Buzz
Whether you're going downstream or upstream in Hà Tĩnh, the desire for delicious grilled fish always leads to the charming 'village' of Hộ Độ (Lộc Hà).
Explore the 'village' of grilled fish during your visit to Hà Tĩnh...
Calling it a fisherman's village might be a bit much; in reality, there are just five painted canvases standing along the road, where mothers and sisters sit daily grilling fish.
They are busy day and night, and the fish are always plump, patiently waiting their turn over the glowing charcoal stoves to serve the locals.
The profession of grilling fish in Hộ Độ (Thạch Kim coastal area, Lộc Hà) is not widespread; the fish ovens only appear when the locals crave fresh and delicious sea fish, grilled with firewood.
The selection of fish for grilling includes Tuna, banana grouper, silver grunt, and horse mackerel... all caught in the sea of Hà Tĩnh.
At these grilling stations, the top criteria for fish are freshness, cleanliness, and grilling exclusively with charcoal. When placing the fish on the grill, absolutely no seasoning or additives are used. Just gut and clean the fish, then grill over charcoal until the fat drips, the fish skin crisps, and the enticing aroma fills the air.
The charcoal grills for fish are quite simple, using 3-5 small iron bars placed on two bricks. Add charcoal, light the fire, and you can grill fish all day. However, maintaining the right flame intensity and ensuring the fish are perfectly cooked requires experience. According to Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Loan (55 years old, Hộ Độ, Lộc Hà), who has 30 years of experience in fish grilling, evenly flipping the fish is the key to exquisite taste.
The profession of fish grilling is always surrounded by the smoky haze of charcoal. The entire body is covered in dirt, with the pungent smell of grilled fish. Older women choose this profession, as Mrs. Loan humorously remarks, while younger unmarried or newlywed women who attempt it find their partners leaving early.
Ms. Nguyễn Hải Yến (40 years old, Hộ Độ) reveals that each day, a single fish griller here sells between 200-500 grilled fish. Grilling fish all day leaves one's face covered in darkness, nose and mouth full of ash, and the entire body smelling like fish.
For a long time, the Hộ Độ and Thạch Kim region has been renowned for fishing and the art of fish grilling. Anyone desiring to savor delicious grilled fish visits here to make a purchase. Consequently, the profession of fish grilling in this area is familiar to the locals in the province.
A glimpse into the world of grilled fish at Hộ Độ:
By Trương Hoa/ Infonet
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourFebruary 24, 2017
