Rainbow rice noodles, also known as five-coloured hu tieu, are a fun take on the traditional Vietnamese rice noodles and a must-try for every tourist to Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta
Vacationers enjoy making their own brilliantly coloured noodle masterpieces. VNA/VNS Photos
Huynh Huu Hoai (Sau Hoai) is recognised as being among the first to create this dish.
His noodle factory in An Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, is a popular stop for tourists on their way to Cai Rang floating market, one of Can Tho's most popular attractions.
Sun-dried rainbow noodles.
What makes Hoai's hu tieu (rice noodles) so popular is his own spin on the meal, which includes a pizza-inspired version and one naturally dyed with five brilliant colours.
The bright noodles produced by this family business come from a wide array of natural ingredients, including gac fruit, red dragon fruit, pandan leaves, magenta plant, and beetroot.
At each step of the process, visitors will have the opportunity to actually watch and produce their own. The finished products have a price of VND50,000 (US$2,14) for each package.
Foreign visitors experience the creation of colourful noodles.
The restaurant's signature dish, hu tieu pizza, is also produced and served on-site.
Unlike regular pizza, which is prepared with flour-based dough, the base of this dish is made of noodles.
The chef quickly fries the noodles until they are golden in a hot-oil pan. The noodles serve as regular, round pizza base and provide a crunchy sensation when eaten.
Creating a 'hu tieu' pizza with rainbow rice noodles.
The completed meal features a topping of pork stew, fried eggs, and fragrant coconut milk drizzled over the top.
Peanuts, veggies, chilli, crispy fried onion and tomato sauce can all be added to the dish to give it a pizza-like flavour.
Sau Hoai with his renowned 'hu tieu' pizza.
With an average of 350 visitors every day, the Sau Hoai noodle business not only generates revenue for the owner's family and neighbours but also contributes to Can Tho's international reputation.
It's a strategy for revitalising traditional craft villages while also attracting tourists.
