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Delicious and Not Overly Sweet Cake
Delicious and Not Overly Sweet Cake
Nam Dinh is a bustling land with crowded streets, beautiful beaches, sandbars, ancient churches, or peculiarly architectured cathedrals, along with hundreds of delicious traditional dishes. In this article, we will introduce you to the Top 15 specialties of Nam Dinh that you must try once when visiting this beautiful land.
1. Nam Dinh Beef Pho
Nam Dinh is renowned for being a land with numerous cattle. Therefore, one of the most prominent specialties here is Nam Dinh beef pho. Unlike Hanoi pho, Nam Dinh beef pho impresses visitors with its unique flavors, as each eatery will have a different characteristic taste due to each family having its own closely guarded traditional recipe.
One of the most prominent specialties here is Nam Dinh beef pho
The flat and soft pho noodles are soaked in broth made from bones, clear in color, and sweetly fragrant with beef aroma. The beef is considered the highlight, with evenly sliced pieces, tender and chewy, sweet and firm. Beef pho is often served with various fresh herbs, raw vegetables, lime, chili, etc., to enhance the flavor.
You can find beef pho at many restaurants and eateries, but the most famous ones include Pho Xuyen on Van Nhan Alley, Pho Dan, and Pho Uncle Tang.
Fresh and tender beef
2. Giao Thuy Fermented Anchovy Dip
No longer unfamiliar at drinking tables, Giao Thuy fermented anchovy dip has been renowned for its deliciousness and richness for a long time. The rolls of fermented anchovy are wrapped in sung leaves, and when unwrapped, they reveal thin slices of fermented anchovy meticulously cut by hand.
Giao Thuy fermented anchovy dip has long been renowned for its delicious and rich flavor.
What makes nem special is the fresh and enticing ingredients. Pork skin is meticulously cleaned, hair removed, and then thinly sliced. The rice flakes sprinkled on top of nem are selected from fragrant Eight-Grain rice from Nam Dinh, soaked overnight, then roasted and ground to create a uniquely rich and creamy texture. When eating nem, you can roll it in sung leaves and dip it in sweet and sour fish sauce, adding a bit of spiciness to round out the flavor.
What makes nem special is the fresh and enticing ingredients.
Giao Thuy sour fermented pork is relatively easy to find. So when you visit Nam Dinh, don't forget to buy some of this specialty as a gift. Reliable addresses for tourists to purchase include Phuong Chinh fermented pork restaurant (Dai Dong market) and Giao Thuy fermented pork restaurant (373 Tran Nhan Tong), among others.
3. Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli
The distinctive name Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli has become a signature for tourists far and wide. What sets Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli apart is its unique name, with noodles much larger than regular vermicelli, as thick as chopsticks and with a pale white color.
The distinctive name Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli has become a signature for tourists far and wide.
However, Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli is remarkably soft and not at all mushy. Thanh Nam bamboo vermicelli is typically made with crab bricks, broth, beef, lime, chili, and more, creating a flavorful bowl of vermicelli with the sweetness of beef and crab bricks, enhanced by the freshness of vegetables and herbs, delighting tourists.
However, the vermicelli is consistently soft and never mushy.
When in Nam Dinh, you can visit Mrs. Yen's bamboo vermicelli shop (Hoang Van Thu street), Mrs. Bay's bamboo vermicelli shop (opposite Hoang Ngan market), bamboo vermicelli shop at 134 Truong Chinh street,... with prices ranging around 20,000 VND per bowl.
4. Nam Dinh's Steamed Glutinous Rice
Steamed glutinous rice is another specialty you definitely can't miss when visiting Nam Dinh. With prices ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 VND per bowl, you can enjoy fragrant, soft sticky rice perfectly combined with tender pork, salty and fatty, along with chewy Chinese sausage, sweet and savory, and a rich, flavorful sauce. All the ingredients burst in the mouth of the diner, creating a dish of perfection.
Xoi xiu is also an absolute must-try specialty when you visit Nam Dinh.
You can visit the famous xoi xiu shop at 62 Hang Sat, Nam Dinh, from 7 am to 9 pm daily to try this delicious sticky rice dish.
