Buzz
Squid Sausage Delight
A culinary masterpiece, the renowned dish in Hạ Long is the squid sausage. Served with steamed sticky rice or rolled cakes, this dish is a local sensation. Made from fresh squid, it exudes a delightful aroma and a perfect combination of chewiness and crispiness, handcrafted for an exquisite experience.
Savor the delightful combination of squid-infused white sticky rice, exquisitely cooked to emanate a fragrant and tender texture. The squid paste adds a bold aroma, delivering a perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness. Indulge in the thinly rolled squid paste rice cakes, revealing a succulent meaty core, and elevate the experience with a side of squid paste. White rice and rice cakes might seem like common dishes found everywhere, but when paired with squid paste and dipped in Cai Rong fish sauce, they become the most cherished Halong Bay delicacy.
Explore the world of Halong squid paste (@xme_market)
Experience the tangy delights of nem chua and nem chao, both crafted from finely sliced pork and pork skin. Nem chua undergoes a days-long fermentation with garlic and chili to achieve its distinctive sour flavor, while nem chao is blended with fragrant rice husk or soybean husk, emitting a delightful aroma. Both varieties trace their origins to Quang Yen town and are widely available across Quang Ninh province, especially in Halong. For an enhanced experience, pair these delicacies with fresh vegetables and dip them in garlic and chili fish sauce to savor the unique flavors of nem chua and nem chao.
Spice up your taste buds with nem chua and nem chao, two delectable treats made from finely minced pork and thin strips of pork skin. Nem chua undergoes a thorough fermentation process with garlic and chili, resulting in its characteristic tangy taste. On the other hand, nem chao is blended with fragrant rice husk or soybean husk, imparting a delightful aroma. Originating from Quang Yen town, both varieties are widely sold throughout Quang Ninh province, particularly in Halong. To fully savor these treats, accompany them with fresh vegetables and dip them in garlic and chili fish sauce to awaken the distinctive flavors of nem chua and nem chao.
Discover the world of Nem Chua
Pool Crab Spring Rolls
Halong Pool Crab Spring Rolls can be considered the most delicious seafood spring rolls that you should indulge in at least once. Similar to other fried spring roll varieties, what sets Halong Pool Crab Spring Rolls apart is the use of premium ingredients such as shrimp, crab, and crayfish for the filling. These rolls boast a distinctive seafood flavor, offering a crispy and melting texture with each bite. This dish pairs perfectly with vermicelli and fresh vegetables dipped in garlic and chili fish sauce. When touring Halong, be sure to savor the delectable Pool Crab Spring Roll with vermicelli – a truly delightful and popular dish.
Halong Pool Crab Spring Rolls (@anhsausaigons)
Whimsical Wonders
A delightful treat known as Whimsical Wonders, this dish from Hạ Long captures the hearts of many travelers. Simple and easy to savor, the Whimsical Wonders resembles the preparation style of rolled cakes. Served with a bowl of uniquely flavored dipping sauce and a carefully marinated piece of braised pork belly. Best enjoyed at the renowned spot in Tiên Yên.
Sea Symphony
Known as the sea harmonies or sea symphony, the majestic sea snail is a marine creature with dual shells resembling clams and oysters. It can be prepared through various methods such as grilling, steaming, boiling with noodles, or stir-frying with vegetables. Additionally, it is used to create a distinctive sea snail wine with a unique oceanic aroma. In the specialized restaurants and seafood places in Hạ Long, the sea symphony is a popular delicacy listed on the menu, and despite its name, it is anything but boring.
Grilled Ocean Symphony with Sautéed Onions
Sandworm Symphony
When it comes to renowned Hạ Long delicacies, Sandworm Symphony, also known as Sandworm or Sea Caterpillar, takes center stage. Exclusive to Hạ Long, this dish is rare and considered a luxury. Sandworm can be prepared in various ways—fresh ones can be sautéed with garlic, dried ones can be grilled or roasted. Often enjoyed with alcoholic beverages, sandworm is also used to make a flavorful broth for seafood pho.
Dried Sea Caterpillar
Sea Samplings
Sea Samplings, a distinctive delicacy in Hạ Long, are transformed into a variety of seafood dishes. From Sam Sashimi and Sam Salad to Sweet and Sour Fried Sam Feet, Spicy Chili Stir-Fried Sam, Crispy Fried Sam Eggs, Grilled Sam Eggs with Betel Leaves, Steamed Sam, Breaded and Fried Sam, Grilled Cartilage Sam, to Stir-Fried Sam with Glass Noodles— the options are plentiful.
Culinary Delights from Hạ Long's Sea Samplings (@nhungcach)
Tiên Yên's Crunchy Delight
Cà Sáy, a crossbreed of duck and goose, is often prepared as roasted meat. To craft the distinct and delightful Tiên Yên-style Cà Sáy, locals roast the meat, infusing it with the fragrant aroma. It combines the sweet char siu flavor of Quảng Tây with the mild spiciness of Tiên Yên ginger in the dipping sauce of Cái Rồng Quảng Ninh or Cát Hải Hải Phòng.
