Buzz
Hạ Long is not only famous for its breathtaking natural wonders but also boasts a rich culinary scene. The delectable dishes of Hạ Long always leave travelers longing for more.
Indulge in the authentic charm of Hạ Long with this curated list of 12 tantalizing dishes that captivate every visitor.
Hạ Long, a city in Quảng Ninh Province, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, particularly the natural wonder of Hạ Long Bay and its abundant natural resources. But what truly sets this city apart is its delectable cuisine that never fails to enchant visitors.
The delectable dishes of Hạ Long are often crafted from seafood using traditional methods of coastal residents and from exotic seafood varieties found only in the waters of Quảng Ninh. Once you taste these dishes, you'll be hooked. Let's explore the distinctive dishes of Hạ Long.
1. Squid cake rolls
One of the must-try delicacies in Hạ Long is the squid cake rolls. What makes this dish special is the squid cake, made from the freshest squid, hand-pounded to maintain its crispiness and natural aroma. Enjoy it with hot rice rolls dipped in a bowl of sweet and savory fish sauce. The flavors will surely linger in your memory. The fish sauce in Hạ Long is lighter and more fragrant than that in the southern region.
2. Mysterious Crab Noodles
The mysterious crab, with its large pincers, hairy legs, and fragrant meat, is a favorite among many. Crab noodles are often enjoyed as a delicious and nutritious breakfast dish. In addition to crab, the noodles may also contain other seafood such as razor clams, sea shrimp, cockles, and squid. The broth, infused with the sweet flavors of the seafood, served with pickled radishes, will tantalize your taste buds.
3. Razor Clam Porridge
Razor clams, also known as bamboo worms or sea worms, are highly nutritious and valuable, hence their relatively high price. However, this is a dish you should definitely try when visiting Hạ Long. Razor clams have a naturally sweet taste, and when cooked with porridge, they create a highly nutritious and valuable dish. Additionally, razor clams are often stir-fried with garlic and water spinach, incredibly fragrant and delicious, although you may feel a bit hesitant when you see them due to their appearance.
4. Basket Cake with Triple Gills
The special cake of the Sán Dìu people, an ethnic group living in Quảng Ninh. Basket cake with triple gills serves as both a delicacy and a traditional offering for the Sán Dìu people's New Year celebrations. Made from glutinous rice flour cooked with molasses or brown sugar, the cake is sprinkled with sesame seeds and peanuts on top, resulting in a soft, fragrant, and sweet treat.
5. Delicacies from the Mollusk
The mollusk, with its soft body and two shells, is a unique delicacy found only in the Bạch Đằng River area, living in brackish water. This is a specialty of Quảng Ninh province. The mollusk is a highly nutritious food, and its price is relatively high due to the decreasing population. While it is a nutritious food, the mollusk is a rare delicacy in Quảng Ninh and Hạ Long, so there should be plans for sustainable fishing and exploitation.
6. Hạ Long Yogurt with Pearl
A delicious and nutritious dessert, featuring smooth yogurt combined with fragrant pearls and the creamy taste of coconut milk, can also be paired with some fruits. Together, they create a refreshing dessert. Hạ Long yogurt with pearl has become a sensation nationwide.
7. Sea Ginseng
Sam sea cucumber is a must-try dish in Hạ Long. This rare and unique seafood is difficult to prepare and requires experience. Sam is quite common in the waters of Quảng Ninh. Due to its resemblance to a poisonous sea cucumber, caution is advised when buying or cooking it yourself. It's best to enjoy sam prepared by reputable restaurants. Delicious dishes made from sam include grilled sam cartilage, stir-fried sam with glass noodles, and more.
In addition to the aforementioned specialties of Hạ Long, you can also savor other specialties from Quảng Ninh available in Hạ Long, such as Tiên Yên hill chicken, 'nodding' cakes, and more. These are all delicious and unique dishes that are hard to find elsewhere.
8. Sticky Rice with Squid Cake
Sticky rice with squid cake is a renowned specialty of Hạ Long's cuisine that you cannot miss on your culinary journey here. The sticky rice is made from glutinous rice cooked to perfection, while the squid cake is made from fresh squid, resulting in a crispy and flavorful delicacy. The combination of sticky rice and golden grilled squid, served with delicious fish sauce and spicy chili sauce, is irresistible. The price per serving of sticky rice with squid cake at local eateries ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 VND. Additionally, you can also purchase squid cake by weight, priced at around 250,000 VND/kg.
9. Tiên Yên Hill Chicken
Tiên Yên is a mountainous district in Quảng Ninh province, located about 90km from Hạ Long city on the way to Móng Cái. Tiên Yên is famous for its hill chicken breed, raised naturally, freely roaming and foraging for insects all day, resulting in golden skin, fragrant meat, and flavorful broth. Tiên Yên chicken is considered a specialty of Hạ Long that every visitor wants to try when they set foot in the city. Tiên Yên chicken can be prepared in various dishes, but the best way is to simply boil it, served with fresh vegetables and a tangy, spicy dipping sauce.
10. Wobbly Cake
In appearance, the wobbly cake resembles rolled cake or pho noodles, but with a unique twist. It's unfilled, and when dipped in a special sauce, it delights diners. Its unique name comes from its distinctive 'wobbly' appearance—round, long, and flexible, it wobbles when held in hand. The wobbly cake is a familiar and popular dish available at many places in Hạ Long and Quảng Ninh in general.
11. Fermented Sausage, Quảng Yên District
During your visit to Hạ Long, you'll also be captivated by the special fermented sausage of Quảng Yên. This dish offers a unique flavor that attracts many tourists to the tourist area in Bãi Cháy – Hạ Long for exploration and enjoyment. The ingredients for making fermented sausage are quite simple: shredded pork skin and roasted rice pounded into powder. The deliciousness of fermented sausage mainly depends on the dipping sauce. When eating, diners typically roll the fermented sausage in rice paper with assorted vegetables and dip it into a bowl of delicious sweet and sour sauce. Fermented sausage from Quảng Yên is also a popular gift that many tourists visiting Hạ Long choose to buy for their loved ones and friends.
12. Tiên Yên Duck-Goose Meat
Duck-goose meat is the meat of a hybrid animal between duck and goose. Tiên Yên Duck-Goose Meat has become one of the must-try specialties of Hạ Long. It is usually boiled and cut into bite-sized pieces. The meat is chewy and fatty, and in some places, it is fried until the skin is crispy and served with hot rice or bread. Particularly, people from Tiên Yên make duck-goose meat and prepare a special dipping sauce—a sauce with the fragrant taste of Cái Rồng fish sauce, Vạn Yên, Cát Hải, combined with the sweet, intense flavor of Guangxi star fruit, along with the gentle spiciness of Tiên Yên ginger grown on their homeland.
As per Mytour
***
Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourDecember 21, 2023
