Discover the Unconventional: Top 5 Intriguing Dishes to Try When Touring Hau Giang

Hau Giang is a province in the Mekong Delta, characterized by its lush waterways and gardens. Don't miss out on these unusual dishes that always leave a lasting impression on travelers exploring this region.

Discover the Unconventional: Top 5 Intriguing Dishes to Try When Touring Hau Giang

Germinated Rice

One of the dishes not to be missed on this list is germinated rice, a must-try when touring Hau Giang. The dish is typically served in portions, consisting of 4 heated stones used to grill pork. Surrounding the stones are raw vegetables such as chopped cabbage, finely sliced corn, fresh chili, and aromatic herbs. The pork is thinly sliced, marinated with spices, and presented separately. To eat, you'll pick up the meat to cook on the hot stones, waiting until it turns a golden brown, crispy texture and releases a fragrant aroma before enjoying. To accompany this dish, you can enjoy the raw vegetables dipped in a tangy-sweet fish sauce, a delightful and memorable experience.

Duck Noodle Salad

From the very first bite, diners will experience the distinctive aroma of linh fish sauce. Additionally, there's the rich flavor of coconut, the gentle sourness of tamarind combined with the sweetness of freshwater shrimp. Many mistake this dish for bun mam because the main ingredient used in cooking is linh fish sauce. Bun goi da has the same ingredients as fresh spring rolls, including: vermicelli, meat, shrimp, vegetables, and scallions... Instead of wrapping in rice paper as tradition, people in Hau Giang eat it in a soupy form.

The sweet and rich broth must be simmered from pork bones and seasoned just right. The chef will add a dollop of fermented soybean paste, a spoonful of tamarind paste, sprinkle some finely crushed peanuts and fried garlic. The sweet taste from the bones, the salty-sour flavor of tamarind, the freshness of the vegetables make diners unable to resist enjoying this dish.

Cai Tac Offal Congee

Cai Tac Offal Congee is one of the famous dishes in Hau Giang that visitors should not miss. The congee must be cooked from old rice (also known as swollen rice) and not toasted rice. Good congee should be smooth and runny, with a creamy brown color. In addition, the added ingredients must include: young offal, liver, blood, boiled meat... The dipping fish sauce must also be sweet and spicy. If you have the opportunity to travel to Hau Giang, you must try this dish!

Chả cá thác lác

Chả cá thác lác is one of the famous specialties of Hau Giang due to the delicious flavor it brings. The fish used to make the sausage must be fresh, with firm meat so that the sausage is chewy and meaty.

Chả cá thác lác in Hau Giang is made from the special type of thác lác fish, known for its firm and shiny white meat. When preparing, the chef must select fresh fish, remove scales, scrape off the meat, and discard the bones. Then, the meat is finely chopped, mixed with crushed pepper, and seasoned to taste. It can be ground or pounded by hand for a chewier texture compared to machine grinding. However, to produce a large quantity, chefs often use machines to save time. Adding ice to the grinder will make the sausage just as chewy as hand-pounded. Thac Lac Fish Sausage can be prepared into various dishes such as fried fish sausage, sour soup with fish sausage, steamed fish sausage,...

Water Mimosa

Water Mimosa, also known as water spinach, usually grows in riverside areas. Water Mimosa can be cooked into many delicious dishes such as stir-fried water mimosa with garlic, sautéed water mimosa, water mimosa salad,... But the simplest way to prepare and enjoy it with hot rice is probably boiled water mimosa served with braised fish or fish sauce. Its soft texture enhances the meal, providing a harmonious, savory, and fragrant experience.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Travel Handbook by Mytour