Buzz
1. Banh Beo Bi
Anyone who has passed through Bung Market will certainly know the renowned brand of Binh Duong Banh Beo Bi, a local specialty that has been famous for many years. Located in An Thanh Commune, Bung Market has become well-known in Southern Vietnamese cuisine, thanks to two longstanding eateries, Ngoc Huong and My Lien. One is situated near National Highway 13, at the Cống Bridge intersection, while the other is right in front of the market, close to the bus station. The deliciousness of this dish lies in the mix of 'bi' and fish sauce. 'Bi' is a blend of pork and pig skin that is stir-fried, sliced thin, and mixed with roasted rice powder, spices, and garlic for a fragrant and flavorful taste. The pork is selected from high-quality ham, covered with skin, fried until golden, and then simmered in coconut water to absorb the rich flavors, making it tender and sweet.
The allure of Binh Duong Banh Beo Bi also lies in the secret recipe for the dipping sauce. Locals reveal that it’s made from pure fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar, cooked slowly over low heat until it’s clear and without any froth. Then, garlic, chili, and pickled vegetables are added. When served, customers simply pour the sauce over their plate of Banh Beo to enjoy its unique flavor. While this dish may seem easy to recreate, you won’t find it in Saigon. That’s why people still travel to Binh Duong to savor it, especially those who have tried it before. Visitors can also choose from other delicious options like Bun Bi, Bi rolls, spring rolls, or sour pork for an equally satisfying meal!
2. Grilled Beef on Roof Tiles
Binh Duong is home to many delicious dishes that captivate the hearts of visitors. These dishes are popular due to their unique flavors and distinctive cooking methods. One of the most memorable dishes is Grilled Beef on Roof Tiles, which has earned the affection of food enthusiasts. The beef is wrapped in a layer of lard, which adds a rich, savory flavor and enhances the tenderness of the meat. Grilling it with lard makes the beef moist and prevents it from becoming dry or tough. This dish is often compared to the lard-wrapped grilled beef found in Saigon, but with a distinct twist. In Binh Duong, the beef is only wrapped with fresh meat and lard, with no additional herbs or spices. The unique flavor can only be fully appreciated when you try it for yourself.
What makes Grilled Beef on Roof Tiles special is the way the beef is cooked: the meat is grilled with the heat from a hot roof tile, allowing it to retain its natural aroma while developing a deliciously unique taste. This dish is also packed with nutrients, especially iron, making it a healthy choice, particularly for women and expectant mothers. To enjoy it, you must have rice paper and fresh herbs to wrap the beef. Common herbs include perilla leaves, sliced green banana, mugwort, star fruit, and cucumber. Place the herbs on the rice paper, add a piece of beef, roll it up, and dip it in fermented shrimp paste. Grilled Beef on Roof Tiles offers a full spectrum of flavors—the sweetness of the beef, the bitterness of the banana, the spicy, pungent taste of mugwort and perilla, the sourness of star fruit, and the irresistible aroma of shrimp paste.
3. Shrimp Vermicelli
What makes Shrimp Vermicelli, a special delicacy from Binh Duong, stand out is its truly unique preparation method. Unlike most places where ready-made vermicelli is used, here the noodles are freshly made upon order. The vendor starts by pressing rice flour dough and steaming it in hot water, creating soft, delicate noodles that are transparent and smooth. The shrimp used are fresh, with firm and sweet meat. Typically, the dish is served with crispy toasted rice crackers. At first, newcomers may not find it particularly tasty, but after a few bites, they’re hooked—thanks to the sweet broth, the fragrant green onions, and the surprisingly affordable price.
Due to its one-of-a-kind characteristics, Binh Duong Shrimp Vermicelli offers a taste like no other. The shrimp are crushed and then briefly dipped in boiling water before being added to a bowl of fresh noodles, topped with the savory broth. A sprinkle of ground pepper, monosodium glutamate, and aromatic green onions complete the dish. The result is a steaming bowl of shrimp vermicelli, filled with an irresistible fragrance. Often, the dish is paired with crispy rice paper. While the flavor may not win over everyone at first, frequent enjoyment makes it irresistible due to the sweetness of the broth and the intoxicating aroma of green onions. This shrimp vermicelli is an iconic breakfast dish in Binh Duong, loved by locals and visitors alike.
