In Vietnam, bò bía is a popiah variant introduced by Teochew immigrants.
Bò bía is Vietnam’s adaptation of popiah, the soft, fresh spring roll associated with southern Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese version is commonly sold by street vendors and is wrapped in a thin wheat-flour crêpe rather than a fried shell. Fillings vary, but popiah-style combinations often include turnip or jicama, vegetables, tofu, sausage, peanuts, and savory sauces.
The Teochew connection reflects the movement of people from the Chaoshan region of southern China into Vietnam and neighboring countries. Popiah itself also has strong Fujianese and Hokkien associations, so the wider dish has more than one regional Chinese lineage. That broader history can cause confusion, but the specific attribution for Vietnamese bò bía is Teochew immigrants—not Hainanese, Cantonese, or Hakka migrants.