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Quang Ninh has always been a top-tier tourist destination in Northern Vietnam. Alongside the allure of Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu, … this place boasts delectable dishes and famous specialties. Let's explore the culinary delights of Quang Ninh with Vntrip!
With its diverse landscape of sea and mountains, Quang Ninh's specialties are truly varied. Here, you can savor unique seafood and mountainous delicacies, imbued with the local flavors.
1. Quang Ninh Squid Sausage
Chả Mực – the epitome of Ha Long cuisine, always leading the list of must-try delights when visiting Quang Ninh. Moreover, Ha Long Squid Sausage has once made it to the top 50 most famous dishes in Vietnam. The sausage is crafted from fresh, hand-picked squid, combined with finely ground pork, vermicelli, and pepper, then deep-fried to perfection. When you indulge, you'll experience the crispy, crunchy texture and the sweet taste of squid.
In Ha Long, tourists can relish squid sausage anywhere, paired with sticky rice or rolled cakes. Notable brands include Village Fishing Sausage, Ba Kien, Hien Nhung, and more.
2. Razor Clams in Van Don
This dish, a nutrient-rich delicacy, carries the distinct characteristics of the Van Don coastal area. Razor clams are soft-bodied creatures found in coastal sandy areas. Due to their relative scarcity, they come at a high price, approximately 400 – 500k/kg for fresh ones and 2 – 3 million/kg for dried. To get the best razor clams, head to the Quan Lan – Van Don island region.
Famous dishes prepared with razor clams: crispy stir-fry, crispy coated, stir-fried with jicama, porridge, broth…
3. Ha Long Sea Whelk
Long-established as a specialty of Quang Ninh, Ha Long sea whelk resembles clams but is larger and significantly more nutritious.
The people of Ha Long use sea whelk to create various delicious dishes such as steamed sea whelk with fat and onions, stir-fried sea whelk with vermicelli, grilled sea whelk with ginger leaves, sea whelk porridge… Among them, the most distinctive is sea whelk wine with its characteristic deep red hue.
>>> Reference: Hotels in Ha Long
4. Tien Yen Hill Chicken
Tien Yen chicken, also known as Bearded Chicken, is raised freely, foraging on the hills. At night, they don't sleep in coops but climb onto bean tree branches. Tien Yen chicken meat is a renowned specialty of the Mining land, known for its aromatic, firm yet tender, non-chewy, and pleasantly fatty taste.
Tien Yen chicken meat can be prepared in various dishes such as grilled, porridge, roasted, steamed. However, the best is undoubtedly the boiled chicken dish. The golden, shiny chicken skin is delightfully crispy and sweet. Enjoying the chicken with flat rice cakes, dipping in a sauce made of blended fish sauce, chicken fat, fried shallots, garlic, dried chili… is an exquisite culinary experience.
5. Coto Jellyfish Salad
When talking about Quang Ninh specialties, one cannot overlook Coto Jellyfish Salad. The Coto jellyfish is carefully processed and preserved in salty water, maintaining its perfect crispness and subtle sweetness. Prepared with various aromatic herbs, lime vinegar, roasted peanuts, garlic, and chili… the crunchiness of the jellyfish, spiciness of the chili, and sourness of the lime blend harmoniously to create a delicious and authentic jellyfish salad.
6. Yen Tu Bamboo Shoots
Visiting the sacred land of Yen Tu, you'll get to savor dishes made from rustic bamboo shoots. This is also one of the beloved Quang Ninh specialties by many tourists. Bamboo shoots are typically stir-fried with meat, added with fresh spring onions, celery, and a pinch of black pepper.
>>> Explore more: Yen Tu Pilgrimage Village
7. Quang Yen Fermented Pork Roll
Quang Yen Fermented Pork Roll is also among the top specialties in Quang Ninh that you should buy as a gift. Despite its simple ingredients, the preparation process is intricate and meticulous. Finely minced pork skin, roasted rice, and mashed mung beans are thoroughly mixed with spices. After approximately 3 – 4 days, the fermented pork roll is ready to be enjoyed. It is often served with fresh vegetables, Dinh Lang leaves, or water morning glory leaves, accompanied by a spicy dipping sauce.
8. Quang Ninh Củ Kỳ (Herbal Medicine Plant)
Not as meaty as crab, not as sweet as clams, but củ kỳ has its unique characteristics, becoming a must-try specialty in Quang Ninh. The main focus of củ kỳ meat is on its two pincers. You can prepare them into various delicious dishes such as steamed củ kỳ pincers, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, sweet and sour stir-fry… Alternatively, cooking củ kỳ meat in soups and seafood stews is also a popular choice.
>>> Explore hotels in Quang Ninh here.
9. Quang Yen Sam (Sea Cucumber)
There are many famous dishes made from sea cucumber, including sea cucumber blood pudding, spicy stir-fried sea cucumber, sea cucumber salad, grilled sea cucumber with eggs, deep-fried sea cucumber with batter, stir-fried sea cucumber with glass noodles, and sweet and sour stir-fried sea cucumber legs.
Sea cucumber is a crustacean, often found in pairs. According to locals, sea cucumber is considered cold, so when processing, it must be sliced in rays, and the internal organs should not touch the meat. Carelessness can lead to allergies or stomach pain. Due to the intricate preparation process, there aren't many restaurants specializing in sea cucumber dishes. You can check out popular eateries established by locals, passed down through generations, such as the sea cucumber stalls at Cho Cot 3, Ba Ty Sea Cucumber, Hung Mit Sea Cucumber, …
10. Bubbling Snail Noodle Soup
This is a famous breakfast dish in Quang Ninh. Therefore, tourists can find this dish anywhere, from local to high-end establishments. The bowl of bubbling snail noodle soup is fragrant, sweet, and sour without any fishy taste. Besides snails, there are thin slices of squid sausage, puffed fried tofu that looks very appealing. You can enjoy it with fried breadsticks, fresh vegetables, and add a bit of satay or chili sauce to enhance the flavor.
11. Tien Yen Crispy Cake
Named 'nodding' because the cake is very soft, when held, it cannot stay straight but bends and sways, nodding repeatedly. The cake is similar to pho but when grinding rice, a bit of cold rice is added to make the cake softer and more elastic.
Gật gù cake is usually served with crispy fried shallots, minced pork, and pure fish sauce. A plate of nodding cake costs only 15,000 – 25,000 VND/serving and can be enjoyed at many locations.
12. Halong Tapioca Yogurt
In recent times, Halong tapioca yogurt has surged in popularity and spread throughout the country. The traditional yogurt is paired with various unique toppings, which is the highlight of this dish. When eating, you can choose from a variety of flavors such as purple sticky rice pearls, dried coconut, banana, strawberry, chocolate, pandan jelly, …
Here are the renowned dishes and specialties that travelers should try at least once or purchase as gifts when visiting Quang Ninh. Experience and let Vntrip know which dish you find most delightful!