Rich and fragrant sticky rice
5. Village-Style Rolled Rice Cakes
While Hanoi is famous for Thanh Tri rolled rice pancakes, Nam Dinh also boasts a long-standing specialty from the ancient Phu Tuc Mac region – the renowned Làng Kênh rolled rice cakes. These rolled rice cakes in this village are well-known thanks to the skilled hands of the rice cake makers.
These delicate layers of rice cakes, as thin as silk and white as snow, are sprinkled with minced meat and wood ear mushrooms, then rolled up and cut into bite-sized pieces. Finally, a sprinkle of crispy fried shallots is added on top. These rice cakes are served with a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy fish sauce that is sure to delight visitors.
Each delicate layer of rice cake, as thin as silk and white as snow, is sprinkled with minced meat and wood ear mushrooms, just the right amount for a satisfying bite.
Each delicate layer of rice cake, as thin as silk and white as snow, is sprinkled with minced meat and wood ear mushrooms, just the right amount for a satisfying bite.
To enjoy this delicious cake, you can visit places like Kênh village, Văn Miếu market, the area around Nam Định Cathedral, Quang Trung alley, with an average price of around 20,000 VND per serving.
6. Nam Định Thorny Leaf Cake
Thorny leaf cake is one of the prominent specialties in Nam Định. The main ingredients for the black-colored crust are thorny leaves and glutinous rice, giving the cake a fragrant and slightly sticky texture. The filling consists of crushed mung beans mixed with coconut, peanuts, lotus seeds, pork fat, and sweet spices.
Thorny leaf cake is one of the prominent specialties in Nam Định
The cake is wrapped in dried banana leaves and sold for about 10,000 VND each. When in Nam Định, you can visit the most famous thorny leaf cake shop - Mrs. Thị's thorny leaf cake shop on Trần Hưng Đạo street to buy this sweet gift home.
Delicious and not too sweet cake
7. Grilled Fish in Pot
As a unique dish often present in the Tet meal in Nam Định, the grilled fish in pot reflects the meticulousness and patience of the locals here. The fish is bought, cleaned, marinated, then lined with straw, rice husks underneath, placed on top, surrounded by fired clay bricks, and covered with an aluminum pot so that the edge of the pot fits snugly inside the row of round bricks.
A unique dish often present in the Tet meal in Nam Định
Burning fire with straw for about half an hour, surrounding the pot, then continue to put straw, rice husks on the pot surface, grilling for about 4 - 5 hours. Importantly, the cook must watch and estimate the time, fire power so that the fish is not burned black but not raw. The result is a fragrant grilled fish, sweet and tender fish meat served with sweet and sour dipping sauce that will amaze the visitors.
A must-try specialty in Nam Định
Fish is not burned and incredibly fragrant
8. Xíu Páo Cake
The small, beautiful cakes with their shiny golden appearance will surely captivate you at first sight. Xíu páo cakes have a firm and slightly thick crust similar to baked bread but softer and thinner. The filling is minced pork seasoned with five-spice powder, eggs, and lard, creating a delightful taste. The cakes are brushed with a little oil and then baked. The result is a slightly crispy exterior while the inside remains soft and savory.
The small, beautiful cakes with their shiny golden appearance will surely captivate you at first sight
Xíu páo cakes are quite cheap (on average about 5,000 VND/cake) and can be found in many places in Nam Định such as Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Lê Hồng Phong Street, Hoàng Văn Thụ Street,... so don't miss out on this delicious snack.
Rich and flavorful filling
9. Lychee Cake
When visiting Nam Định, you cannot miss out on bringing home lychee cakes. Lychee cakes are not made from lychee fruit but rather from wheat flour, eggs, sugar, and lard. The baker skillfully molds the dough into evenly sized round balls. The cakes are eye-catching with their golden color, crispy texture, and delightful sweetness that becomes more addictive with each bite. Enjoying lychee cakes with a cup of tea will surely bring you relaxation, comfort, and the most delicious taste.
When visiting Nam Định, you cannot miss out on bringing home lychee cakes
Notable lychee cake brands you can consider are Vân Đích Lychee Cakes (25 Zone 6, Yên Định), Lưu Tuệ Lychee Cakes (83 Đông Biên, Yên Định), with an average price of around 25,000 VND for 200 grams.