In addition, there are numerous dishes made from snails. Hạ Long boasts a variety of snails, including trumpet snails, disc snails, spike snails, screw snails, bubble snails, and red-lipped snails. Despite sharing the same dipping sauce and enjoying the windy seaside, each snail type has a unique flavor and a distinct way of savoring.
Tiên Yên's Cà Sáy
Finger Licking Snails
Quảng Ninh Fingernail Snails stand out as one of the finest Hạ Long specialties. Featured on the menus of numerous restaurants and sidewalk snail vendors, fingernail snails are prepared in various delectable ways such as garlic butter stir-fry, stir-fried water spinach, tamarind sauce, all of which are highly favored by many tourists.
Delightful Fingernail Snails (@yoursweetestdelight)
Tiên Yên Hillside Chicken
Tiên Yên Hillside Chicken has gained fame among food enthusiasts, and hillside chickens are a common delicacy in many regions. However, Tiên Yên Hillside Chicken in Hạ Long remains a favorite. These free-range chickens, raised without cages or confinement, yield firm and flavorful meat compared to other chicken varieties. Simply boiled and dipped in salt, pepper, and lime, Tiên Yên Hillside Chicken is a must-try during your visit to Hạ Long.
Tiên Yên Hillside Chicken, the Signature Dish
Hạ Long Seafood Noodles
As one of the popular Hạ Long street foods, Hạ Long Seafood Noodles captivate both tourists and locals who indulge in it daily. Quảng Nịnh-style seafood noodles feature a tangy blend of pineapple and tomatoes, harmonizing with the sweet broth infused with bone marrow and seafood. Topped with an assortment of seafood such as shrimp, squid, crab meat, and fish cakes, it creates a unique noodle dish exclusive to coastal regions, particularly Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh.
Hạ Long Seafood Noodles, a familiar breakfast for many
Tiny Shrimp Shreds
Tiny shrimp shreds, a highly sought-after dish, are renowned as a Hạ Long specialty. Whether for daily consumption or as a gift, you can easily purchase these shrimp shreds. Crafted from fresh shrimp, meat, and tiny shrimp, seasoned and dry-sautéed, this dish carries the distinctive flavors of seafood and lemongrass, making it easily enjoyable. Notably, it's a favorite among children when mixed with rice for daily meals.
Hạ Long's Tiny Shrimp Shreds
Hà Porridge
Another must-try delicacy in Hạ Long recommended by Mytour is the conch porridge. Conch, a highly nutritious marine creature, is often cooked with white porridge and seasoned with rich spices. Enjoying conch porridge with crunchy crullers enhances the experience. Additionally, for breastfeeding mothers, incorporating this nutritious dish into your baby's weaning menu can contribute to their healthy growth.
Conch porridge packed with nutrients (@keomut925)
Fish Roe Vermicelli
Derived from the familiar fish roe vermicelli, the spicy and sweet flavors from the fish meat, combined with crispy fish roe, make fish roe vermicelli exceptionally delicious. Just add a bit of chili, garlic vinegar, and fresh greens to the bowl of fish roe vermicelli to savor the full goodness of this dish. Sold in many breakfast noodle shops in Hạ Long, it stands out as one of the delectable dishes you should try in Hạ Long.
Vermicelli with Fish Roe (@d.y.1502)
Lattice Bamboo Leaf Cake
Lattice Bamboo Leaf Cake stands as one of the culinary treasures of the Sán Dìu ethnic group in Quảng Ninh. This is one of the delicacies in Hạ Long offered during the early days of the lunar new year. If you visit Hạ Long around January to March, you can easily find this cake in temple areas. Lattice Bamboo Leaf Cake, with its brown color and sweet taste of sugarcane syrup, is made from steamed glutinous rice flour with ginger. It is then sprinkled with sesame seeds on top, creating a visually appealing appearance. You can enjoy the steamed version for a chewy texture or the fried version for a crispy delight.
Lattice Bamboo Leaf Cake
Surely, you've compiled a list of the delectable dishes in Hạ Long to indulge in during your journey, haven't you? When exploring Hạ Long, don't forget to purchase dried squid, dried cuttlefish, and golden anchovies as gifts for friends and family. Discover all the travel tips for Hạ Long, regularly updated by Mytour, to ensure a comprehensive and meaningful seaside city exploration.
Quickly book your flight to Vân Đồn - Quảng Ninh to reach Hạ Long swiftly if you're a distant traveler. Additionally, explore the fantastic Hạ Long combo deals with unbeatable prices waiting for your consideration. Pack your bags and head out now!
Thảo Chi
Image Source: Internet, Instagram
