Search “rice paper” in Australia and half the results are for art and craft paper. This guide is about the edible kind, bánh tráng: the thin rice sheets you soften in water to wrap fresh rolls (gỏi cuốn) or fry as spring rolls (chả giò). Here’s which type to buy, what the label tells you, and where to find it.
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Quick answer
- For fresh rolls: round sheets about 22 cm across, made from a rice and tapioca blend. They’re the easiest to roll and the least likely to tear.
- For fried spring rolls: look for sheets sold for frying, or use thinner rice-only sheets, which crisp up better.
- Where: supermarkets for basic packs; Vietnamese and Asian grocers for the full choice of brands, sizes and shapes; online Asian grocers if you’re not near one.
Rice-only vs rice and tapioca
Check the ingredient list. Traditional bánh tráng is rice flour, water and salt. Many of the brands sold in Australia add tapioca starch, which makes the softened sheet stretchier, chewier and more forgiving when you roll it tightly. Rice-only sheets are thinner and more brittle when dry and can split if over-soaked, but they’re closer to what many cooks in Vietnam use and fry to a lighter crunch.
| Rice and tapioca blend | Rice only | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture once soaked | Stretchy, chewy, glossy | Softer, more delicate |
| Tearing | Rarely | More likely if over-soaked |
| Best for | Fresh rolls, beginners | Fried spring rolls, thin wraps |
| Where to find | Supermarkets and grocers | Mostly Vietnamese and Asian grocers |
Sizes and shapes
- 22 cm round: the standard for fresh rolls and the most common size in Australia.
- 16 cm round: smaller rolls, finger food, and fried spring rolls.
- Square and triangle sheets: mostly at Vietnamese grocers; squares are handy for fried rolls, triangles for small snack rolls.
- Bánh tráng for snacks: some grocers stock sesame rice crackers (bánh tráng mè) and shredded, seasoned rice paper for snacking (bánh tráng trộn). These are different products, not substitutes for wrapping.
Brands you’ll see in Australia
Three Ladies Brand is the name most Vietnamese-Australian cooks recognise: it’s made in Vietnam, widely stocked by Asian grocers and comes in several sizes. Red Rose and Bamboo Tree are also common at grocers. Supermarket shelves usually carry one or two Asian-food brands in the 22 cm size. We haven’t run a side-by-side test yet; when we do, the results and current prices will go here.
What to check on the pack
- Ingredients: rice only, or rice and tapioca (see above).
- Diameter: 22 cm unless you want small rolls.
- Broken sheets: look through the pack; lots of cracked edges means rough handling.
- Thickness and evenness: thin, even sheets with a fine woven pattern (from the drying mats) soften quickly and evenly.
- Gluten-free: rice paper is normally gluten-free, but check the label if it matters to you.
Where to buy rice paper in Australia
Supermarkets
Coles, Woolworths and often Aldi stock rice paper in the Asian or international aisle, usually 22 cm round sheets. Fine for fresh rolls; limited choice.
Vietnamese and Asian grocers
Several brands, every size and shape, rice-only options, plus the herbs and vermicelli you’ll want for the filling. Vietnamese shopping strips such as Cabramatta and Bankstown (Sydney), Footscray, St Albans and Springvale (Melbourne), and Inala (Brisbane) have the widest range. See our Vietnamese pantry essentials guide for the rest of the shopping list.
Online
Online Asian grocers deliver rice paper Australia-wide, and it travels well: light, dry and slow to spoil. Ordering online is the easiest way to get a specific brand or size if you’re in a regional area.
Using and storing it
- Dip each sheet in warm water for only a few seconds. It keeps softening on the board, so take it out while it still feels slightly firm.
- Roll on a damp board or plate, not dry wood, so it doesn’t stick.
- Store unopened packs in a cool, dry cupboard. Reseal opened packs; humidity makes the sheets brittle or sticky.
For filling and rolling ideas, recipe sites like RecipeTin Eats have step-by-step guides; VietFace sticks to what to buy and where.
Last checked: October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll check and correct it.
