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Northern Vietnamese specialties are renowned for their delightful and enticing flavors. Just one taste and you'll never forget their unique taste. It would be a shame to miss out on these delicious and nutritious dishes during your trip to the North. Let's explore 15+ delectable Northern Vietnamese dishes recommended by Mytour!
Famous Northern Vietnamese Specialty - Hanoi Grilled Pork with Vermicelli
One of the most famous and beloved Northern Vietnamese specialties is Hanoi grilled pork with vermicelli. Almost everyone who visits Hanoi indulges in this dish. You can find it sold in many places, from restaurants to street vendors. So, it's easy for you to get your hands on this dish.
Hanoi grilled pork with vermicelli consists of flavorful grilled pork patties cooked over charcoal. These patties are made from finely minced pork shoulder meat, along with a few slices of pork belly. When served, they are accompanied by vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs. Some places also offer pickled vegetables on the side. The sourness of the pickled vegetables, combined with the freshness of the herbs, creates a harmonious flavor.
The presentation of bun cha is exceptionally eye-catching (Source: Collection)
The sweet and tangy fish sauce is considered the special highlight of this dish. The fish sauce is prepared with the perfect balance of sugar, fish sauce, garlic, and chili. While bun cha may not have a broth made from bones like some other noodle dishes, it still has enough flavor to tantalize your taste buds.
Famous Northern Vietnamese Specialty - Hanoi Pho
When it comes to specialties of Northern Vietnam, Hanoi pho cannot be overlooked. This isn't just a delicacy unique to the capital city, but also a hallmark of Vietnamese cuisine. Almost every international visitor to our country wants to try this dish. Pho can be found everywhere throughout the S-shaped land. However, when enjoyed in Hanoi, you'll notice a distinctly unique flavor.
The rich broth combined with tender, flavorful beef slices and chewy noodles creates a delicious bowl of pho. It's typically served with bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and green onions to enhance the flavor. Walking past pho stalls, you'll catch the unmistakable aroma emanating from the broth pot.
If you're a pho enthusiast, you definitely shouldn't miss this dish when in Hanoi (Source: Collection)
This dish is suitable for any meal of the day. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Some excellent pho spots to try include Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, Pho Gan Hang Chieu, and Pho Thin Lo Duc. This flavor can only be found in Hanoi, nowhere else.
Famous Northern Specialty - La Vong Grilled Fish Cake
Even if you haven't tasted it, you've likely heard of La Vong grilled fish cake. This is a signature dish of Northern Vietnam that has been around for a long time. The fish cakes are meticulously made from carefully selected snakehead fish. Skilled chefs meticulously remove the fish meat, leaving behind the bones to make the fish cakes.
Afterward, they are sliced into thick pieces and marinated with flavorful spices. The cakes are grilled over charcoal and fried on a hot pan just before serving. When eaten, you'll experience the crispy texture and rich flavor. For enhanced taste, you can enjoy it with vermicelli and roasted peanuts, along with fresh herbs to add more allure.
This is truly a delicious dish with a unique, unforgettable flavor (Source: Collection)
According to legend, La Vong grilled fish cake originates from the Doan family during the French colonial period. The pieces of fish cake are marinated according to a secret recipe, giving them a very unique and delicious flavor. This uniqueness has made the dish increasingly famous.
La Vong grilled fish cake is a very famous dish in Hanoi, so it will be very easy for you to find this dish. You can enjoy it at the Vua Cha Ca restaurant chain with many branches. Or places like Duong Thanh grilled fish cake, Ha Thanh grilled fish cake,... are also addresses that many diners visit.
Famous Northern Specialty - Hai Phong Fish Noodle Soup
One delicious dish among the specialties of Northern Vietnam is Hai Phong fish noodle soup. If you have the opportunity to visit the port city, be sure to enjoy this dish! The golden fish pieces in the bowl will surely stimulate your taste buds endlessly. The white noodles combined with flavorful broth create an irresistible taste.
The selected fish pieces are all fresh and carefully processed. For frying, the choice is usually mackerel, while for making fish balls, it's usually tuna... The broth is simmered for hours with pork bones and fish bones. Despite the main ingredient being fish, you won't detect any fishy smell when eating.
