Quy Nhơn Specialties to Bring Back as Gifts
Thorn-Infused Glutinous Rice Cakes from Quy Nhơn
A highly renowned cake from Binh Dinh, known for its traditional chewy and fragrant taste. Crafted with passion and precision, it incorporates key ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, thorny leaves, coconut, and mung beans. To achieve the authentic Binh Dinh specialty flavor, artisans must love their craft, possess experience, and exhibit meticulousness in every step, from crafting the crust to wrapping the filling.

Banh It La Gai Binh Dinh
The crust, made from thorny leaves, undergoes careful processing. After cleaning, removing stems and veins, the leaves are finely shredded, boiled until tender, and mashed for a delicious and smooth dough. The rice flour, made from fresh, aromatic rice, is soaked, ground, and kneaded with shredded thorny leaf dough and sugar to create the crust. The filling is a delightful blend of boiled mung beans, ground coconut, brown sugar, and ginger, offering a unique, fragrant, and sweet flavor to Banh It La Gai Binh Dinh. Once the crust is complete, skilled artisans proceed to shape the cakes into special pyramid-like structures.
This will be the ideal Quy Nhon specialty gift for your loved ones, family, and friends. However, keep in mind that Banh It La Gai Binh Dinh should only be kept outside for 3-4 days, so remember to store it carefully to prevent spoilage.
Delicious Quy Nhơn Red Cake
Apart from the famous sticky rice cake with thorny leaves, Quy Nhơn also boasts a unique delicacy known as Quy Nhơn specialty. This cake is crafted from premium fragrant glutinous rice and white sugar, offering a soft and elastic texture complemented by the distinctive flavor of high-quality coconut. Prepared with simple ingredients and an uncomplicated process, the Red Cake has become a traditional dish deeply rooted in the daily life of the Nau people.

Quy Nhơn Red Cake
Bamboo Basket
Indulge in the unique culinary delight from Binh Dinh and the Central region. At first glance, many might mistake this dish for brooms, as it is wrapped in straw. However, beneath the exterior lies an incredibly enticing dish.
Tré is crafted from pork, specifically selected from the head, along with a mix of fat and pork belly. It's infused with spices such as sesame, ginger, peppercorns, garlic, lemongrass, seasoning powder, and salt. After cleaning, boiling, and slicing the pork into small pieces, it's marinated with the traditional blend of spices. The meat is then wrapped in guava leaves, covered with plastic, and rolled in straw by hand. After being tightly bound and hung above the stove, it ferments naturally for 2-3 days before being ready to devour. Tré, when fully cooked, boasts a subtle sour flavor, a crispy texture from the pork, and a hint of spiciness from ginger, chili, and peppercorns. This dish becomes even more enticing and special when enjoyed with chili sauce while bonding with friends over drinks.

Tré - a renowned specialty of Binh Dinh
Bà Đá Rice Wine
When exploring Quy Nhơn, beyond the famed pastries, spirits also take center stage as an unmissable local specialty. Among them, Bàu Đá wine stands out prominently. Distilled and fermented from fragrant rice cultivated in well-irrigated fields, especially enriched by pure, cool, and sweet underground water, it embodies the distinct quality and rich flavor unique to the Bàu Đá village. Bàu Đá wine leaves a lingering aromatic taste without being overpowering, with a sweet aftertaste that doesn't induce headaches even after a spirited indulgence.
If you set foot in Quy Nhơn without savoring a glass of Bàu Đá, you haven't truly absorbed the essence of your journey and the flavors of this locale. It's truly remarkable to bring back a bottle of Bàu Đá wine as a gift for loved ones or friends, to enjoy together on festive occasions, holidays, or simply gathering on weekends.

Bàu Đá Wine - Quy Nhơn
Coconut Rice Paper
One of the cherished specialties of Binh Dinh that captivates many travelers is the coconut rice paper. This type of snack exudes a rich aroma from the combination of rice, sesame, shallots, pepper, coconut, making it more flavorful than typical rice papers. Crafting these thick and fragrant rice papers involves meticulous manual work. The dedication and craftsmanship to create these delectable treats with the enticing taste of coconut, sesame, and the distinctive depth of flavor from Central Vietnam's purple onions make it an unforgettable experience for anyone who has tasted it even once.

Varieties of coconut rice paper from Binh Dinh
Beyond these specialties, Quy Nhon offers a plethora of other delicious and tempting dishes, such as Market Nem, grilled squid, various rice papers, and dried seafood. When traveling to Quy Nhon, don't forget to indulge in these local specialties as well.
>>> Explore the most beloved hotels in Quy Nhon.
Famous markets in Quy Nhon
In addition to savoring the renowned local specialties firsthand, many travelers are eager to purchase them as presents for family and friends. So, where should you buy these specialties? Below are some popular Quy Nhon markets to consider:
Quy Nhon Night Market
The Quy Nhon Night Market is a well-known student market, offering affordable fashion items ranging from 35k to 100k. It also boasts numerous stalls of Quy Nhon street snacks and delicious Quy Nhon dishes like nem cha, banh hoi chao long, grilled seafood, shrimp noodle soup, and crispy fried quail with fish sauce. This is a must-visit spot when exploring Quy Nhon.
- Address: Nguyen Tu Street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh.
- Opening hours: 08:00 AM to late evening.
Dam Market
Dam Market is a renowned seafood market in Quy Nhon. Specializing in supplying both wholesale and retail seafood to the entire city, this market is tailored for those with a comfortable income. Offering fresh and premium goods, unlike typical markets, the seafood here, including shrimp, crab, fish, and squid, is larger and therefore more expensive. If you're considering purchasing seafood as gifts for family and friends, this is the market to explore when in Quy Nhon.
- Address: Hoang Hoa Tham, Thị Nại Ward, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh.
- Operating hours: Primarily in the morning.

Dam Market Quy Nhon
Market Zone 2
Market Zone 2, also known as Afternoon Market, operates only from around 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily. It's one of the prominent seafood markets in Quy Nhon that many are familiar with. The seafood at Market Zone 2 is as fresh and enticing as other markets. Importantly, locals often buy seafood here to transport to other provinces or supply local eateries, making prices more affordable than Dam Market. If you can't make it to the morning market, take the opportunity to visit Market Zone 2 in the afternoon to buy fresh and delicious seafood for enjoyment or as gifts.
- Address: 110 Nguyen Hue, Tran Phu Ward, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province.
- Main operating hours: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
>>> Explore more in the article 'Comprehensive Guide to Quy Nhon Travel from A-Z for First-time Visitors'.
Market Zone 6
Another notable market in Quy Nhon is Market Zone 6. Catering to all classes, especially the working class, this market offers goods at very budget-friendly prices. The main products here include various dried seafood and Quy Nhon specialties. It's a must-visit if you want to buy local Nau specialties as gifts, such as Tré, leaf-wrapped cakes, coconut rice papers, or dried seafood like dried squid and fish.
- Address: Vo Lai Street, Ngo May Ward, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh.
- Operating hours: 06:00 AM - 05:00 PM.

Market Zone 6 - Quy Nhon
Shopping Tips in Quy Nhon
According to Quy Nhon travel advice, when shopping in the markets, it's essential to consider the following:
- Choose products carefully to avoid purchasing counterfeit or low-quality items.
- Don't forget to negotiate prices when shopping at the market since most items here have relatively high initial prices.
- Avoid shopping too early in the morning as bargaining can be challenging. Sellers often perceive the first customers as those who set the tone; negotiating aggressively may lead to unfavorable attitudes from vendors who fear a slow business day.
Here are all the tips for buying Quy Nhon specialties as gifts. Hopefully, this article has provided you with valuable information. Quickly book your flight tickets to Quy Nhon and explore this destination to the fullest.
For more budget-friendly options, you can also check out various Quy Nhon travel packages at Mytour.
Thu Trang
Image Source: Internet
