Experience the Top 10 Must-Try Delicacies in Tây Ninh

When it comes to delicious dishes in Tây Ninh, we often think of unique snacks like shrimp salt, rice paper... However, few know that Tây Ninh also boasts a distinctive culinary culture, captivating every traveler's heart. From local delicacies to souvenirs, Tây Ninh's culinary culture can win over even the most discerning palates. So what to eat in Tây Ninh? Where to buy Tây Ninh specialties? Which are the best eateries in Tây Ninh? All these questions will be answered in the article below.

Introduction to Tây Ninh Tourism

Despite not having 'golden forests and silver seas,' Tây Ninh is a renowned spiritual destination with many delectable dishes. Here, travelers can conquer the 'roof of Southern Vietnam' - Bà Đen Mountain, standing at 986 meters high. Or simply enjoy the charming landscapes at Dầu Tiếng Lake. For spiritual seekers, you can visit and pilgrimage to Thái Sơn Mountain Pagoda, Thiền Lâm Gò Kén Pagoda,... to pray for peace and good fortune.

Bà Đen Mountain is the most famous pilgrimage site in Tây Ninh (Source: Collection)

Best Time to Visit Tây Ninh?

Like other provinces in the Southern region, Tây Ninh experiences two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to October, while the dry season extends from December to April of the following year. To enjoy a complete journey without being affected by weather conditions, it's best to visit Tây Ninh during the dry season.

However, if you happen to visit Tây Ninh during the rainy days, it's still okay! Because even during the rainy season, Tây Ninh doesn't experience heavy rainfall throughout the day. The rain in Tây Ninh comes and goes quickly.

If you're a fan of cultural festivals, visit Tây Ninh during the full moon of the first and eighth lunar months. During this time, Tây Ninh hosts two major festivals of the year: the Bà Đen Mountain Spring Festival on the full moon of the first lunar month and the Yến Diêu Trì Cung Festival on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.

Top 10 Delicious Dishes in Tây Ninh to Delight Your Taste Buds

Tây Ninh is a rich and sacred land located in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It is home to many famous temples and holy mountains. Therefore, Tây Ninh offers a wide variety of dishes with delicate and unique flavors. To help food enthusiasts navigate through the abundance of culinary choices in Tây Ninh, Mytour presents the Top 10 most beloved dishes.

Trảng Bàng Tây Ninh Rice Noodle Soup

If you've visited Trảng Bàng but haven't savored bánh canh, you haven't truly experienced Tây Ninh. At first glance, many diners might think this dish is just like any other bánh canh they've had before. However, it's only when you taste a spoonful of the broth that you fully appreciate its rich and unique flavor, unlike anything else. The secret to creating a delicious bowl of bánh canh lies in the cooking method and the harmonious combination of ingredients.

Tây Ninh bánh canh typically carries a rich, spicy flavor with soft, chewy noodles (Image Source: Collection)

A proper bowl of Tây Ninh bánh canh should include generous portions of pork leg, pork blood pudding, and Vietnamese sausage blended with clear, flavorful broth infused with a spicy pepper taste. Trảng Bàng bánh canh noodles are typically soft, long, making them easy and enjoyable to eat.

Locals in Tây Ninh often enjoy bánh canh with fresh herbs, raw vegetables, chili lime, scallions, accompanied by a bowl of chili fish sauce. This unique combination creates an exquisite earthly flavor! Trảng Bàng bánh canh consistently ranks among the most famous delicacies in Tây Ninh for many years.

• Price Range: 35,000 VND - 45,000 VND/bowl.

Here are some recommended eateries in Tây Ninh:

• Nam Dung Bánh Canh Eatery: No. 90, Nguyen Van Rop Street, Trang Bang, Tây Ninh.

• Nam Dung Bánh Canh Eatery (Branch 2): Located on National Highway 22 - Trang Bang, Tây Ninh.

• Út Thiên Bánh Canh: No. 88, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Tây Ninh.

Tây Ninh Beef Rolls

Tây Ninh Beef, also known as veal, is a must-try delicacy in Tây Ninh. Locals affectionately refer to this dish as 'calf meat.' In reality, it's fresh beef raised freely on vast, lush grasslands. Tây Ninh veal boasts a crispy thin skin and tender, lean meat.

When savored, diners will experience a satisfying chewiness in each bite. However, as it melts in the mouth, the meat becomes tender and flavorful.

Tây Ninh Grilled Beef is one of the most renowned specialties in this holy land (Image Source: Collection)

Tây Ninh Beef is typically prepared for hotpot, steaming, wrapping in rolls, or stir-frying. Regardless of the cooking method, Tây Ninh beef always delights. However, for the most authentic flavor, grilled beef reigns supreme. Grilled beef dishes are often cooked right at the table to ensure freshness and the highest quality.

