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Quang Ninh captivates visitors not only with its enchanting landscapes of mountains, rivers, and seas but also with its addictive cuisine. Let's explore the 9 must-try specialties of Quang Ninh with Mytour!
Indulge in the irresistible flavors of Quang Ninh's specialty dishes
1. Halong Bay Squid Sausage
When it comes to Quang Ninh's specialties, one cannot overlook the delicious Halong Bay squid sausage, renowned for its unique taste. This dish ranks among the top 50 most remarkable and impressive dishes in Vietnam, beloved by many diners. Crafting this dish requires meticulousness in every step, particularly in selecting fresh squid and hand-mixing to maintain the chewiness and sweetness of the sausage.
Halong Bay Squid Sausage boasts a distinctive flavor compared to sausages found elsewhere. The key ingredient for this dish is the characteristic squid found in Quang Ninh's coastal waters. After initial processing, the ingredients are ground and mixed with additives, then hand-pounded to create a firm mixture. The mixture is then frozen for 2 hours to solidify and shape the sausage. After molding, the sausage is immediately placed in a pan of hot oil, evenly fried until golden on both sides.
2. Tiên Yên Hill Chicken
Tiên Yên is a district in Quang Ninh province, about 70km from Ha Long City. It is renowned for Tiên Yên Hill Chicken, one of the specialties of Quang Ninh, alongside squid sausage. Tiên Yên chicken differs from other breeds with its distinctive features: beard, golden skin, golden feet. It is naturally raised in the hills and mountains, offering a taste of sweetness, aroma, crispy skin, and the rich flavor of chicken fat. With this breed, locals can prepare various delicious dishes such as boiled chicken, steamed chicken, braised chicken, chicken porridge, and more.
3. Tiên Yên Perch
While many first-time diners may find the perch unfamiliar, for Quang Ninh locals, it's a familiar specialty. Essentially, the perch is a hybrid between a duck and a goose or between a goose and a duck, inheriting the best qualities of both species. In Vietnam, perches are raised in Thanh Liem district (Ha Nam), Tiên Du district (Bac Ninh), Tiên Yên (Quang Ninh), and more. However, perches from Tiên Yên (Quang Ninh) are renowned for their superior taste and quality—firm and flavorful meat. Perches can be prepared in various ways, most commonly boiled, grilled, or cooked in porridge. Regardless of the dish, the flavor of perch meat leaves a lasting impression on diners. To enhance the dish's flavor, you can dip the perch meat in soy sauce with a few slices of ginger to tantalize the taste buds.
4. Tiên Yên Silk Worm Pupa
Silk worm pupa is a specialty of Quang Ninh beloved by many diners far and wide. According to Tiên Yên locals, 'khâu' means 'steamed until soft', while 'nhục' means 'meat', hence 'khâu nhục' can be understood as 'meat steamed until tender'. The main ingredient for this dish is fresh pork belly—a familiar staple in daily meals. However, with a more elaborate preparation method, khâu nhục becomes a sought-after dish not only for locals but also for diners from various places. Nowadays, khâu nhục is processed and packaged cleanly, making it convenient for takeaway or as gifts.
5. Halong Bay Tapioca Pearl Yogurt
Perhaps for many, Halong Bay tapioca pearl yogurt is no longer unfamiliar. The soft tapioca pearls, fragrant yogurt, creamy texture, accompanied by various toppings such as nuts, fresh fruits, all blend harmoniously, creating a refreshing sensation, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.
6. Yen Tu Bamboo Shoots
Yen Tu bamboo shoots are a type of bamboo shoots that grow naturally in the Yen Tu mountain range. They are slender and firm, not bulky. Bamboo shoots can be prepared in various dishes, but the best is grilled bamboo shoots dipped in sesame salt. Bamboo shoots have a sweet and slightly bitter taste if not carefully prepared. People in Quang Ninh often stir-fry bamboo shoots with goat meat or young beef. After harvesting, the bamboo shoots are thoroughly washed, sliced into small pieces about 2 finger joints in length, sliced vertically, and stir-fried thoroughly. To enhance the dish's aroma and flavor, the cook can add a little celery and fresh onions. The crispy and fragrant bamboo shoots gradually reveal their sweetness on the palate.
7. Halong Bay Bề Bề Vermicelli
When in Halong Bay (Quang Ninh), you must try the bề bề vermicelli. Bề bề is a common seafood in the Halong Bay region, known as bề bề by the locals, while in other regions it is often called 'tôm tích', 'tôm tít', or 'tôm búa'. Bề bề meat is sweet, fragrant, and fatty, used to prepare many nutritious dishes such as stir-fried bề bề with garlic, steamed bề bề, grilled bề bề with chili salt, stir-fried salted bề bề, sour and sweet tamarind stir-fried bề bề, but the most popular is still bề bề vermicelli.
A bowl of bề bề vermicelli served with broth made from bone marrow, crab, or mantis shrimp simmered for hours to achieve a naturally sweet and savory taste. Typically, a bowl of vermicelli includes noodles, fresh and delicious bề bề, slices of squid sausage, fried tofu, and various aromatic herbs. To enhance the dish's flavor, you can add a dash of satay sauce, chili paste, and a few slices of lime to tantalize the taste buds.
8. Tiên Yên Sleepy Cake
9. Horseshoe Crab
Horseshoe crab, also known as king crab, limulus, or stone crab, is a type of marine crab with large claws, brown shells, green eyes, and firm flesh. In Vietnam, horseshoe crabs are found in Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa, but in Quang Ninh, they have become a famous specialty and are locally referred to as the 'emperor crab of Vietnam.' The peculiar name comes from their large shells, curled legs, and slower movement compared to other marine crabs.
As per Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourJuly 10, 2023
