Must-Try Hà Giang Delicacies During Buckwheat Flower Season

Travelers heading to Hà Giang these days cannot miss out on delectable treats like triangular buckwheat cakes, thắng cố (a traditional dish), piglet stolen under the armpit...

Delicious dishes to savor while exploring Hà Giang during the buckwheat flower season

You can relish the specialties of Hà Giang at local markets to fully experience the flavors and atmosphere.

Triangular Buckwheat Cakes

From mid-October, the Hà Giang rocky plateau is adorned with the pink and purple hues of buckwheat flowers. The locals transform these blossoms into a nutritious and health-enhancing delicacy known as triangular buckwheat cakes. The tiny buckwheat grains are finely ground and kneaded with water until elastic. After molding the dough into small cakes, they are steamed over an open flame until fully cooked. You can enjoy them right at the local markets or purchase them as gifts for loved ones when visiting the rocky plateau, priced at 15,000 VND per piece.

Thắng cố

Rich in highland cultural essence, thắng cố is a sought-after dish for many travelers exploring Hà Giang. The authentic thắng cố is made from horse or cow offal, always served piping hot, inviting diners to both eat and blow on the spoonful. Enhanced with salt or broth powder on the surface, diners can customize the flavor to their liking. The aromatic blend of herbs, dổi seeds, ginger, chili, and pepper complements the rich taste of the meat, warming the atmosphere amidst the chilly weather. You can savor thắng cố at local markets in Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc, Lũng Cú… for approximately 20,000 VND per bowl.

Egg Rolls

The rice paper for egg rolls is layered with beaten eggs before being neatly folded. When eaten with a bowl of piping hot dipping sauce, the crispy and fragrant rolls delight the taste buds. Sitting next to the skilled roll-makers, you can observe their nimble hands swiftly spreading the rice flour mixture on the fabric and skillfully folding it. You can find these delicacies at eateries along Lý Tự Trọng Street (Hà Giang City) or at Đồng Văn Market, Dong Van Old Quarter, priced at 25,000 VND per serving.

Mountainous Arrowroot Porridge

Arrowroot porridge is crafted from a unique ingredient, arrowroot tubers, known for their potent detoxifying properties often found on the rocky hillsides of the Northern region. The tubers are soaked in concentrated rice water overnight and then simmered for at least 4 hours until tender, forming a velvety paste. Fragrant sticky rice is mixed with aromatic regular rice, cooked until smooth in a broth made from leg bones and arrowroot powder. The bowl of porridge harmonizes the aroma of rice, the sweetness of leg bones, the creamy texture of eggs, the sourness of bamboo shoots, and a slightly bitter note from arrowroot tubers. A bowl of arrowroot porridge is priced around 20,000 VND and can be purchased near Hà Giang City Square, Đồng Văn Market...

Piglet Pilferage

When venturing to Hà Giang during market days, visitors will encounter numerous individuals cradling pigs, ferrying them to the market. Within the market, small piglets are nestled into baskets. The stolen armpit pigs' meat is crafted into various dishes, such as skewers, boiled delights, with the highlight being a dish combining intestines, belly meat, and steamed spare ribs. Along the roads of Hà Giang, restaurants and eateries offer a delightful array of dishes made from the infamous armpit-pilfered pigs.

Rainbow Sticky Rice

Hà Giang's Rainbow Sticky Rice boasts hues of white, red, green, purple, and yellow. Each color represents the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Except for the white, the other colors are achieved by soaking rice in water infused with the essence of various forest leaves and roots instead of using artificial coloring. At Hà Giang's market fairs, it's impossible for travelers to overlook the captivating pots of visually appealing, fragrant, and steamy sticky rice. A bundle of joy for just 5,000 VND.

Source: Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour