Bun dau mam tom (fried tofu, shrimp paste, and noodles) is one of signature foods in Hanoi. Any visitors must try this dish when coming to our capital, we could find it at the hold of the wall to sell this one every streets, or also vendors sit a corner of any roads.
The special one is shrimp paste which mainly made from shrimp or moi (it is a kind of tiny shrimp) and salt. After the nature fermented processing, this sauce is created a typical favor and color. There are 3 shrimp paste types: thick, paste and liquid which are based on the rate of salt and the sun exposure. When eating, we should add more lemon, chili to push up its smell.
Besides main foods, fried tofu, shrimp paste, noodles, people could add more some other foods such as boiled shoulder pork, pork roll, fried pork’s guts…
For tofu, it is fried all 6 sides however its inside still white and soft, and bean tasting. After deep it into shrimp paste bowl, it’s absolutely mouthwatering.
In case, you can’t eat shrimp paste, you could change to fish sauce. Anyway shrimp paste is quite strong smell and not suitable for people don’t like that one.
If you ask any local people in Hanoi about the signature foods, certainly, they will tell you “bun dau mam tom” which is a special one to other areas.
Donna Nguyen 