Nha Trang Fish Noodle Soup: What Makes It Special and 7 Places to Try

A bowl of Nha Trang fish noodle soup, or bun ca Nha Trang, may look simple at first. The appeal comes from its clear fish broth, springy fish cakes, tender pieces of fish and, at some places, crisp jellyfish. Each shop puts these elements together differently, so two bowls can taste surprisingly distinct.

If you are looking for a light breakfast, a local meal after exploring the city or simply want to know where to start, these seven addresses offer a useful introduction.

Addresses, opening hours and prices were checked in September 2026. Local restaurants may change their schedules and prices, so check again before visiting.

1. What makes Nha Trang fish noodle soup different?

Most bowls are built around three main elements: fish-based broth, fish cake and cooked fish pieces known locally as ca dam. The fish cake may be steamed or fried. Ca dam keeps more of the natural fish texture, giving each bite a softer, meatier feel.

Local fish cakes can be made from several kinds of sea fish, including mackerel, marlin, lizardfish, flying fish or barracuda. The broth is also commonly prepared from fish, which gives it a clean, naturally sweet flavour without relying on a rich or fatty base.

A bowl usually comes with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, shredded banana blossom or cucumber, depending on the shop. Lime, chilli and fish sauce are normally available so you can adjust the flavour yourself.

1.1 What is the difference between bun ca, bun cha ca, bun sua and bun ca dam?

These names often appear together on menus, which can be confusing if you are trying the dish for the first time.

Jellyfish is strongly associated with Nha Trang-style noodle soup, but not every bowl includes it. Some restaurants let you choose between fish, fish cake, jellyfish or a combination.

2. Quick comparison of Nha Trang fish noodle soup restaurants

If you are not sure where to begin, this table gives a quick look at location, opening hours and what each shop is known for.

3. 7 places to try Nha Trang fish noodle soup

3.1 Co Ba Fish Noodle Soup - Hoang Hoa Tham

• Address: 105 Hoang Hoa Tham, Nha Trang
• Opening hours: 06:00-13:15 and 16:00-20:30
• Price guide: From around VND 20,000
• Try: Fish cake and jellyfish noodle soup, bun ca

Co Ba on Hoang Hoa Tham is an easy place to start if you want a bowl combining fish, fish cake and jellyfish. Photos posted by diners on Foody show several topping combinations, from fish noodle soup without jellyfish to bowls with fish cake, jellyfish and extra toppings.

A bowl with jellyfish has plenty of texture. The noodles are soft, the fish remains tender, the fish cake has more bite and the jellyfish stays crisp. Fresh vegetables and dipping sauce let you make the bowl spicier or saltier as you eat.

The name "Co Ba" appears on several Nha Trang listings, including one on Yersin Street. To avoid ending up at a different shop, search specifically for Co Ba Fish Noodle Soup at 105 Hoang Hoa Tham.

3.2 Hanh Nhien Fish Noodle Soup

• Address: 32C Le Dai Hanh, Nha Trang
• Opening hours: 06:00-12:30 and 16:00-20:00
• Price guide: VND 20,000-30,000
• Try: Jellyfish fish noodle soup, fish cake noodle soup

Hanh Nhien is a good option if fish cake is the part you are most interested in trying. The shop serves fish noodle soup, jellyfish versions, fish cake and separate portions of fish cake. That makes it easy to order a basic bowl first and add more fish cake if you want to taste it on its own.

Hanh Nhien is on Le Dai Hanh Street and serves during both the morning and late afternoon to evening. This is useful if you miss the traditional breakfast window but still want a bowl later in the day.

3.3 Yersin Jellyfish Noodle Soup

• Address listed by several sources: 87 Yersin, Nha Trang
• Listed opening hours: Around 07:00-21:00
• Price guide: VND 25,000-35,000
• Try: Jellyfish fish noodle soup

The bowl at 87 Yersin is commonly described as a combination of jellyfish, fish, fish cake and clear broth. Jellyfish does not have an especially strong flavour. Its appeal comes from the texture: cool and crisp against hot broth, soft noodles and tender fish. That contrast is what makes bun sua feel different from a bowl containing only fish and fish cake.

Check before visiting: online information about the current operating status of 87 Yersin is inconsistent. Foody and several travel sources still display opening hours, while another listing suggests the shop may have closed. Check Google Maps or confirm locally before making a special trip.

3.4 Min Fish Noodle Soup

• Address: 170 Bach Dang, Nha Trang
• Current website prices: VND 45,000 for ca dam and fish cake noodles; VND 55,000 for ca dam, fish cake and jellyfish
• Try: Ca dam, fish cake and jellyfish noodle soup

Min is one of the few shops in this list with its own website showing a current menu and prices. The menu currently keeps things simple, with two main choices. One combines ca dam and fish cake, while the other adds jellyfish.

If this is your first time trying several Nha Trang-style toppings together, the second version gives you the clearest comparison in one bowl. The ca dam is soft and meaty, the fish cake has more spring, and the jellyfish brings a crisp finish.

3.5 Nam Beo Fish Noodle Soup - Dam Market

• Address: B2 Phan Boi Chau Apartment Building, Dam Market area
• Opening hours: 07:00-21:00
• Price guide: Around VND 20,000-35,000
• Try: Jellyfish fish noodle soup, fish cake noodle soup

Nam Beo is a convenient stop if your itinerary includes Dam Market. Located in the Phan Boi Chau apartment complex right next to the market area, it allows you to easily combine a meal with sightseeing or shopping nearby.

Bowls here are commonly served with thin rice noodles, fish cake, ca dam and jellyfish. The crisp jellyfish and clear broth are often mentioned, while the front of the shop also sells several dried local specialities.

