Phở vịt (duck pho) from Cao Bằng and Lạng Sơn

Fact: Phở vịt made with roast duck is an iconic delicacy of Lạng Sơn.

Phở Vịt (Duck Pho): Basic Information

Pronunciation

/fɜː viːt̚/ or /fuh veet/

Alternative Name(s)

Dish Type

Noodle soups, rice dishes

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Popular Variations

Phở Vịt (Duck Pho): Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Northeast Vietnam

Associated Region

Lang Son

Phở Vịt (Duck Pho): Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Rice noodles, duck, pork bones, scallions, and spices.

Main Cooking Method

Roasting and simmering

Preparation Process

Making roast duck, preparing the broth, boiling the noodles, assembling phở vịt

Phở Vịt (Duck Pho): A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A special delicacy of Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces

Taste

Savory

Texture

Soft noodles, succulent duck

Aroma

Rich and fragrant

Color

White noodles, reddish-orange duck, brown broth, green herbs

Serving Style

In a bowl and eaten with a spoon and chopsticks

Serving Temperature

Hot

Accompaniment

Bamboo shoots pickled with bird’s eye chilies
Bánh áp chao (a type of small, duck-filled meat pie)
Extra roast duck juice
Fragrant herbs

Occasions

N/A

Seasons

Year-round

Special Diets

Non diet-specific

Calories

Unspecified

Popularity

Northeast Vietnam

Popular Similar Dishes

Mì Vịt Tiềm
Roast Duck Noodle Soup

Popular Dining Area

Restaurants and local households

Phở vịt, literally “duck phở,” is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup made with phở noodles (flat, thin rice noodles) and duck meat.

In Vietnam, phở vịt is a popular name for phở vịt quay (“phở with roast duck”), a popular dish in Lang Son and Cao Bang, two provinces in Northeast Vietnam.

Lang Son-style phở vịt features succulent slices of roast duck and a dark, flavorful broth.

This noodle dish is usually served alongside tangy bamboo shoots pickled with spicy bird’s eye chilies, bánh áp chao (a type of small, duck-filled meat pie), extra roasted duck drippings, or fragrant herbs.

Continue reading, and I will tell you about the main ingredients, upsides, and downsides of phở vịt in Lang Son. I will also present you with common queries about this noodle soup and recommend similar dishes.

Key Points

Phở vịt is a Vietnamese noodle soup usually made with phở noodles, roast duck, pork broth, and scallions.
Vietnam’s most famous phở vịt comes from the Northeast region, especially Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces.
Lang Son-style roast duck is marinated in a mixture of various local spices, giving it an incredibly rich flavor.
Phở vịt with roast duck in Lang Son is very savory and should be served with proper accompaniments.

What Is Lang Son-style Phở Vịt Made of?

Phở vịt with roast duck in Lang Son consists of the 4 types of ingredients below:

Ingredients	Description
Phở noodles	Flat, thin rice noodles
Roast duck	Marinated in a mixture of the fruits and leaves of mắc mật (a local plant known scientifically as Clausena indica), soy sauce, garlic, fermented bean curd, black cardamom, etc. Brushed with honey before being roasted until juicy inside and crispy outside
Broth	Made from pork broth, scallions, ginger, roast duck juice, and spices like Malabar cardamom (Wurfbainia villosa), cinnamon, etc.
Garnish	Scallions, black pepper

Can you guess the advantages and disadvantages of eating this kind of phở vịt? Read on to check your answer!

Pros and Cons of Eating Phở Vịt

Phở vịt with roast duck comes with the following positive and negative traits:

Pros

Deep flavor: Roasted duck and meat juice add an incredible amount of savoriness and richness to the noodle soup.
Cultural experience: Phở vịt offers a twist on the traditional phở, providing a new experience for those exploring the cuisine of Northeast Vietnam.
Comfort food: Hot phở vịt is a popular comfort food with locals.

Cons

Caloric Content: Roast duck is typically higher in fat and calories than other meats used in phở, such as chicken or beef.
Availability: Lang Son-style phở vịt can be difficult to find outside of Vietnam.
Heaviness: The richness of phở vịt can overwhelm some people, especially if they don’t serve it with the right accompaniments to balance the flavor.

Now that you know about those pros and cons, why don’t you check out the FAQs section for more helpful information about phở vịt?

Phở Vịt FAQs

If you want to try Lang Son-style phở vịt outside Northeast Vietnam, stop by Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. There are several local restaurants with this unique phở variant on their menu.

Roast duck in Lang Son-style phở vịt has a rich and diverse flavor profile thanks to being marinated with many local herbs and spices, especially the fruits and leaves of the mắc mật plant.

Yes, some phở vịt variants feature seared, steamed, or boiled duck meat, but the version with roast meat from Northeast Vietnam is still the most popular one.

Similar Dishes of Phở Vịt (Duck Pho)

Mì Vịt Tiềm

Mì vịt tiềm is a Vietnamese dish of egg noodles with braised duck and various toppings in a dark and herbal broth that originated from Chinese cuisine.

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Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.