Buzz
Cao Bang, known for its picturesque hills and mountains, covers 90% of its land with these natural wonders. The province boasts two major rivers, Gam River and Bang River. Its favorable natural conditions make it a hotspot for culinary development, with an abundance of nutritious produce sourced from the surrounding mountains and streams.
Wondering what to eat in Cao Bang and what unique specialties it offers? Let PasGo be your guide!
I. What makes Cao Bang cuisine special?
1. The uniqueness of culinary diversity
The uniqueness of Cao Bang cuisine is evident in the way it prepares and combines various locally available ingredients. Moreover, with 11 ethnic groups residing here, it adds to the distinctive nature of the cuisine. For instance, a single type of vegetable may be prepared differently by each ethnic group, seasoned with their unique spices.
Culinary uniqueness of Cao Bang in food preparation
II. Recommendations of 6 specialty dishes from Cao Bang for travelers to enjoy
1. Crispy rice cakes
Prepared from main ingredients of rice flour and duck meat, crispy rice cakes are often consumed resembling fried cakes and are usually served with Cao Bang's signature aromatic herbs. Crispy rice cakes are quite popular in the famous eateries and restaurants of Cao Bang.
2. Cao Bang floating cakes
Cao Bang floating cakes, also known as Coóng phù, are made from a mixture of glutinous rice flour and regular rice. The filling of the floating cakes is made from crushed peanuts mixed with sesame seeds. Typically, the cake makers shape the cakes into round balls using quail eggs, and to make the dish more enticing, the cakes are dyed with various colors using ingredients like pineapple, gac seeds, and magenta leaves,...
Cao Bang floating cakes with roasted peanuts filling and various colors
3. Ant egg cakes
Ant egg cakes are made from glutinous rice flour, young leaves of fig trees, and of course, the indispensable ingredient, ant eggs. Ant eggs are usually collected from ants with small bodies and sharp tails, commonly found on bauhinia trees. During preparation, a bit of scallion is often added to mask the distinctive tanginess of ant eggs.
This unique cake dish has a very fragrant, chewy, and rich taste of ant eggs.
If you ever get to try it, you'll surely be captivated right from the first bite
4. Cao Bang sticky rice with wild almond
To make delicious sticky rice with wild almond, people in Cao Bang have to carefully select ripe and juicy wild almonds. To achieve the best flavor, they need to soak them at a temperature of around 25°C. Then, they separate the flesh and discard the shells and seeds, mixing the almond flesh evenly with glutinous rice. The taste of this sticky rice is quite unique, unlike the sticky rice from your hometown because of the unusual flavor of wild almonds.
Cao Bang specialty wild almond sticky rice
5. Bamboo leaf cake
Bamboo leaf cake is a traditional dish of the people of Cao Bang. To make delicious bamboo leaf cake, you need ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, peanuts, ginger, and malt. Besides the sweetness, you can also taste the spiciness of ginger, the richness of peanuts, and the chewiness of glutinous rice flour. Nothing beats sitting in the afternoon, enjoying a cup of tea with bamboo leaf cake.
Cao Bang bamboo leaf cake
6. Cao Bang sour pho
(Specialty-Cao-Bang-8)
Sour Pho is one of the dishes listed in the red book 'Must-try dishes once when visiting Vietnam'. Similar to Sour Pho of Lang Son, the ingredients of sour pho include rice noodles, pig stomach and liver, Chinese sausage, duck blood pudding, pork belly,...herbs and roasted peanuts. This pho is delicious thanks to the flavorful broth extracted from duck belly, then mixed with garlic, vinegar, and sugar.
When eating, remember to mix the pho well to fully appreciate the flavor of this dish
III. 3 specialty dishes from Cao Bang to bring back as gifts for travelers
1. Cao Bang specialty sponge cake
Since ancient times, sponge cake has always been considered a rustic dish closely associated with the childhood memories of many people in Cao Bang. This type of cake has a golden, fluffy crust, and when eaten, you can taste the distinct sweet flavor of this cake. Sponge cake is made from brown sugar, yeast, and sticky rice, not only delicious but also a dish that stimulates the taste buds very well due to the appropriate amount of yeast, helping the eater feel delicious and stimulating digestion faster.
When tourists come here, they often choose sponge cake as a specialty gift to bring back
2. Specialty black glutinous rice chung cake of Cao Bang
If Hà Giang has the famous square glutinous rice cake, then in Cao Bằng, there's the incredibly delicious black Bảo Lạc square glutinous rice cake. This dish is popularly consumed during the Tet holidays by the people of Cao Bằng. Cao Bằng's black Bảo Lạc square glutinous rice cake has the distinctive fragrance of sticky rice, the aroma of the forest, the earthy flavor of green beans, and the richness of pork. What sets this type of square glutinous rice cake apart is the absence of onions; instead, they add a few slices of ginger to create a different taste compared to other types of square glutinous rice cakes in Vietnam.
A9: Black Bảo Lạc square glutinous rice cake Cao Bằng
3. Seven-flavor roasted duck Cao Bằng
Anyone visiting Cao Bằng must try this seven-flavor roasted duck at least once. It's called seven-flavor because when making this dish, seven different spices are used to cook it. This is a cooking secret of the Tày people. Besides its flavor, this seven-color roasted duck also attracts diners with its shiny golden appearance.
A10: Cao Bằng roasted duck is not only delicious but also visually appealing
IV. Suggestions for some good eateries in Cao Bằng with famous specialty dishes
• Ethnic Restaurant Quán
Address: 3/10 Nà Cạn Street, Cao Bằng town
Being a restaurant renowned for its rustic dishes made from buffalo meat, chicken, wild boar... Sành Quán boasts an ethnic atmosphere and is beloved by many tourists for its authentic Cao Bằng specialties.
• Sành Quán
Address: 789, Đề Thám Ward, Cao Bằng
One of the few upscale venues in Cao Bằng, the menu favorites here are various hotpot and barbecue dishes featuring beef, seafood, pork...
• Green Palm Leaf Restaurant Cao Bằng
Address: Group 10, Sông Hiến Ward, Cao Bằng City
This restaurant specializes in serving mountainous specialties: birds, hill chickens, forest buffalo meat, grilled fish...
Additionally, you can also enjoy Cao Bằng specialty dishes at Northwestern cuisine restaurants in Hanoi on PasGo - Booking & Deals.
Above are some outstanding delicious specialties of the mountainous land of Cao Bằng. If you have the opportunity to come here, be sure to try them. It will surely be a wonderful experience. And don't forget to check out other regional specialties when traveling in Vietnam on PasGo Blog!
Minh Phương
7 unique and delicious specialties that attract visitors from all over
What's good in Lào Cai? 5 delicious and meaningful Lào Cai specialties for eating and gifting
Laugh out loud at the name PIGGYBACK THIEF, understanding its brilliance only after realizing its true charm.
