Buzz
Every destination boasts its own delectable specialties that linger in the memories of travelers. Hà Tĩnh, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes like Hương Tích Pagoda, Thiên Cầm Beach, Ngã Ba Đồng Lộc, Ngang Pass, also preserves intangible cultural heritages like ca trù and hò ví dặm. Beyond that, it captivates tourists with its enticing and humble local delicacies. Let's explore 10 distinctive specialties from Hà Tĩnh with VNTRIP.VN.
Must-Try “Famous” Specialties of Hà Tĩnh
Cu Đơ Cake
Cu Đơ Cake - A Special Gift from Hà Tĩnh (Photo: ST)
One of the renowned specialties of Hà Tĩnh that cannot be overlooked is Cu Đơ Cake. This round-shaped cake, resembling a mirror, may seem coarse on the outside, but inside, it holds a myriad of sweet flavors, the purest essence of the people of Hà Tĩnh. The cake boasts a fragrant and rich taste of molasses, a spicy aroma of ginger, and, notably, the crispy texture of peanuts and rice paper. The mountain peanuts chosen are plump, moist, and flavorful. Holding a hefty piece, biting into the soft and aromatic cake, rich and chewy, accompanied by a cup of bitter tea, is an incomparable experience when visiting Hà Tĩnh.
Address: Cu Đơ Candy Specialty Production Facility (Nam Cầu Phủ – Hà Tĩnh City – Hà Tĩnh Province)
Hotline: 0902759596
Rice Cakes from Hà Tĩnh
Indulging in Hà Tĩnh's rice cakes (Photo: ST)
Rice cakes, a traditional dish available across various regions, each imbued with the unique flavors and characteristics of its locale. Hà Tĩnh's rice cakes are no exception, offering a distinctive taste that sets them apart. Crafted from filtered rice flour, the filling features peeled baby shrimp or finely chopped lean meat sautéed with dried onions, accompanied by fresh herbs. Adding a touch of chili sauce creates a delightful blend of spiciness and the sweet-sour notes of lime sugar.
Whether enjoyed hot or cold, these rice cakes captivate with their deliciousness. When savored warm, paired with spicy fish sauce on chilly days, they warm the heart. When relished cold, the cakes exhibit a slight chewiness, crispiness, and a rich, flavorful profile.
Address: 22 Phan Đình Phùng – Hà Tĩnh City
Sesame Rice Crackers
Choosing black sesame crackers as souvenirs in Hà Tĩnh (Photo: ST)
Hà Tĩnh is renowned for its affordable and delicious local cuisine, and one irresistible option is the black sesame rice crackers. Widely available throughout Hà Tĩnh's markets and eateries, these crackers exude a fragrant, crispy, and rich flavor that captures the essence of the region. Made entirely from rice, these large, thick crackers are generously adorned with black sesame seeds, providing a delightful combination of richness and nuttiness. Perfect for staving off hunger, they satisfy without feeling heavy.
In Hà Tĩnh, rice crackers are crafted exclusively from premium rice, untouched by corn or cassava additives commonly found elsewhere. Typically, producers select the first crop of the season, ensuring a blend of softness and aromatic essence absent in rice milled from older crops. Unique to Hà Tĩnh, locals also enjoy rice paper rolls filled with minced banana flowers, sautéed baby clams, and more. As a distinctive gift, nothing surpasses Hà Tĩnh's rice crackers for family and friends.
Address: The most abundant sesame rice cracker stalls are found in Hà Tĩnh's markets such as Tỉnh Market, Cầy Market, and Hội Market.
Ram Bánh Mướt
Hà Tĩnh Specialty: Ram Bánh Mướt (Photo: ST)
In the Hà Tĩnh dialect, 'ram' refers to fried spring rolls, a renowned dish contributing to the rich flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Yet, experiencing ram in Hà Tĩnh unveils a distinct taste unparalleled anywhere else. 'Bánh mướt' is another term for rolled cakes or wet cakes – a favored dish in the Nghệ region. Simply dipped in fish sauce, it is commonly served with pork sausage, or in a more sophisticated form, chicken soup with rolled cakes. Northern locals often prepare rolled cakes with meat fillings, generously adding fat during the rice paper coating. On the contrary, those from the Central region appreciate the light and refreshing taste of fat-free rolled cakes.
