Discover the Essence of Bạc Liêu: 15 Must-Try Local Delicacies

While lacking in prominent landmarks, Bạc Liêu is renowned for its Southern folk music and delectable cuisine. Experience the rich tapestry of flavors – sour, spicy, savory, sweet, and rich – that define Bạc Liêu's specialties. Don't miss out on these 15 renowned delicacies when you visit!

Bạc Liêu's Local Culinary Gems

Nestled in the heart of the Mekong Delta, Bạc Liêu boasts a diverse array of specialty dishes, each infused with the distinct flavors of the Western riverine region. Embark on a culinary journey and savor the authentic taste of Bạc Liêu's delicacies. Let Mytour guide you through these culinary treasures!

Fermented Fish Hotpot

If you're unsure what to have for breakfast in Bạc Liêu, dive into the rich flavors of the Southern Mekong Delta with a steaming pot of fermented fish hotpot. Crafted from either fermented fish paste or sauce – two signature ingredients of Bạc Liêu – this dish is simmered in a blend of fish paste and coconut milk, creating a subtly sweet taste. Seasoned with a dash of spices, it yields a pot of savory and aromatic delight.

A quality fermented fish hotpot includes seafood, fresh greens, noodles, and a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, and lime (Image Source: Collected)

For first-time diners of Bạc Liêu's specialties, the pungent aroma may be overwhelming at first. Yet, with just a spoonful, your taste buds will awaken, resonating with the essence of three Vietnamese-Cham-Khmer cultures. It's no exaggeration to say that Bạc Liêu's fermented fish hotpot epitomizes the culinary essence of the Western region.

Fermented Fish Hotpot features a broth with a sweet and clear flavor, distinctive fishy aroma, often served with fresh seafood like basa fish, shrimp, and squid. Locals also add various fresh greens such as water spinach, sesbania flowers, etc., to enrich the broth.

• Prices range from 165,000 VND to 200,000 VND per serving

Spicy Beef Noodles Bạc Liêu Style

Unlike the signature Hue-style beef noodles, Spicy Beef Noodles Bạc Liêu Style boasts a robust and fiery flavor profile of its own. For aficionados of 'bún bò,' this renowned Bạc Liêu specialty is a must-try. A simple bowl of spicy beef noodles features delicious fresh beef, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and various spices. When enjoyed, Spicy Beef Noodles Bạc Liêu Style offers a distinctive spicy taste harmonizing with the rich, fatty flavor of beef, best complemented by dipping in a salt, pepper, and lime sauce.

Spicy beef noodles boast a vibrant red color and a distinctive fiery flavor (Image Source: Collected)

• Prices typically range from 30,000 VND to 40,000 VND per bowl

Broth-based Noodles

For the locals of Bạc Liêu, broth-based noodles have become a familiar breakfast choice. From humble street stalls to renowned eateries, you'll easily find this Bạc Liêu specialty being sold everywhere.

Broth-based noodles are a rustic dish of Bạc Liêu, easily found by diners anywhere (Image Source: Collected)

To create the rich Western-style broth for broth-based noodles, the broth is the crucial element. Cooked in a large clay pot to retain the sweetness of shrimp, fish, coconut water, and the distinctive flavor of fish sauce. Locals in Bạc Liêu often enjoy broth-based noodles with thinly sliced banana blossoms, bean sprouts, basil, fresh squid, spring rolls, and rice cakes.

• Average prices range from 35,000 VND to 50,000 VND per serving

Bạc Liêu Sizzling Pancake

If you ever find yourself in the Mekong Delta, don't miss out on this famous crispy pancake from Nam Kỳ province! Bạc Liêu Sizzling Pancake boasts a crispy, creamy texture that blends perfectly with the subtle sweetness of fresh vegetables and shrimp. Together, they create a rich flavor profile that tantalizes every taste bud. People from the Western region often enjoy it with fresh vegetables and fish sauce to enhance its deliciousness.

Bạc Liêu Sizzling Pancake typically exudes a rich, creamy aroma with its characteristic golden crust (Image Source: Collected)

• Average prices range from 40,000 VND to 70,000 VND per serving

Sour Soup Snakehead Fish

Snakehead fish is always a rustic dish, close to the hearts of people in the Mekong Delta. However, Sour Soup Snakehead Fish is the authentic specialty of Bạc Liêu locals. This dish is prepared simply and quickly. After preparing the snakehead fish, the chef boils it with water, then adds vinegar and a few characteristic spices. The snakehead fish meat is typically tender, firm, and bone-in but soft, so there's no need to worry about bones.

• Average prices range from 100,000 VND per serving and up

Bạc Liêu Duck Curry

Bạc Liêu Duck Curry is the only specialty dish from Bạc Liêu to make it into the Top 100 delicious Vietnamese dishes. To make a rich Mekong Delta-style duck curry, the duck meat and curry are the determining factors. The duck meat is usually marinated with smooth yellow powder, exhibiting the characteristic color of various spices.

Duck curry combined with coconut milk brings a rich, creamy flavor that is unforgettable (Image Source: Collected)

A complete serving of duck curry consists of tender, succulent duck meat infused with fragrant, aromatic curry. This dish is often paired with chili salt to create a distinctive savory taste that leaves diners longing for more. Additionally, you can enjoy duck curry with rice noodles, vermicelli, bread, bean sprouts, and basil leaves to enhance its stimulating flavors.