• Price Range: From 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND per serving.

Here are some renowned Tây Ninh veal restaurants that diners can consider:

• Cây Bàng Tây Ninh Veal Restaurant: 77 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ward 3, Tây Ninh City.

• Năm Sánh Veal Restaurant: Located on 30/4 Street, Ward 2, Tây Ninh City.

• Út Mây Veal Restaurant: 621 Ton Duc Thang, Long Thanh Nam Commune, Hòa Thành Town, Tây Ninh.

• Út Khương Veal Restaurant: 24 Ba Thang Hai Street, Ward 3, Tây Ninh City.

Bà Đen Mountain Lizard

Many may be surprised by this unusual dish as no one would think that lizards could be cooked as food. However, in Tây Ninh, nothing is impossible. The Bà Đen Mountain Lizard is considered the most unique and delicious dish in Tây Ninh. To catch the lizards for cooking, locals have to climb hills and streams, using bait to lure them into traps among the rocks.

This type of mountain lizard belongs to the gecko family with a light-colored tail and white stripes on its back. After being caught, the lizards are gutted, cleaned, and then deep-fried. When enjoying, diners can accompany them with water spinach, chopped herbs, or dip them in tamarind sauce.

The mountain lizard is a 'one-of-a-kind' delicacy found only on Bà Đen Mountain (Source: Compiled)

This type of lizard is most commonly found in the Bà Đen Mountain area. However, their numbers are rapidly declining. Therefore, to enjoy the authentic taste of mountain lizard, tourists should choose restaurants near Bà Đen Mountain.

Here are some restaurant suggestions near Bà Đen Mountain:

• Chiêng Restaurant: Located in Melia Vinpearl Tây Ninh.

• Biển Đông Seafood Restaurant: 686 Cách Mạng Tháng 8 Street, Ward 3, Tây Ninh City (near Co.opmart Supermarket).

Tamarind Rice Paper

Tamarind rice paper is a delicious snack in Tây Ninh, created by locals. Over time, tamarind rice paper has become a favorite specialty among many young people. A proper tamarind rice paper includes a few sheets of rice paper dried in the sun, neatly stacked. Accompanying the rice paper are seasoning packets (including roasted shrimp powder, chili salt, peanuts, chili powder) and a bag of smooth tamarind sauce with a sweet and sour taste.

The fame of tamarind rice paper gradually spread beyond Tây Ninh. Subsequently, this specialty quickly became a favorite snack among young people in the Southern region. Simply mix the seasoning packets with tamarind sauce to make the dipping sauce, and you'll have an enticing tamarind rice paper dish.

Tamarind rice paper has become a popular snack in Tây Ninh favored by students and young people (Source: Collection)

Depending on individual tastes, diners can adjust the seasoning to their liking. Then, simply peel off each piece of rice paper, dip it in the tamarind sauce, and chew. You'll feel the rich tamarind flavor melting in your mouth. This is definitely one of the most addictive delicacies in Tây Ninh.

• Specific price range: From 10,000 VNĐ per packet and up.

Dewy Rice Paper

We can find dewy rice paper anywhere. However, only the dewy rice paper in Tây Ninh delivers the most intense flavor. This delicacy in Tây Ninh undergoes meticulous processing, selecting the finest ingredients. After the rice paper is moistened, it is sun-dried until completely dry, completing the finished product.

Dewy rice paper in Tây Ninh is often rolled with meat and fresh vegetables (Source: Collection)

For dewy rice paper, diners can enjoy it with either pork leg or Tây Ninh beef, both delicious. Additionally, don't hesitate to add basil, coriander, perilla leaves, and mint to prevent the dish from becoming overwhelming!

• Price Range: From 10,000 VND/pack.

• Recommended Address: Markets and retail grocery stores in Tây Ninh.

Mountain Snail from Bà Đen

Mountain snails from Bà Đen are the unique delicacy that only Tây Ninh has. These snails live on Bà Đen Mountain, resembling buffalo snails but smaller in size. The meat of mountain snails is firm and juicy, with a deliciously fragrant and sweet flavor. Moreover, this delicacy in Tây Ninh is also effective in treating joint pain and fatigue. Although mountain snails are hard to find, they are quite easy to prepare.

Mountain snails have a sweet, rich flavor and are often served with sweet and sour fish sauce (Source: Collection)

After catching the mountain snails from the hills, the cooks wash them thoroughly and soak them in saltwater. Then, they can prepare the mountain snails in various dishes such as stir-frying, boiling, steaming, and more. Mountain snails typically have a naturally sweet and crunchy taste. Pairing mountain snails with sweet and sour fish sauce with ginger and black pepper is unbeatable!