Ram mướt is a harmonious blend of two different types of cakes – both simple and refined, providing a crispy yet chewy texture, rich but not overwhelming. Despite the different preparation methods, both types of cakes are made from glutinous rice, ensuring a delicious, white, and chewy texture. The glutinous rice is ground into flour, mixed with salt, warm water, and kneaded until firm and smooth. Skillful bakers know how to use just the right amount of dough, creating thin yet elastic cakes.
Address: Thiên Trang Restaurant – Hà Huy Tập, Hà Tĩnh City
Fish Paste Salad
Experience the unique flavor of fish paste salad in Hà Tĩnh (Photo: ST)
When it comes to Hà Tĩnh's specialties, we must mention fish paste salad – a dish closely associated with the coastal and river areas, a unique gift from the Xuân Nghi coastal region.
The elongated fish, about 13-18 cm in length, with a body thicker than the thumb, lives near the coast, resembling the freshwater carp. Fish paste can be used to prepare many delicious dishes because of its firm, white, sweet-tasting meat, available almost every season.
Eating fish paste salad is a must with aromatic herbs and various leaves like water spinach, Indian copperleaf, young mango leaves, along with green mango, sour star fruit, and thinly sliced green bananas. When eating, roll the fish with the herbs in rice paper, dip it in the broth, and you will experience the rich taste of fish, the coconut's smoothness, the spiciness, the sourness, and the special combination of freshness and sweetness.
Address: Đức Thắng Restaurant (Trần Phú, Hà Tĩnh City)
Đức Thọ Black Sesame Cake
Đức Thọ Black Sesame Cake (Photo: ST)
Đức Thọ Black Sesame Cake - a familiar name to the people in the central countryside. This cake is made from pandan leaves, harmoniously blended with molasses. Originating from Đức Thọ countryside, it gradually spread to other rural areas in the central region. The process of making the cake is extremely meticulous and time-consuming. Pandan leaves are harvested from leaf gardens, selecting the largest and thickest leaves, boiled with molasses, then mixed with rice flour, finely ground, and meticulously kneaded. The filling is made from green bean paste, coconut jam, and for savory cakes, there is the addition of both fatty and tender pork. The cake is also coated with a layer of sesame seeds on the outside. The cake's crust has a black color, the characteristic color of molasses and pandan leaves. When eating the cake, one can feel the delicious, tender, and rustic taste of the countryside.
La River Clams
Authentic local dish with the essence of Hà Tĩnh (Photo: ST)
Almost every river region has clams, and clams are a favorite dish for many Vietnamese families. Clams have a distinctive, enticing aroma. The first spoonful of hot clam soup is refreshing, fragrant, rich, nutritious, with a milky white color like the endless source of the motherland's rivers. Just as the folk verse describes, 'Even if anyone travels around, they must return - to avoid missing the water of Kẻ Thượng' (Kẻ Thượng is a type of clam that reproduces rapidly in the summer, adapting to live in muddy water areas along the border between the La River and Lam River). From clams, various dishes can be prepared to diversify the taste of daily meals, such as stir-fried clams with ginger, served with rice paper, clam soup with assorted vegetables, and clam-flavored rice with a touch of spicy ginger and fresh salt.
Vũng Áng Jumping Squid
Specialty of Hà Tĩnh: Vũng Áng Jumping Squid (Photo: ST)
The sea area of Vũng Áng, Hà Tĩnh, is a famous and economically vibrant coastal region, renowned for its fresh and delicious seafood, specialties... It is famous for jumping squids because they are large and processed immediately after catching, hence the local name 'jumping squids.' Jumping squids can be prepared in various dishes such as boiled, stir-fried, steamed, or in salads. The taste of jumping squids is fresh, delicious, and has a unique fragrance, completely different from other squid varieties in coastal areas across the country.