4. Lai Thieu Spring Rolls
If you visit Lai Thieu, you must try the famous spring rolls, a long-standing specialty that has become a culinary icon in the area of Thu Dau Mot and now in Binh Duong. Lai Thieu Spring Rolls are traditionally handmade using fresh, lean pork, with all fat and sinew removed. The pork is sliced thick, dried, then ground in a mortar and seasoned with roasted salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, and other spices. While similar to other fermented spring rolls found in different regions, Lai Thieu’s version has a distinctive taste, crafted by the hands of the local people. When you unwrap the spring roll, you’ll see its soft pink color that’s not overly vibrant but enough to captivate you at first glance. A bite brings a delightful mix of sour, sweet, savory, and spicy flavors, leaving you craving more.
The process involves boiling pig skin until it’s just tender, then cutting it into thin strands. The pork fat is also boiled, drained, cut into small pieces, and mixed with sugar to make it translucent. Garlic is fried with the fat until golden, then the garlic is removed, and the fat is cooled. The finely ground pork, pig skin, and fat are all mixed together. The spring roll filling is wrapped in clean vong leaves, then placed inside banana leaves to ferment. After three days, the rolls are ready to eat. When in Lai Thieu, don’t miss out on the chance to try these legendary spring rolls, a timeless food that has earned its place in the culinary traditions of both Thu Dau Mot and Binh Duong.
5. Mangosteen Salad
The best time to visit Lai Thieu is from May to August when the orchards are brimming with fruits like jackfruit, durian, and bonbon. During this time, the region also yields the sweet, juicy mangosteen, which has become a beloved local specialty. This delicious fruit reaches new heights when paired with chicken to create a refreshing mangosteen salad. Lai Thieu mangosteen is a prized fruit of Binh Duong, known for its fragrant sweetness. The locals use it to make a unique salad that stands apart from others. Unlike typical salads, this one combines a distinct taste and preparation method. The mangosteen used is carefully selected when the rind is still green but the flesh is perfectly ripe, ensuring it retains its crunch, sweetness, and balanced acidity.
Mangosteen salad is made from mangosteen that has a green rind, but the flesh inside is tender, sweet, and tangy. The most challenging part of preparing this dish is extracting the mangosteen flesh, as green mangosteen exudes a sticky sap, which makes slicing difficult. After numerous attempts, the locals discovered that submerging the fruit in water before cutting keeps the flesh white and firm. The flesh is then either sliced into flower-like rings or simply segmented and pitted. The salad is combined with boiled shrimp, thinly sliced pork belly or shredded free-range chicken, and the mangosteen flesh. Additional ingredients include thinly sliced onions, grated carrots, roasted peanuts, Vietnamese coriander, fried shallots, chili slices, and seasonings like sugar, salt, and monosodium glutamate. It is traditionally served with a dip made of garlic, chili, and fish sauce, along with toasted rice paper or shrimp crackers.
6. Beef Hotpot with Shrimp Paste
Beef hotpot with shrimp paste is a signature dish of Binh Duong, perfect for those seeking a hearty and flavorful meal. The dish is especially popular when the weather is cool, making it ideal for family gatherings. The highlight of this hotpot is the shrimp paste, which adds a deep, savory flavor to the broth, complemented by the fragrant lemongrass and crispy pork cracklings. The broth is simmered to perfection, seasoned with shrimp paste, sugar, and monosodium glutamate, and served with thinly sliced beef, fresh herbs, and vermicelli. To prepare the broth, begin by simmering pork bones to make a rich stock. Then, add a spoonful of shrimp paste, along with spices like sugar and monosodium glutamate, along with chopped lemongrass and chili powder. After the stock is flavored, add boiled pork belly and onions. The crispy pork cracklings should be added just before serving, to preserve their crisp texture.
The key to this dish lies in the shrimp paste and the flavorful broth, which is rich with the distinctive taste of shrimp paste and the aromatic scent of lemongrass. The broth is further enriched by the fatty pork cracklings and tender pork belly. The hotpot is served with a plate of fresh beef, vegetables, and vermicelli. While the taste of shrimp paste may be a bit overwhelming for those unaccustomed to it, once you develop a taste for it, it becomes utterly addictive. Besides the beef hotpot with shrimp paste, there are many other irresistible dishes on offer. If you find yourself in Binh Duong, make sure to try this hotpot to experience the full range of unique flavors that define this dish.
