Place the whole chicken in a large pot. If it doesn’t fit completely, remove the legs to fit better. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Simmer the chicken with lemongrass, lime leaves, ginger, garlic, jalapeno, onion, and salt and peppercorns until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Leave lid slightly ajar, and skim impurities as you go. This typically takes about 60-90 minutes.

Once the chicken is done, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Shred the chicken meat and discard the bones and skin.

Return the chicken broth to a boil and add sliced mushrooms, tomato, and sliced eggplant. Cook until they are tender. Add salt to taste.

While the vegetables are cooking, add the rice noodles and shredded chicken directly to the simmering broth. Cook until the noodles are tender; this usually takes about 8-10 minutes.

Serve and garnish with herbs.