Đức Thọ Beef Noodle Soup
Experience Đức Thọ Beef Noodle Soup when traveling to Hà Tĩnh (Photo: ST)
Bun bo is a familiar traditional dish for the Vietnamese people, but Duc Tho's bun bo has its own distinctive features due to the differences in ingredient selection and preparation. Unlike other types of noodles on the market processed through modern machinery, Duc Tho's noodles are handmade, giving them a round and flowery appearance because they skip the whitening process. This type of noodle must be made from Duc Tho's local rice, and the beef is fresh and tender from the cows grazed along the levee of Duc Tho's rural village. Despite the less attractive appearance compared to many other types of noodles, Duc Tho's bun bo still conquers the hearts of diners with its fragrant and rustic taste.
Grilled Meat Vermicelli
Grilled Meat Vermicelli in Hà Tĩnh - an authentic delicacy (Photo: ST)
When visiting Hà Tĩnh, don't forget to stop by any roadside eatery to savor Hà Tĩnh-style grilled meat vermicelli. Although grilled meat vermicelli is not a new dish, the locals infuse a rural, authentic flavor into it, with a notable difference in the dipping sauce: soy sauce. The accompanying spice for Hà Tĩnh grilled meat vermicelli is not fish sauce or bone broth like in the Northern regions, but soy sauce - commonly referred to by locals as 'chéo.' Chéo is made from soy sauce, mixed with crushed roasted peanuts, and combined with chili, garlic, and sugar, creating a savory, spicy, salty, and sweet flavor that enhances the richness of the meat and the freshness of the vermicelli.
A serving of bun cha for one person is very affordable, around 30,000 VND. Bun thit nuong eateries in Hong Linh town, Ha Tinh, are concentrated on streets such as Tran Phu, Phan Anh, Nguyen Ai Quoc... and operate all day, allowing tourists to choose their dining time comfortably.
Rice Porridge Soup
Delicious bowl of Canh Rice Porridge Soup (Photo: ST)
At first glance, canh rice porridge soup may resemble vermicelli or noodles, but those who have been to Ha Tinh and tasted this dish will be impressed by its sweet, sour, and spicy flavor. The main ingredient that makes this dish special is wheat flour. The flour is rolled into strands like noodles and soaked in a broth made from simmered pig bones. It is served with Vietnamese pork sausage, pork, a bit of beef, and shredded Chinese chives, creating a unique dish.
Phuc Trach Pomelo
Phuc Trach Pomelo in Ha Tinh (Photo: ST)
Phuc Trach Pomelo, famous in the Hương Khê region of Ha Tinh, is known far and wide. The pomelo is spherical, small rather than large like other types, and has a taste that starts with a refreshing sourness and ends with a sweet aftertaste, lingering in the throat, naturally fragrant. The flesh of the pomelo is pale pink or white, presenting a beautiful appearance. Phuc Trach Pomelo proudly stands as one of the 7 rare fruit-bearing trees in the country. The renowned deliciousness of Phuc Trach Pomelo is encapsulated in a local saying: 'Inviting you to Phuc Trach, my hometown
Fragrant tea, sweet pomelo, friends are eagerly waiting...'
Huong Son Orange
Specialty Huong Son Bu Orange Ha Tinh (Photo: ST)
If you visit Huong Son, Ha Tinh, near Tet, you will be immersed in the world of Bu oranges. Locals choose Bu oranges as one of the five fruits on the Tet tray, wishing for abundance and satisfaction. When ripe, Bu oranges have a red, easily peelable skin, juicy flesh with few seeds, a sweet taste, and an enticing aroma. This indigenous tree has been naturally selected for hundreds of years. Huong Son Bu Orange is a Ha Tinh specialty often brought as a gift for loved ones when visiting.
Here are 13 unforgettable specialties when mentioning Ha Tinh specialties. With this article, we hope you gain knowledge to not miss these unforgettable local delights. Join VNTRIP.VN to become knowledgeable individuals and have exciting journeys.
