Banh pho are noodles made from rice flour. In countries other than Vietnam, they are called chantaboon or rice sticks. Modern conveniences have seen banh pho sold as dry packaged varieties in supermarkets and grocery stores, but the ideal banh pho are those made fresh.

“Bánh phở”, the backbone of many dishes of “phở”, is a kind of fresh noodle, made from rice flour. It is white, thin, flat and tastes slightly buttery and sweet like boiled rice.

Bánh phở - flat rice noodles; these are available in a wide variety of widths and may be used for either phở soup or stir-fried dishes

The best and most traditional noodle to use is bánh phở, also called flat rice noodles. You can also try rice vermicelli, sweet potato glass noodles, mung bean thread noodles, and bánh canh (tapioca noodles).