• Average prices range from 20,000 VND to 35,000 VND per serving

Turnip Cake

Turnip Cake is a popular dish loved by many travelers visiting Bạc Liêu. At first glance, Turnip Cake resembles Chinese dim sum. However, the ingredients and method of making Turnip Cake are completely different from dim sum. Turnip Cake boasts a rich, flavorful taste, with a unique filling of shrimp, pork, and a hint of turnip. This is a Bạc Liêu specialty that you won't find anywhere else.

• Average prices for Turnip Cake range from 15,000 VND to 20,000 VND per serving

Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake

Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake is one of the renowned Bạc Liêu specialties that you must try at least once in your life. The tapioca cake is made from brown rice flour combined with rich coconut milk. Then, you can add garlic chili fish sauce to enhance its distinctive aroma. Although these two types of dipping sauce may seem unrelated, when combined, they create a unique, rich, and savory flavor.

Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake has become a familiar favorite among the people of Bạc Liêu (Image Source: Collected)

• Average prices for Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake range from 25,000 VND to 40,000 VND per bowl

Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Grilled Spring Rolls

Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Grilled Spring Rolls is a common breakfast dish among the locals of Bạc Liêu. This Bạc Liêu specialty is also very easy to eat and suitable for all tastes. To make the dish authentic, the grilled spring rolls are brushed with a layer of soft, fragrant fat. Served with the stir-fried vermicelli and grilled spring rolls is the characteristic sweet and sour fish sauce and fresh vegetables. Then, diners will mix these ingredients together before enjoying.

Bạc Liêu Grilled Spring Roll Stir-Fried Vermicelli has a rich, creamy flavor and signature dipping sauce (Image Source: Collected)

At first glance, this dish bears a resemblance to the Southern-style grilled meat vermicelli. However, when eaten, the grilled spring rolls are much richer and softer.

• Average prices range from 35,000 VND to 50,000 VND per serving

Horseshoe Crab Salad

When it comes to Bạc Liêu specialties, perhaps nothing is as unique as horseshoe crab salad. With horseshoe crabs, diners can enjoy them grilled, fried to crispiness, or any other way they prefer. However, it's the savory dipping sauce that truly captures the hearts of Bạc Liêu locals.

Horseshoe crab salad with savory dipping sauce is the unparalleled specialty of Bạc Liêu (Image Source: Collected)

When you take a bite of horseshoe crab, you'll experience its rich, creamy flavor spreading in your mouth. Although this rustic dish may not suit everyone's palate, those who enjoy it find it absolutely delicious.

• Average prices range from 5,000 VND per crab

Bạc Liêu specialties for gifting

If you've visited Bạc Liêu but haven't bought any specialties as gifts, it's truly a missed opportunity. Mytour suggests some renowned Bạc Liêu specialties suitable for gifting to loved ones and friends.

Bull's eye longans

Bull's eye longans are among the famous Bạc Liêu specialties that many tourists are interested in. Bạc Liêu bull's eye longans are typically large-sized, with thick flesh and a sweet aroma. The bull's eye longan season in Bạc Liêu usually falls at the end of August and the beginning of September. Bull's eye longans are undoubtedly a suitable Bạc Liêu specialty fruit for gifting to loved ones after a trip.

Travelers can purchase bull's eye longans as gifts for loved ones and friends after their trip to Bạc Liêu (Source: Collection)

• Prices range from 15,000 VND/kg

Dried snakehead fish

Dried snakehead fish is often a familiar Bạc Liêu specialty that many tourists buy as gifts for relatives. Dried snakehead fish in Bạc Liêu is processed without removing the fish bones. This creates a difference compared to other regions. People in Bạc Liêu believe that dried fish bones when grilled will be very crispy. Therefore, they prefer to keep the fish bones intact. After grilling, dried snakehead fish from Bạc Liêu has a natural golden color, roasted with garlic, it's perfect.

• Average price of dried snakehead fish ranges from 60,000 - 180,000 VND/kg

Con xai - xa bau

Con xai - xa bau can be most simply understood as pickled turnips mixed with rock salt, sugar, rice wine, and separately. When enjoying, you will feel the salty taste but not too strong. The turnips have a unique crunchy texture. Xa bau is often eaten with white rice in main meals.

Stir-fried pickled turnips with duck eggs eaten with rice is a dish very familiar to the people of Bạc Liêu (Source: Collection)

• Average price ranges from 40,000 VND to 70,000 VND/kg 

Ba Khia Fermented Fish

Ba Khia Fermented Fish is a Bạc Liêu specialty favored by many tourists as a gift. After being thoroughly washed to remove all mud, ba khia is soaked in brine. After fermenting for a period of time, ba khia fish sauce will have a distinctive salty taste and the rich aroma of ba khia.

• Average price is 270,000 VND/kg

Red Hong Dan Single Bush Rice

Red Hong Dan Single Bush Rice is a famous and delicious rice variety from Bac Lieu that you should try at least once. The grains are slender, with a delicate fragrance. The distinctive red color of the grains is very eye-catching. When cooked, the rice is both sticky and flavorful, captivating everyone's taste buds.

• Average price ranges from 7,000 VND/kg

Considerations When Choosing Bac Lieu Specialties as Gifts

When choosing Bac Lieu specialties as gifts, tourists should pay attention to the following tips for the best experience:

• Before selecting specialty gifts, you should inquire about preservation methods, preparation techniques, and flavors from the sellers.

• Choose reputable vendors in Bac Lieu.

• Pay attention to the expiration date.

• Ask for the price before purchasing to avoid being overcharged.

Here are the Top 15 renowned Bac Lieu specialties that you should try at least once in your life. Hopefully, with the knowledge shared by Mytour, you will make the most suitable specialty choices. If you have fallen in love with this prosperous Western land, pick up the phone and call Mytour hotline to get advice on booking affordable Western tours!