Rice vermicelli (Bi hun)

Rice vermicelli are thin noodles made from rice flour and water. They are often used in stir-fries, salads, or soups. The noodles are represented in a variety of notable dishes throughout various countries such as China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Rice noodles are characterized by their shiny white color and their thin structure, reminiscent of silk threads. They originated during the Qin dynasty and had been consumed for more than 2000 years in China. Historical evidence implies that the people from northern China preferred wheat noodles because they were not used to eating rice.

When they invaded the south, northern cooks made noodles using rice, inventing rice noodles in the process. Today, rice noodles are served both as a key ingredient and as a side dish. They can be combined with vegetables and meat to create a wide variety of dishes, such as soto, santhakai, bihun sup, and lumpia.