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Embark on a gastronomic adventure in the land of the 'Bạc Liêu gentleman.' Beyond its renowned tourist spots, the culinary scene here will tantalize your senses with a diverse array of delectable dishes. Join Mytour as we unveil the top 15 must-try Bạc Liêu specialties that will undoubtedly captivate your taste buds.
Indulge in the Enchanting Flavors of Bạc Liêu's Top 15 Culinary Delights
1. Fermented Fish Hotpot
Fermented fish hotpot, a renowned delicacy originating from the Mekong Delta, is a must-try specialty in the 'Bạc Liêu gentleman' land. This dish boasts a rich and savory flavor, featuring a harmonious blend of ingredients such as basa fish, snakehead fish, shrimp, squid, and notably, fermented fish, creating a distinctive and savory taste. Diners savor the hotpot alongside rustic greens like morning glory, water lily, and sesbania flowers, enhancing its unique appeal.
2. Spicy Beef Noodles
Bún bò cay is a delightful dish worth savoring when visiting Bạc Liêu. The bowl of spicy beef noodles impresses diners with the fiery taste of chili, the aromatic scent of spices such as lemongrass, star anise, cinnamon... blending with the rich and flavorful broth, adorned with vibrant red swirls and a hint of sweetness. As you indulge, you'll experience the soft, white vermicelli, perfectly cooked beef, and the zesty, rich, explosive flavors of the spicy broth.
3. Coconut Jelly Cake from Ngan Dừa
Coconut Jelly Cake has long been a popular snack in the town of Ngan Dừa, and today it has become a specialty of Bạc Liêu, bringing pride to the locals. Those who want to enjoy the authentic flavor of coconut jelly cake must come to Bạc Liêu. The cake is made from fragrant, sticky rice flour, combined with slices of pork skin, a few dumplings, shredded cucumber, mixed with fresh herbs, live shrimp, drizzled with a bit of sweet, fragrant coconut milk, and garlic-chili fish sauce, creating a unique and enticing flavor.
4. Turnip Cake
Turnip Cake is a familiar dish to the people of Bạc Liêu, impressing the taste buds with its rich, creamy blend of shrimp, meat, and the bold, pungent taste of turnip flour. The cake has a unique and mouthwatering flavor. The ingredients for making turnip cake include turnips, radishes, dried shrimp. With meticulous and refined preparation, the people of Bạc Liêu have created a dish with a unique taste.
5. Noodle Soup with Special Broth
Bún nước lèo, a beloved dish among the locals in Bạc Liêu, is widely available—from street vendors to renowned traditional eateries. The broth, a concoction of clay-pot-cooked shrimp, fish, coconut water, and fragrant fish sauce, emanates a delightful aroma. Enjoy it with thin-sliced banana stems, beansprouts, basil, fresh squid, roasted pork, spring rolls, and crispy rice cakes.
6. Vinegar Braised Carp
Carp is not only a specialty of Bạc Liêu but also a delicacy across the entire Mekong Delta. Prepared in various mouth-watering ways—braised, with coriander, grilled with chili salt, or in river-leaf soup… Bạc Liêu locals have their unique twist—braising it with vinegar, creating an unforgettable dish. Simple ingredients—cleaned carp added to boiling water, mixed with vinegar and a medley of spices for richness—result in a delightful soup, perfect with white rice or vermicelli.
7. Duck Curry
Bạc Liêu's duck curry once made it to the top 100 Vietnamese specialties. Primarily using duck meat cooked with curry powder (a yellow, fine powder with a distinctive aroma from various spices). A bowl of duck curry with tender duck pieces, combined with the rich, fragrant curry, and dipped in spicy salt and chili, leaves a lasting impression. Duck curry comes in various forms such as noodle soup, with bread, or just the duck meat, all in a creamy curry sauce with or without heat, mixed with coconut milk, bay leaves, stimulating the taste buds.