7. Bánh Khọt
Binh Duong's Bánh Khọt is a beloved dish among tourists, alongside the famous bánh bèo bì. These crispy little pancakes are made from rice or cassava flour, with a delicious shrimp filling. The bánh is fried until golden, served with fresh herbs and chili, and paired with a tangy-sweet dipping sauce. Hot, crispy, and aromatic, the bánh khọt is a delight to the senses. The fresh, large shrimp placed in the center of each bánh makes it even more appealing. The local version of this dish has evolved over time, with some unique touches—such as using fresh shrimp instead of dried shrimp and topping the bánh with crispy pork floss instead of the traditional shrimp paste.
Another feature of bánh khọt is that it's made to order, ensuring that each bánh is hot and crispy when served. The batter is poured evenly and continuously onto the mold, resulting in perfectly round, golden bánh with fresh, large shrimp in the center. Each serving is accompanied by shredded papaya, fresh herbs, and a well-balanced sweet and sour dipping sauce. For those who like a little more flavor, adding fried quail eggs or Vietnamese sausage makes for a perfect combination. If you're visiting Thủ Dầu Một or Binh Duong, don't miss the chance to try bánh khọt!
8. Cashew Nuts
Cashew nuts can be used to make a variety of delicious and nutritious dishes. According to traditional Eastern medicine, cashews have a sweet, rich flavor, are warm in nature, and offer health benefits such as nourishing, soothing, and clearing phlegm. They are highly recommended for individuals suffering from weakness, sore throats, or coughs caused by cold. Not only are cashews packed with nutritional value, but they also hold significant economic value. They can be turned into numerous tasty and healthy treats, with the most popular being salted roasted cashews. This dish offers a rich, slightly sweet flavor with a salty kick and a satisfying crunch, although it can be quite expensive. If you're visiting Binh Duong, head to a local cashew orchard and try roasting your own—it's much more affordable!
9. Roasted Chicken with Puff Rice
Roasted chicken with puff rice is a popular dish among visitors to Binh Duong. The large, golden, crispy puffed rice cakes, with a hollow center, are not only visually appealing but also incredibly delicious. The rice for this dish can vary, including options like black bean, green bean, peanut, gac fruit, or chrysanthemum rice, all made with sticky rice as the base. The dish features a round, golden, crispy puffed rice served alongside perfectly roasted chicken—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—that’s hard to resist. This dish is available at almost every restaurant in Binh Duong, making it easy for visitors to try.
The rice and chicken are served together, both golden and aromatic, making the dish visually stunning and enticing. Unlike the boiled chicken with sticky rice found in northern Vietnam, Binh Duong’s roasted chicken with puff rice is a perfect pair that’s simply irresistible. To enhance the flavor and balance out the richness, it's commonly served with a side of garlic-chili dipping sauce and fresh vegetables. One bite of the crispy rice combined with flavorful roasted chicken will leave you wanting more. This rich dish is perfect for cooler, rainy days, making it a great comfort food when dining at a restaurant in Binh Duong.
10. Lái Thiêu Fruits
Lái Thiêu Fruit Gardens are located along the Saigon River, about 10 kilometers south of Thu Dau Mot town. The area is renowned for its tropical fruits and lush gardens, making it a popular destination for fruit lovers in Binh Duong. Visitors can explore the sprawling orchards and pick fresh, delicious fruit directly from the trees. Lái Thiêu is especially famous for its varieties of rambutan, durian, longan, and sweetened jackfruit. Not only can tourists enjoy a delightful tour, but they can also take home fresh fruit as a souvenir for loved ones. The experience is further enhanced by the chance to relax in hammocks and savor the sweet flavors of nature.
From May to August each year, the fruit season is in full swing, making it the best time to visit Lái Thiêu's orchards. Visitors can enjoy the fresh air and vibrant greenery of the fruit gardens while sampling the delicious fruits that grow there, such as mangosteen, durian, rambutan, and custard apple. A boat ride along the Saigon River also offers a scenic view of the orchards. In recent years, Lái Thiêu has become a popular getaway for young people, especially students and couples, especially during the summer holidays. Its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, just 20 kilometers away, makes it an easily accessible and convenient destination for a day trip. The sweet fruit and serene surroundings make Lái Thiêu an ideal escape for anyone seeking a taste of nature.