A bowl of colorful noodles already makes diners eager to eat (Source: Collection)
This dish combines the rustic countryside flavor with the salty taste of the sea. It can be served with water spinach, banana flowers, and various herbs to enhance its deliciousness. A bowl of visually appealing noodles with a seductive aroma will captivate diners at first sight.
This dish is best enjoyed in Hai Phong. Some places where you can try bun ca include Bun Ca Cay Le Loi, Bun Ca Cay Thang To, Bun Ca Cay Van Cao... It would be a shame to visit Hai Phong and miss out on this delicious dish.
Famous Northern Specialty - Square Crab Spring Rolls from Hai Phong
One Northern delicacy you can't miss is the square crab spring rolls from Hai Phong. Unlike traditional round spring rolls, the ones here are square-shaped. That's why they're also known as square crab spring rolls or seafood square spring rolls, or simply square spring rolls.
The filling of these spring rolls is made from crab meat along with various other ingredients like shrimp, carrots, mushrooms... When eating, they're served with fresh vegetables and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce. You'll distinctly taste the sweetness of the seafood along with the crispiness of the spring rolls after frying, enhancing the deliciousness.
Square crab spring rolls with their distinctive square shape (Source: Collection)
For locals, this dish requires meticulousness right from selecting the ingredients. Especially, the seafood must ensure freshness. Particularly, the firmer and meatier the crab, the better it tastes after cooking. From this, you can recognize the dedication and effort put into the dish by the cooks.
It can be said that this dish follows the footsteps of Hai Phong locals and gradually gains popularity nationwide. Especially, you can easily find this dish when visiting Hanoi. You'll often encounter nem cua be in roadside eateries, street stalls, and even upscale restaurants.
Famous Northern specialty - Braised fish in Vũ Đại village
Braised fish in Vũ Đại village is one of the most famous specialties in the North
Braised fish in Vũ Đại village is a meticulously prepared dish with intricate flavors. The marinade for the fish consists of distinctive Northern ingredients such as ginger, galangal, and field crab extract. Beneath the clay pot, there's usually a layer of galangal to enhance the aroma and prevent burning, even during long hours of cooking.
Braised fish in Vũ Đại village - A dish that demands a lot of meticulousness (Source: Collection)
When finished, the braised fish in the clay pot has a beautiful golden-brown color. Upon tasting, you'll experience tender fish meat with rich flavor. This is truly a dish that embodies the rustic countryside taste. So, if you have the chance to visit Hà Nam, you must try this dish!
This dish is available for sale year-round and isn't difficult to find. However, the peak time is during the days leading up to Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). If you have the opportunity to visit Vũ Đại village during this time, you'll witness a bustling scene. Along with that is the fragrant aroma of braised fish emanating from every household in the neighborhood.
Famous Northern Specialty - Squid Cake from Hạ Long
Squid cake from Hạ Long is a well-known Northern specialty loved by many tourists. This dish is made from fresh giant squids with thick meat. After processing and cleaning, the squids are hand-ground to ensure their chewiness and deliciousness. The squid cakes we see are all handcrafted and fried in hot oil.
When finished, the squid cakes have a beautiful golden color. When you bite into them, you'll clearly feel the crispiness and sweetness of the meat. For extra flavor, you can dip them in chili sauce or fish sauce. This seafood dish is very easy to eat, so you can order more to enrich your meal.
If you're in Hạ Long, don't miss out on squid cakes! (Source: Collection)
The creation of Hạ Long squid cake dates back to 1946 by the talented chef Tài Lễ. He worked for a foreign restaurant during the French colonial period. With his skill and creativity, he introduced the delicious squid cake. This dish has been preserved and continues to be beloved until today.
The best way to enjoy this dish is with sticky rice. The fragrant grains of sticky rice complement the rich flavor of the hot squid cake. Even the rice served with squid cake is often made from the finest rice in Quảng Ninh. This perfect harmony is sure to keep you coming back for more.
