abundant coconut farms and skillfully crafted rice noodles, known as bánh canh bột xắt, the Mekong Delta province of Bến Tre boasts a culinary tradition that delights both locals and visitors alike.

The noodles, which are expertly made by hand, offer a delightful combination of soft and crunchy textures and a natural sweetness derived from the rice dough. The dish leaves a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to sample it when paired with a delectable broth and the savour of free-range ducks.

Explaining the name of the dish, local vendor Le Thi Ty, who has been selling the dish for more than two decades, said she chooses special rice that is medium dry and not too soft. The rice should be soaked in cold water for four hours, then ground into a wet dough and kneaded well before using a glass bottle to roll it into thin slices. She then uses a knife to cut them and puts them into a pot to boiling water for a few minutes until they floats.

“Making rice noodles is not so difficult, but the maker should regularly stir them while boiling to avoid them from burning and sticking together,” Ty said, noting that there are many types of bánh canh soup.

These include bánh canh with giò heo (pork leg), bánh canh with chicken, bánh canh with shrimp and coconut juice, and bánh canh with snakehead fish or sea crab, but the most popular is bánh canh with duck meat.

Ty said she often chooses vịt xiêm (kind of muscovy duck) as the meat is soft and less fatty. The meat should be marinated with minced dried onion, pepper and salt for an hour before frying.

She said several sellers cut the duck into pieces and then put them into a bánh canh pot. The dish is more enjoyable when topped with coriander and pepper.

Truong Thi Thinh from Hanoi said last August her daughter from Germany organised a tour for her and her husband to visit HCM City and the provinces of Tien Giang and Ben Tre.

“We were told to eat the noodles with duck when visiting Ben Tre. Duck meat is more enjoyable when dipping it in fish sauce mixed with ginger and chilli so that eaters can experience its special flavour,” Thinh said.

Nutritionists say the dish is rich in vitamin E, B6, acid folic and kali. The dish is low in calories, so it is suitable for those wishing to lose weight.