Fragrant and not overly sweet lychee cakes
10. Siu Chau Candy
Siu Chau candy might be unfamiliar to many tourists visiting Nam Định. Like other types of candy, the main ingredients of Siu Chau candy include sugar, peanuts, and sesame seeds. However, Siu Chau candy does not have an overly sweet taste but rather a refreshing sweetness with a crunchy texture that is easy to eat.
Siu Chau candy might still be somewhat unfamiliar to many tourists visiting Nam Định
If you visit Nam Định, don't miss out on this unique and delicious candy and consider buying it as a gift. The most reputable Siu Chau candy store in Nam Định is Kim Thành Hoa Siu Chau Candy at 122 Minh Khai, Vị Hoàng, priced at around 30,000 VND for 200 grams and available in various sizes.
Extremely chewy and fragrant candy
11. Dodol Candy
Resembling traditional savory dodol, dodol candy consists of main ingredients such as sugar, peanuts, tapioca starch, and a hint of vanilla. The outer layer is skillfully cooked into tube shapes, pure white in color, and sweet in taste. However, peanuts are enclosed inside to ensure they do not fall out. The sweet and crunchy taste of the candy is balanced by the peanuts inside, creating a fragrant and refreshing flavor that pairs well with tea.
Renowned Dodol candy from Nam Định
You can purchase dodol candy at Đức Nhân dodol specialty store (124 Bắc Ninh, Nguyễn Du) for approximately 30,000 VND for 200 grams depending on the weight.
Peanuts are enclosed inside to ensure they do not fall out
12. Sweetened Mung Bean Paste
Sweetened Mung Bean Paste in Nam Định is a rustic and incredibly easy-to-make dish of the people of Nam Định. With only the simplest ingredients including finely ground mung beans, sesame seeds, and sugar, it creates a plate of sweetened mung bean paste with bright colors, a sweet and fragrant taste of mung beans.
Sweetened Mung Bean Paste in Nam Định is a rustic and incredibly easy-to-make dish of the people of Nam Định
A recommended address to enjoy Sweetened Mung Bean Paste is at 22 Trường Chinh, Bà Triệu.
Sweetened Mung Bean Paste can be easily found anywhere in Nam Định
13. Royal Bananas at Rồng Market
Most prominently sold at Rồng Market in Nam Định, Royal Bananas were once considered a royal delicacy exclusively served to the king. These bananas are small, short, with thin skins, white flesh, and a sweeter, more fragrant taste compared to other common bananas. True to its name, you can visit Rồng Market at 301 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, especially during spring and early summer, to buy this truly 'royal' banana variety.
Royal Bananas were once considered a royal delicacy exclusively served to the king
Vị Dương Thick Cake is a reputable address in Nam Định specializing in producing thick cakes for festive occasions or summer festivals. The thick cake carries the fragrant and chewy taste of glutinous rice. The mung bean filling inside is finely ground and sweetened just right, combined with the sweet and crunchy taste of shredded coconut, it will surely delight you.
The thick cake carries the fragrant and chewy taste of glutinous rice
You can visit Mrs. Mỵ's thick cake store at Văn Miếu Market to enjoy this specialty dish for only about 5,000 VND per piece.
15. Mrs. Thìn's Square Cake
Dating back to 1948, Mrs. Thìn's Square Cake has been available almost all year round and always attracts a crowd. The outer layer of glutinous rice is fragrant and green, while the filling of mung beans and pork inside is always generous and perfectly savory. If you're a fan of square cakes, be sure to visit Yên Định slope, Hải Hậu to enjoy this famous traditional dish.
Square cakes have been famous from ancient times to the present
Above are the Top 15 delightful specialties you must try when visiting Nam Định as suggested by us. All the specialties are very affordable and are sold in many places, so they are very easy to find. We hope you will satisfy your hungry stomach and buy many delicious gifts for your family and friends after visiting this beautiful land of Nam Định.
Posted by: Hải Yến Nguyễn Thị
Keyword: Top 15 must-try delicious specialties in Nam Định