Famous Northern Specialty - Green Bean Cake from Hải Dương
Green bean cake from Hải Dương is a gift that belongs to the category of Northern specialties. While this type of cake may be familiar to many, the Hải Dương version boasts a unique flavor. When you take a bite, the cake gradually melts, revealing a rich, sweet taste.
Made primarily from sugar, green bean flour, and pomelo essential oil... These small cakes leave a lingering taste in the mouth for a long time. They are pressed into small, delicate square blocks and feel very smooth to the touch. Be gentle and handle them with care, as they are prone to breaking!
This is not only a specialty but also a childhood snack for many generations (Source: Collection)
Green bean cakes have been around in Hải Dương since the early 20th century. If you're unsure what gift to buy, these cakes are a perfect choice. They are not only a childhood treat or snack but also a heartfelt gift. The recipient will surely be delighted to receive such a gift.
It's even better when you enjoy these cakes with hot tea. People can sit together, indulge in cakes, and have lively conversations. As the stories unfold, the small green bean cakes gradually dissolve in the mouth, leaving a sweet aftertaste. Just imagine, it's already a meaningful moment.
Famous Northern Specialty - Thai Binh Ginger Cake
When it comes to famous Northern dishes, Thai Binh ginger cake cannot be overlooked. If you haven't heard of it before, you might find it somewhat unfamiliar. It's a rustic snack with a distinctive spicy taste of ginger. When you taste it, you'll experience a uniquely savory flavor.
According to legend, this cake originated in the 17th century. It was created by a woman from Nguyễn village in Thai Binh. Over time, the recipe for making the cake has been carefully preserved and passed down to this day. This rustic dish, imbued with the flavor of the countryside, surely evokes childhood memories for many.
Thai Binh ginger cake has a unique appearance (Source: Collection)
Creating these cakes is a meticulous journey. Thai Binh ginger cakes are made from ingredients such as gac fruit, sesame seeds, glutinous rice, coconut, arrowroot starch, peanuts... When finished, they have an attractive color and shape that makes you want to eat them right away.
These cakes taste even better when paired with hot tea. When visiting Thai Binh, you can also buy ginger cakes as gifts for your loved ones. During the Tet holiday, alongside banh chung and banh day, ginger cakes are also quite popular. People here often offer these cakes on the ancestral altar on Tet days.
Famous Northern Specialty - Lang Son Roast Pig
Lang Son roast pig is one of the most famous specialties of the Northern region. After careful selection, the pig is roasted whole over charcoal. When the skin becomes crispy, it is incredibly delicious. The meat, when eaten, has a sweet taste from being marinated with honeycomb leaves, characteristic of the mountainous region.
This is a dish that has been famous in Lang Son for over 100 years. It has been preserved and passed down through generations. So, when you visit this region, you can easily find a restaurant serving delicious roast pig. For extra flavor, you can enjoy it with crispy and spicy pickled bamboo shoots.
Roast pig is a renowned specialty of Lang Son (Source: Collection)
The pig selected must have smooth fur and weigh between 45 and 50 kg. The roasting time lasts from 2 to 3 hours depending on the heat of the fire and the weight of the pig. This dish is considered a common part of the daily life of the people in Lang Son. Moreover, it is also a mandatory offering during festivals, weddings, and funerals. This somewhat reflects a unique cultural aspect of the Lang ethnic people.
Famous Northern Specialty - Dried Sandworms
Sea cucumbers are a rare and precious seafood of Quan Lan region. Due to their high nutritional value, they are relatively expensive. They are also known as sea ginseng. This seafood is often used for medicinal purposes or culinary processing. This famous Northern specialty contains a lot of valuable nutrients.
Many people may find the name unfamiliar when they hear it for the first time. Sea cucumbers are known as sea worms with a shape resembling earthworms. Sea cucumbers contain a variety of nutrients such as amino acids, glycine, succinic acid... along with many minerals beneficial to the body.
This is a dish that brings many health benefits to humans (Image source: Collection)
Sea cucumbers are also known as 'natural flavor enhancers' used in cooking. Dried sea cucumbers add sweetness to the broth. They are harvested from the sea, cleaned, and then dried. This is also a favorite ingredient in the medical field due to its many health benefits for humans.