• Price Range: From 40,000 VND/plate.

Some suggested addresses for mountain snails from Bà Đen:

• Đồng Quê beer garden: located on Trưng Nữ Vương street, Ward 1, Tây Ninh town.

• Beer gardens along Gia Long street, Tây Ninh City.

Tây Ninh Shrimp Salt

When it comes to the signature delicacy that defines Tây Ninh's reputation, one immediately thinks of shrimp salt. It's no exaggeration to say that this famous seasoning has become a distinct brand for Tây Ninh. Shrimp salt is undoubtedly the most famous delicacy in Tây Ninh, known throughout this sacred land. Every visitor to Tây Ninh purchases shrimp salt as a gift for their loved ones.

Although the salt and shrimp used for Tây Ninh shrimp salt are sourced from neighboring provinces, the traditional recipe is known only to the people of Tây Ninh. Starting with these main ingredients, the cooks will add garlic, red cabbage... in specific proportions. Then, the ingredients are ground, roasted over fire, and dried.

Tây Ninh shrimp salt boasts the pungent aroma of chili, the saltiness of salt, and the eye-catching orange-red color of shrimp (Source: Collection)

Shrimp salt typically boasts a deep orange-red color from the shrimp, the fragrant aroma of garlic, and a hint of spicy chili to tantalize your taste buds. If you're a fruit enthusiast, such as for coconut, mango, guava, or plum, then be sure to grab a jar of Tây Ninh Shrimp Salt to enjoy!

• Price range: 30,000 VND/jar.

• Recommended address: My Lan Salt Production Facility in Hòa Thành, Tây Ninh.

Tây Ninh Pomelo Nem

Pomelo nem is a delicacy in Tây Ninh that many tourists purchase as gifts for their loved ones and friends. The main ingredient that contributes to the distinctive flavor of pomelo nem is the peel of the pomelo fruit. Interestingly, pomelo nem does not contain any meat.

Pomelo peel is mixed together with shredded green papaya. Then, the chef adds pepper leaves, nem netting, sour khe, core bunches, spicy chili, and more. The Tây Ninh Pomelo Nem that comes out of the oven usually has an enticing red color. The flavor of nem is incredibly sweet, savory, with a hint of spicy chili and pepper. It's no exaggeration to say that Tây Ninh Pomelo Nem is a one-of-a-kind delicacy because you can't find it anywhere else.

Pomelo nem has become a trendy dish chosen by many tourists as gifts for their loved ones and friends (Image Source: Collected)

Pomelo nem is also suitable for vegetarians as all the ingredients are plant-based. This is also why pomelo nem is a popular choice for tourists to buy as gifts. If you ever visit Tây Ninh, don't forget to buy some pomelo nem to take home!

Some specialty stores selling pomelo nem:

• Tây Ninh Pomelo Nem: 90 Nguyen Van Rop Street, Trang Bang, Tây Ninh.

• Six-Storey Nem Shop: No. 4, Hiep Nghia Hamlet, Hiep Ninh Commune, Tây Ninh City.

Tay Ninh Peanut Brittle

At first glance, diners will feel both familiar and strange with this name. However, this delicacy in Tây Ninh is quite similar to the peanut brittle often eaten as a child. Tay Ninh Peanut Brittle is made entirely from tapioca starch, peanuts, and sesame seeds, creating a sweet, crispy flavor.

Tay Ninh Peanut Brittle has a shape and ingredients quite similar to the childhood peanut brittle (Image Source: Collected)

This is a delicious snack in Tây Ninh perfect for enjoying on rainy days. There's nothing better than nibbling on a plate of peanut brittle while sipping hot tea and listening to the rain falling outside the house.

Suggested address:

• Snack restaurant in Hòa Thành: 105/27 Nguyen Van Linh, Long Dai Hamlet - Long Thanh Bac, Hòa Thành, Tây Ninh.

Cashew Nut Preserve

Cashew preserve is an exquisite snack from Tây Ninh, combining a delicate sweetness with a refreshing tanginess, creating a unique and delightful flavor. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with bread, cashew nut preserve is always delicious! If you travel to Tây Ninh in June or August, you'll have the chance to buy even fresher cashew nuts.

Cashew nut preserve offers both the sweet taste of cashew fruit and the characteristic sourness, creating a pleasantly unique sensation when indulging (Source: Compiled)

• Price reference: From 70,000 VND/box.

Above are the top 10 delicious dishes in Tây Ninh along with some renowned eateries. With these insights from Mytour, travelers can discover even more local specialties on their upcoming trips to Tây Ninh. If you're interested in booking a tour to the South, please contact Mytour via hotline Mytour. Mytour's dedicated team will provide free consultation on tour prices, itineraries, and many attractive promotions.