Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch round cake pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt until evenly combined.

In a separate bowl or measuring cup, stir together 1 cup water, ½ cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet mixture into the well.

Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together with a spatula or spoon until just combined; stop as soon as there are no large streaks of flour (some small lumps are fine).

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top lightly, and tap the pan on the counter once or twice to release any large air bubbles.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges if needed and transfer the cake to the wire rack to cool completely before serving.