If you do not want every topping in one bowl, ask whether you can order a version focused more on jellyfish or fish cake.

3.6 Nguyen Loan Fish Noodle Soup

• Address: 123 Ngo Gia Tu, Nha Trang
• Opening hours: Around 06:00-22:30
• Recent noodle prices: Around VND 30,000-35,000
• Try: Fish cake and ca dam noodle soup

Nguyen Loan has a broader menu than many dedicated bun ca shops. Along with fish noodle soup, it also serves banh canh and other fish-based dishes. This works well for groups where not everyone wants the same bowl.

Nguyen Loan has long been associated with banh canh served with fried fish cake, steamed fish cake and pieces of tuna. Bun ca is also available, and a recently compiled menu lists fish cake and ca dam noodle soup at around VND 30,000-35,000. If you want to compare fish cake with the softer texture of cooked fish in the same meal, this is a useful place to do it.

3.7 Song Ngu Fish Noodle Soup

• Address: 5A Phan Chu Trinh, Nha Trang
• Opening hours: 15:30-20:30
• Price guide: Around VND 20,000-40,000
• Known for: Ca dam, fish cake, jellyfish, fish offal and fish roe

Song Ngu goes a little further than the basic fish-and-fish-cake bowl. Descriptions of the shop often mention combinations of ca dam, fish cake, jellyfish, fish offal and fish roe, served with fresh vegetables including shredded banana blossom.

It can be an interesting second stop if you have already tried a simple bowl elsewhere and want to see how more parts of the fish are used. Both steamed and fried fish cakes are also mentioned as house-made products that can be ordered separately.

Song Ngu mainly opens in the afternoon and evening, from around 15:30 to 20:30.

4. Exploring local food from TUI BLUE Nha Trang

Located at 18 Tran Hung Dao, TUI BLUE Nha Trang is a comfortable 5-star hotel in the city centre, making it convenient to combine your stay with culinary explorations around Nha Trang. The hotel is approximately 350 m from the beach and has a private beach area for staying guests.

Several restaurants in this guide, including Min on Bach Dang Street, Nam Beo near Dam Market and Song Ngu on Phan Chu Trinh, are within the wider city area. That makes it easy to head out for a local breakfast or afternoon meal, then return to the hotel without turning the food stop into a long excursion.

If you want a change of pace after street food, Xanh Ciao Restaurant at TUI BLUE Nha Trang serves a combination of Mediterranean cuisine, some traditional Nha Trang specialities and Vietnamese cuisine. The hotel also hosts live music nights at Xanh Ciao Restaurant on selected days of the week, offering another option for a relaxed evening right at your accommodation.

TUI BLUE Nha Trang

• Address: No. 18 Tran Hung Dao Street, Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province, Viet Nam
• Hotline: +84 (0) 258 3552 888
• Email: reservation.nhatrang@tui-blue.com
• Website: https://tuibluenhatrang.com/

5. Frequently asked questions about Nha Trang fish noodle soup

5.1 What is usually in Nha Trang fish noodle soup?

A basic bowl normally contains rice noodles, fish or ca dam, fish cake, broth and fresh vegetables. Depending on the restaurant, you may also find jellyfish, steamed fish cake, fried fish cake, fish offal or fish roe.

Nha Trang fish cake can be made from several kinds of sea fish, while the broth generally gets much of its natural sweetness from fish.

5.2 What is the difference between bun ca and bun cha ca?

"Bun ca" is the broader term and may include ca dam, fish cake or both. With "bun cha ca", fish cake is usually the main topping.

Names are not completely standardised between restaurants. Looking at the actual ingredients on the menu is often more helpful than relying on the dish name alone.

5.3 Does Nha Trang fish noodle soup always contain jellyfish?

No. Jellyfish is popular in Nha Trang, but it is not required in every bowl.

Min, for example, currently separates its ca dam and fish cake noodle soup from the version containing ca dam, fish cake and jellyfish. You can simply choose whichever texture you prefer.

5.4 How much is a bowl of fish noodle soup in Nha Trang?

Many casual shops in this guide start at around VND 20,000-40,000 per bowl. Bowls with more toppings or at some restaurants can reach around VND 45,000-55,000.

Min's official website currently lists VND 45,000 for ca dam with fish cake and VND 55,000 for the version with jellyfish added. Prices can change, so check the latest menu when you visit.

5.5 Is bun ca only a breakfast dish?

No. Some shops open early in the morning, but plenty also serve later in the day. Song Ngu mainly opens in the afternoon and evening. Co Ba and Hanh Nhien split their hours between morning and evening sessions. Nguyen Loan commonly serves from morning until late evening.

So bun ca works just as well for breakfast, a light lunch or an easy dinner.

5.6 Which fish noodle soup shop is near Dam Market?

Nam Beo Fish Noodle Soup is the most directly connected with Dam Market in this list. The shop is at B2 Phan Boi Chau Apartment Building and is commonly listed online as "Nam Beo Fish Noodle Soup - Dam Market".

Song Ngu on Phan Chu Trinh is also in the northern part of central Nha Trang, but Nam Beo is the easier choice if you want to eat during a visit to Dam Market itself.

6. Getting to know Nha Trang through a bowl of bun ca

Bun ca does not need much ceremony. Much of its character comes from small differences between shops: how much ca dam goes into the bowl, whether the fish cake is steamed or fried, whether jellyfish is added, and how light or savoury the broth tastes.

Start with a simple fish cake bowl if you want to understand the basics. Add jellyfish if you enjoy something crisp, or try places such as Song Ngu and Nguyen Loan when you want to explore more fish-based toppings. The best choice is usually the shop that fits naturally into your day. Check the latest opening hours, order the combination that sounds good to you, and enjoy the bowl while it is still hot.