8. Xá Pấu
Xá pấu is the name the Chinese community gives to the pickled mustard greens, a familiar dish in the hearty meals of many in Bac Lieu. The preparation is quite simple: clean the mustard greens, cut them into small bundles, air-dry, then season with salt, sugar, and five-spice powder. Xá pấu is best enjoyed when paired with white porridge and crispy fried tofu.
9. Cowhide Label
Cowhide label is a specialty fruit of Bac Lieu. Originating from China, it was brought to Vietnam by the Chinese and has been present in Bac Lieu ever since. This type of longan has thick flesh and a sweet aroma. Externally, cowhide label looks shiny yellow, with thin, peeling skin. When in Bac Lieu, you can visit the longan orchards, enjoying the peaceful and tranquil garden atmosphere while indulging in the sweet aroma of the longans.
10. Boneless Sour Fish Sauce Vinh Hung
Vinh Hung is a commune in Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province, known for its famous fish sauce - Vinh Hung sour fish sauce. The locals highly appreciate the preparation of this sour fish sauce, which involves meticulous techniques. The main ingredient for making sour fish sauce is fish, with options like snakehead fish, snakehead gudgeon, or catfish, each about two fingers in size. The fish is prepared by removing the head and internal organs, air-dried, then marinated with spices including salt, sugar, MSG, galangal, garlic, chili, ginger, and more. The sour fish sauce can be enjoyed when opened, revealing well-cooked fish meat and completely soft bones. You can savor it with fragrant herbs, green guava, sour star fruit, sour soup, green bananas, and boiled pork belly.
11. Dishes from Sago Worms
The nặn bộp tree thrives in provinces such as An Giang, Đồng Tháp, Long An, Cà Mau... but it is most abundant in the Bạc Liêu and Sóc Trăng regions. Known as the nặn bộp due to its hollow trunk, a gentle tap produces a delightful 'bộp' sound. The nặn bộp tree has three parts – nặn shoots, young shoots, and nặn tubers – all utilized in various culinary delights. The nặn shoots near the base have a dull yellow-brown color due to iron oxide, but when peeled, the inner part is ivory white, light as foam. The young shoots are a favorite delicacy for red-crowned cranes. Lastly, the nặn tubers, when the tree dies, sprout into new trees during the next rainy season.
12. Dishes from marsh grass
Marsh grass, a wild plant, flourishes in swamps and low fields, most notably in Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu. Considered a clean vegetable, apart from being pickled, the fresh parts of the marsh grass (stalks and roots) are transformed into many delectable and enticing rustic dishes such as shrimp and meat stir-fry, sour soup, sour hotpot, salads, and coconut soup.
Rượu long nhãn Bạc Liêu is made from longan fruit skin, premium sticky rice alcohol, and a mix of traditional Chinese herbs like goji berries, white ginseng, tangshen, and black beans. The harmonious blend of these components gives the long nhãn wine a distinctive aroma and a smooth taste. When consumed in moderation, Bạc Liêu long nhãn wine is known to promote blood circulation, alleviate joint pain, and aid in insomnia relief.
14. Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Grilled Nem Nướng
Stir-fried vermicelli with grilled nem nướng comprises rice vermicelli, thinly sliced pork, garlic, finely chopped lemongrass, and marinated grilled nem nướng. The white, fragrant vermicelli, made from special rice flour, pairs perfectly with the large, round nem nướng. When combined, the dish has a unique, savory-sweet taste, complemented by fresh raw vegetables. Similar to spicy beef vermicelli, you can savor stir-fried vermicelli with grilled nem nướng at any market in Bạc Liêu at an affordable price.
15. Coconut Sauteed Snails
Coconut sauteed snails are a must-try delicacy when in the land of 'Bac Lieu Gentleman.' For locals and tourists alike, this dish is not just a culinary delight but also a captivating experience due to its unique flavor. The blend of coconut essence and tender snail meat creates a delightful broth with a balanced taste—not too salty, not too sweet, yet rich and aromatic. Almost every eatery, from small stalls to upscale restaurants in Bac Lieu, serves the tempting coconut sauteed snails.
Courtesy of Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourMay 26, 2023
