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Despite not boasting many spectacular landmarks, Bac Lieu is renowned for its Southern folk music and delicious cuisine. Bac Lieu specialties encompass a myriad of flavors—sour, spicy, salty, sweet, and savory—that captivate everyone. If you ever visit Bac Lieu, don't overlook these 15 renowned local specialties highlighted in the following article!
Bac Lieu Local Delicacies
Being a province in the Mekong Delta region, Bac Lieu offers a diverse array of rich and varied local specialties. These dishes are crafted from ingredients that embody the distinctive flavors of the Mekong Delta. When traveling to Bac Lieu, don't miss out on the opportunity to savor these renowned Bac Lieu specialties recommended by Mytour below!
Mam Hotpot
If you're wondering what to eat in Bac Lieu in the morning, why not try the authentic Mam Hotpot from the Mekong Delta? Mam Hotpot is made from fermented fish sauce or shrimp paste—two distinctive ingredients of Bac Lieu. Chefs use a mixture of fish sauce and coconut milk to create a sweet and gentle flavor. Then, they season it with a few spices to make a pot of Mam Hotpot with a rich aroma.
A high-quality Mam Hotpot should include seafood, fresh vegetables, noodles, and a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, and lime (Image Source: Collected)
For first-time diners trying Bac Lieu's specialty, the smell may seem strong and intense. However, with just one sip of the broth, all the senses in your body seem to awaken. It's no exaggeration to say that Bac Lieu's Mam Hotpot is the epitome of Mekong Delta cuisine, bringing together the three Vietnamese - Cham - Khmer cultural heritages.
Mam Hotpot features a sweet and savory broth, distinctive fish sauce aroma, often served with fresh seafood such as basa fish, shrimp, and squid. Additionally, locals add various fresh vegetables like water spinach, sesbania flowers, to make the broth even more flavorful.
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Prices range from 165,000 VND to 200,000 VND per serving
Spicy Beef Noodles Bac Lieu Style
Unlike the distinctive Hue-style beef noodles, Bac Lieu's spicy beef noodles boast a unique, intense spiciness. If you're a fan of 'bun bo,' you can't miss this famous Bac Lieu specialty. A simple bowl of spicy beef noodles will contain delicious fresh beef, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and various other spices. When enjoyed, Bac Lieu's spicy beef noodles offer a distinctive spiciness blended with the rich, savory flavor of beef, best enjoyed with a dipping sauce of salt and lime.
Spicy beef noodles boast a distinctive red color and intense spicy aroma (Source: Collected Images)
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Prices range on average from 30,000 VND to 40,000 VND per bowl
Broth-based Noodle Soup
For the people of Bac Lieu, broth-based noodle soup has become a familiar breakfast dish. From humble street vendors to renowned eateries, you can easily find this Bac Lieu specialty being sold everywhere.
Bun Nuoc Leo is a rustic dish of Bac Lieu easily found anywhere (Image Source: Collected)
To make the rich Western-style broth for Bun Nuoc Leo, the broth is the key factor. The broth is cooked in a large clay pot to preserve the sweetness of shrimp, fish, coconut water, and the distinctive flavor of fish sauce. People in Bac Lieu often enjoy Bun Nuoc Leo with thinly sliced banana flowers, bean sprouts, basil, fresh squid, spring rolls, and fried cakes.
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Prices range on average from 35,000 VND to 50,000 VND per serving
Bac Lieu Pancake
If you ever find yourself in the Mekong Delta region, don't miss out on the famous crispy pancake from Bac Lieu province! Bac Lieu pancake boasts its crispiness, rich flavor blending with the subtle sweetness of fresh vegetables and shrimp. Together, they create a rich and flavorful taste, awakening all your senses. People in the Mekong Delta often enjoy it with fresh vegetables and fish sauce to enhance its deliciousness.
Bac Lieu pancake usually carries the rich and crispy aroma with its characteristic golden crust (Image Source: Collected)
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Prices range on average from 40,000 VND to 70,000 VND per serving
Sour Soup with Gourami Fish
Gourami fish is always a rustic dish, familiar to people in the Mekong Delta. However, Gourami fish cooked in vinegar is the true specialty of Bac Lieu, originating from the locals of Bac Lieu province. This dish is prepared quite simply and quickly. After preparing the Gourami fish, the chef will simmer it in water and then add vinegar along with some characteristic spices. The flesh of Gourami fish is usually tender and firm. Although it has many bones, they are quite soft so there's no need to worry about bone obstruction.
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Prices range on average from 100,000 VND per serving and above
Duck Curry Bac Lieu Style
Duck curry is the only Bac Lieu specialty dish listed in the Top 100 delicious Vietnamese dishes. To make a rich Mekong Delta-style duck curry, duck meat and curry are the decisive factors. The duck meat is usually marinated with smooth yellow powder, bearing the characteristic color of various spices.
Duck curry combined with coconut milk will bring an unforgettable rich and creamy flavor (Source: Collection)
A complete portion of duck curry includes tender duck meat infused with fragrant curry flavor. This dish is usually dipped with chili salt to create a characteristic salty taste that guests won't forget. Additionally, you can enjoy duck curry with rice noodles, vermicelli, bread, bean sprouts, cinnamon leaves, etc., to enhance the stimulation of the taste buds.
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Prices range on average from 20,000 VND to 35,000 VND per serving
Turnip Cake
Turnip cake is a popular dish beloved by many tourists when visiting Bac Lieu. At first glance, turnip cake bears a striking resemblance to Chinese dim sum. However, the ingredients and preparation method of turnip cake are completely different from dim sum. Turnip cake boasts a rich and flavorful taste, with a filling made of shrimp and pork mixed with a hint of turnip. This is a specialty dish of Bac Lieu that you won't find anywhere else.