Quan Lan sea cucumbers are most beloved everywhere. These sea cucumbers have a sweeter taste and are considered tastier than elsewhere. If you have the chance to visit this area, don't miss out on this nutritious and novel dish!
Famous Northern Specialty - Stove-Smoked Buffalo Meat
Stove-smoked buffalo meat is a well-known Northern specialty that you should try if you have the opportunity. Fresh and delicious buffalo meat is marinated with rich spices to create a distinctive mountain forest flavor. Then, the meat is smoked by hanging it over a stove. When enjoying, you can grill or steam it.
Buffaloes in the Northwest are often grazed on plateaus, so their meat is very firm. This dish is also known by other names such as dried buffalo meat, buffalo jerky... Stove-smoked buffalo meat is marinated and processed according to the Northwest recipe, so you won't find this flavor elsewhere.
A delicacy from the highlands of Northwest Vietnam, greatly favored by travelers (Source: Collection)
When visiting the Northwest region, you can purchase this unique dish as a gift. Nowadays, the products are carefully packaged and vacuum-sealed, making transportation and storage very convenient. Therefore, travelers can rest assured when bringing them back to lowland regions.
This dish is known as a famous specialty of the Thai ethnic group. They often serve this dish to guests when they visit their homes. Since it is entirely handmade and contains no preservatives, it can be stored for up to one month. Remember to pay attention to this time limit for proper consumption!
Famous Northern Specialty - Nem Chua from Quang Yen, Quang Ninh
If you're a fan of nem, you can't miss out on Quang Yen sour fermented pork. This famous nem dish is known for its savory flavor, combining the sourness and saltiness with the sweetness of the meat. Making nem chua involves many meticulous steps, following the traditional secrets of the local people.
The meat used for nem must be lean pork without tendons or fat. Pork skin is also selected from the lean meat. Then, they will be finely ground and mixed with golden roasted rice. Even a small mistake can ruin the deliciousness of the dish.
If you're unsure what to buy as a gift for your loved ones during your trip to Quang Ninh, you might consider this nem dish (Source: Collection)
After the fermentation process, nem has a light sour taste that is very distinctive. It's a playful dish, a specialty gift that embodies the essence of Quang Ninh that you can give to your family and friends. Just try it once, and you'll remember that flavor forever. Or you can buy some to enjoy gradually!
Famous Northern Specialty - Vong Village Green Rice Flakes
A specialty of the Northern region that cannot be missed in Hanoi is Vong village green rice flakes. This flat rice flake dish has a fresh green color, made from young sticky rice grains. The rice flakes are wrapped in lush green lotus leaves. To savor the sweet aroma of young sticky rice, you should enjoy it in small bites.
Vong Village Green Rice Flakes is famous for its characteristic soft, sweet, and fragrant rice flakes. Many people enjoy it with ripe bananas, enhancing its aroma even more. This dish seems to have become an iconic symbol of autumn in Hanoi. Therefore, if you want to buy or enjoy Vong Village Green Rice Flakes, you can only find it in autumn.
A famous dish with the characteristic traits of Hanoi autumn (Source: Collection)
The meticulous processing stages require a great deal of effort. Nowadays, some types of green rice flakes are packed in nylon bags and vacuum-sealed. This helps preserve the green rice flakes for longer, making it convenient for you to buy as gifts whenever you leave Hanoi. It's truly a simple yet elegant gift full of sincerity.
Famous Northern Specialty - Ninh Binh Mountain Goat
A noteworthy northern specialty worth trying is Ninh Binh mountain goat. This dish seems to always receive high praise from both domestic and international tourists. The reason for this is that Ninh Binh mountain goats are unlike any other goats in any other region.
The reason for this distinction is that Ninh Binh mountain goats are raised in a free-range style. They often roam the hillsides, resulting in lean meat with little fat. During grazing, they consume various natural herbs, including many valuable medicinal plants. From these goats, numerous other unique and delicious dishes can be prepared.
