Lai fun is a variety of Chinese noodle. It is commonly found in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 and to some degree among overseas Chinatowns. Its name comes from the Cantonese language.

Lai fun may also be referred to as Bánh canh

Banh canh

Bánh canh is a thick Vietnamese noodle that can be made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour. In bánh canh soup dishes, the noodles are combined with one of several soup bases, such as:...

 by Vietnamese, in which case, it is made from rice flour

Rice flour

Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye....

 and tapioca

Tapioca

Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...

 starch.

Production

Lai fun noodles are made from rice flour

Rice flour

Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye....

 and/or tapioca

Tapioca

Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...

 starch and are available in short or long varieties.

Comparison

Lai fun has a very similar appearance with silver needle noodles. One way to distinguish the two is to look at the ends of each lai fun piece. The ends of lai fun noodles are often cut straight down as opposed to leaving a tapering "tail."

See also

• Chinese noodles
  Chinese noodles
  Noodles are an essential ingredient and staple in Chinese cuisine. There is a great variety of Chinese noodles, which vary according to their region of production, ingredients, shape or width, and manner of preparation...
  
  
• Silver needle noodle