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The average price of turnip cake ranges from 15,000 VND to 20,000 VND per serving
Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake
Coconut duck tapioca cake is one of the renowned specialties of Bac Lieu that you should try at least once in your lifetime. The tapioca cake is made from glutinous rice flour combined with rich and creamy coconut milk. Then, you can add chili garlic fish sauce to enhance the distinctive aroma. Although these two types of dipping sauces have nothing in common, when combined, they create a unique savory and creamy flavor.
Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake has become a familiar delicacy for the people of Bac Lieu (Source: Collection)
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The average price of Coconut Duck Tapioca Cake ranges 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 popular breakfast dish among the locals in Bac Lieu. This specialty dish of Bac Lieu is incredibly easy to eat and suitable for all tastes. To achieve the authentic flavor, the grilled spring rolls are brushed with a layer of soft and fragrant fat. Served with stir-fried vermicelli, the grilled spring rolls are accompanied by sweet and sour fish sauce and signature fresh vegetables. Users will then mix these ingredients together before enjoying.
Stir-fried Vermicelli with Grilled Spring Rolls in Bac Lieu boasts a rich and flavorful taste with its signature dipping sauce (Source: Collection)
At first glance, this dish bears a resemblance to the southern-style vermicelli with grilled meat. However, when eaten, the grilled spring rolls are much richer and softer.
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The average price ranges from 35,000 VND to 50,000 VND per serving
Grilled Leech
When it comes to Bac Lieu's specialties, one dish stands out above the rest: Coconut Worms soaked in fish sauce. For coconut worms, diners have the option to grill or fry them as they please. However, it's the savory fish sauce bath that truly captures the hearts of Bac Lieu locals.
Coconut Worms soaked in fish sauce is Bac Lieu's unparalleled specialty (Source: Collection)
With each bite of coconut worm, you'll experience its rich and creamy flavor spreading throughout your mouth. While this rustic dish may not suit everyone's palate, those who enjoy it find it exceptionally delicious.
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The average price ranges from 5,000 VND per worm
Bac Lieu's Specialty as Souvenirs
If you've visited Bac Lieu and haven't purchased any specialties as souvenirs, it's truly a missed opportunity. Mytour suggests renowned Bac Lieu specialties that are perfect as gifts for your loved ones and friends.
Beef Skin Lychee
Beef skin lychee is one of the famous Bac Lieu specialties that attracts many tourists. Bac Lieu's beef skin lychee is usually large-sized, with thick flesh and a sweet aroma. The beef skin lychee season in Bac Lieu typically falls at the end of August or early September. Beef skin lychee is undoubtedly a suitable Bac Lieu specialty fruit to give as gifts to your loved ones after your trip.
Travelers can purchase beef skin lychee as gifts for their loved ones and friends after visiting Bac Lieu (Source: Collection)
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The price ranges from 15,000 VND/kg
Dried Snakehead Fish
Dried snakehead fish is often a familiar specialty of Bac Lieu that many tourists buy as gifts for their loved ones. Dried snakehead fish in Bac Lieu is processed without removing the fish bones. This creates a difference compared to other regions. Bac Lieu locals believe that dried fish bones become crispy when roasted. Therefore, they prefer to keep the fish bones intact. After roasting, dried snakehead fish from Bac Lieu has a natural golden color, roasted with garlic for the perfect taste.
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The average price of dried snakehead fish ranges from 60,000 - 180,000 VND/kg
Salted Turnip - Xá Bấu
Salted turnip, also known as xá bấu, is simply pickled turnip mixed with salt, sugar, alcohol, and spices. When tasted, you will experience a mildly salty flavor without being overpowering. The turnip has a unique crunchy texture. Xá bấu is often enjoyed with white rice as part of main meals.
Stir-fried salted turnip with duck eggs, served with rice, is a dish deeply cherished by the people of Bac Lieu (Source: Collection)
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The average price ranges from 40,000 - 70,000 VND/kg
Ba Khia Fermented Fish
Ba Khia Fermented Fish is a Bac Lieu specialty favored by many tourists as a gift. After being thoroughly cleaned with water to remove all mud, the ba khia fish is soaked in brine. After fermenting for a period of time, ba khia fermented fish develops its characteristic salty taste and the rich aroma of ba khia.
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The average price is 270,000 VND/kg
Red Hongdan Rice
Red Hongdan Rice is a unique and delicious rice variety renowned in Bac Lieu that you should try at least once. The grains are slender, with a subtle fragrance. The distinctive red color of the grains is incredibly eye-catching. After cooking, the rice is both chewy and fragrant, delighting everyone who tastes it.
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The average price ranges from 7,000 VND/kg
Tips for Choosing Bac Lieu Specialties as Gifts
When choosing Bac Lieu specialties as gifts, tourists should pay attention to the following points for the best experience:
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When selecting specialty gifts, it's advisable to inquire about the preservation methods, preparation techniques, and flavors from the sellers.
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Choose reputable vendors in Bac Lieu.
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Check the expiration date.
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Inquire about the prices before purchasing to avoid overpricing.
Here are the Top 15 renowned Bac Lieu specialties that you should try at least once in your lifetime. With the knowledge shared by Mytour, hopefully, you will make the most suitable specialty choices. If you have fallen in love with this rich land of the Mekong Delta, feel free to call the Mytour hotline 19003398 to book affordable Mekong Delta tours!