The taste of Ninh Binh goat meat differs from that of goats in other regions (Source: Collection)
The limestone mountainous area of Ninh Binh dates back about 250 million years. Hence, there are various types of wild vegetables here. They are often used to accompany goat meat, enhancing the flavor of the dish. Ninh Binh goat meat is moderately tender and not too chewy. Although it has a distinctive odor, it is not as strong as in other regions.
Two popular dipping sauces when eating Ninh Binh mountain goat are fermented bean paste and ginger fish sauce. Among them, fermented bean paste is preferred for its moderate saltiness, with the aroma of soybeans and yellow flowers. This is truly a Northern delicacy that you cannot miss.
Famous Northern specialty - Bac Kan bamboo tube rice
Bac Kan bamboo tube rice is also a well-known specialty of the Northern region. The rice is contained in fragrant bamboo tubes, using sticky rice from the village. The tubes can be made of bamboo, rattan, or lined with banana leaves, dong leaves. You can enjoy it with various meats, or simply dip it in peanut salt for a delicious taste.
During grilling, the chef will continuously rotate the bamboo tubes to ensure the rice is evenly cooked. When the rice is cooked, you will smell the aroma of sticky rice blended with the scent of bamboo or rattan. Surrounding it is a hint of the distinctive kitchen smoke. Bamboo tube rice is not a completely unfamiliar dish, but when enjoyed in Bac Kan, it has a very unique flavor.
A rustic dish imbued with the cultural beauty of the Bac Kan region (Source: Collection)
It's hard to determine when bamboo tube rice originated. But it was created to serve forest trips of the locals. In the past, such trips would last for several days or even half a month. Therefore, it was convenient to bring along dried foods such as rice, salt, dried meat... And at that time, bamboo tube rice was both compact and easy to carry, making it an ideal choice.
Famous Northern specialty - Lang Son grilled pork belly
Lang Son grilled pork belly may sound unfamiliar at first. However, it is a culinary gem of the border region and a famous Northern specialty. This is a traditional dish of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups with origins from China. Over time, the Tay and Nung people have adapted it to suit their taste preferences.
This dish primarily consists of pork belly marinated in various ingredients such as mint, five-spice powder, honey, wine... Then, they are steamed for several hours along with taro and Tausoi leaves. Thanks to this process, the finished product will have tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork pieces.
A delicious - unique - exotic dish that you must try when visiting Lang Son (Source: Collection)
Khau nhuc is often served at special banquets or used to entertain important guests. The name of the dish originates from Chinese and is pronounced in Vietnamese. When cooked to perfection, the dish emits a delightful aroma, featuring rich meaty flavors and distinctive spices.
Famous Northern specialty - Thai Nguyen green tea
Thai Nguyen is renowned for its sprawling tea hills. Thai Nguyen green tea is undoubtedly a remarkable Northern specialty. The aroma and taste of the tea here are unparalleled throughout the country. With the first sip, you'll experience its bitterness, followed by a lingering sweet aftertaste.
Thai Nguyen tea is meticulously selected from the early stages to processing to ensure clean, high-quality tea buds with rich flavors. After brewing, the tea has a clear yellow color and an enchanting aroma. It truly makes for an elegant and meaningful gift.
Thai Nguyen tea always exerts an irresistible charm on tea enthusiasts (Source: Collection)
Surprisingly, tea plants here originate from Phu Tho. Mr. Nam, known as the father of Tan Cuong tea village, brought them to Thai Nguyen. The climate and soil conditions here are extremely suitable for tea cultivation. Since then, tea cultivation in Thai Nguyen has gradually developed and become famous as it is today.
This beverage offers many health benefits. It helps to combat aging, prevent heart disease, obesity, promote relaxation, and enhance mental clarity. If you are a tea lover, the quality of tea here will surely satisfy you.
The Northern specialties mentioned above will make your journey to explore the Northern region even more appealing. Enjoying delicious dishes where you stop is an experience of travel not to be missed. It is one of the quintessences, the distinctive beauty of that land. To book a tour to the Northern region, contact Mytour now via hotline Mytour!
