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When visiting Phu Quoc Island, besides exploring the famous beaches and landscapes, there is also a list of delicious specialties waiting for you to enjoy. Below are 10 renowned specialties of Phu Quoc that every traveler wants to try at least once.
1. Ham Ninh Razor Clams
15 MUST-TRY PHU QUOC SPECIALTIES
The first dish we want to introduce to travelers when they come to Phu Quoc is Ham Ninh Razor Clams. Although there are many places to catch razor clams in Phu Quoc, the razor clams from the Ham Ninh fishing village at the foot of Ham Nghi mountain are the most famous. The reason is that Ham Ninh razor clams have very firm and fragrant meat, with a richer flavor compared to razor clams from elsewhere. Razor clams can be prepared in various ways, such as steamed razor clams served with salt and lime pepper sauce for dipping.
When choosing to buy razor clams, you should not choose ones that are too big or too small. About 6 - 7kg/kg is the best, and you should choose male razor clams if you want to eat more meat, female razor clams if you want to eat more roe. The price of this Phu Quoc specialty dish is around 150,000 - 250,000 VND/kg.
2. Tram Mushrooms
Tram Mushrooms are a rather special type of mushroom that only appears in Phu Quoc. You can find this type of mushroom in the mangrove forest at this island. The peak season for Tram Mushrooms is from March to April.
This specialty from Phu Quoc has a unique bitter taste that gradually transforms into sweetness with each bite. Known for its cooling properties, Tram mushrooms are ideal for beating the heat. After harvesting, Tram mushrooms undergo a thorough cleaning process with saltwater followed by boiling and rinsing with cold water multiple times. This not only cleanses the mushrooms but also reduces their characteristic bitterness, readying them for various culinary delights.
If Tram mushrooms aren't properly treated to remove their bitterness, they can be cooked alongside freshwater fish like snakehead fish, carp, and even fish roe. Once the bitterness is addressed, these mushrooms can be stir-fried with an array of seafood such as sea cucumbers, abalones, shrimp, squid, or even pork or eggs. Additionally, Tram mushrooms are used to enhance the flavor of soups and stews, often paired with chicken. The prices for dishes made from this Phu Quoc specialty are surprisingly affordable, starting from 40,000 VND and up.
Grilled sea cucumbers
When talking about Phu Quoc's specialties, one cannot overlook grilled sea cucumbers. Compared to snails and clams, the eggs and meat of sea cucumbers are much more flavorful. Sea cucumbers can be prepared in various ways, but the most popular and beloved dishes are sea cucumber porridge and grilled sea cucumbers with scallion oil. The price of sea cucumbers ranges from 20,000 to 25,000 VND per kilogram, whole.
Pickled herring salad
The pickled herring salad is another must-try delicacy of Phu Quoc. Herring in Phu Quoc is richer and fresher compared to elsewhere. Locals usually debone the herring, thinly slice it, then mix it with finely chopped onions, pickled plum vinegar, and a variety of spices to create the pickled herring salad. This dish is served with Phu Quoc fish sauce mixed with lime, sugar, chili, garlic, and crushed peanuts. Additionally, it's accompanied by rice paper, grated coconut, aromatic herbs, and a few glasses of Phu Quoc sim wine.
Phu Quoc sea cucumbers
Phu Quoc is renowned for its specialties, and sea cucumbers are among them. Sea cucumbers, also known as sea lemons, are highly nutritious, promoting health benefits such as kidney and yang tonification, blood nourishment, detoxification, diabetes management, blood pressure regulation, and support for cancer, cardiovascular, and body weakness treatments. Sea cucumbers are often cooked with other ingredients to create delicious dishes, such as stir-frying with bitter melon and sweet peppers or stewing with pork, goat meat, bitter melon, and various Chinese herbs. Additionally, sea cucumber porridge is highly favored.
Also due to its high nutritional value, this specialty from Phu Quoc comes with a rather hefty price tag. One kilogram of fresh sea cucumbers costs around 1 million Vietnamese dong.
Abalones
Abalones are also a highly renowned specialty of Phu Quoc due to their high nutritional value, and naturally, they come with a hefty price tag as well. Live abalones can be prepared into various dishes. The simplest methods include steaming or boiling. Additionally, you can shell abalones to make porridge or stir-fry with mushrooms. Moreover, abalones can be grilled with scallion oil, creating a delightful aroma. Besides fresh abalones, dried abalones are also popular as they can be stored for a long time. Dried abalones can be cooked with fish bladder to create a nutritious dish.
The price of shelled abalones is over 1 million dong per kilogram. However, its health benefits are remarkable, capable of nourishing the yin, boosting qi, brightening the eyes, enhancing male vitality, and treating physical weakness, among others.
Emperor crab
Emperor crab is also a very familiar name to travelers who have visited Phu Quoc. This dish is not only delicious but also very nutritious. At the same time, it is easy to find but comes with a high price, around 1 million dong per crab. There are many ways to prepare emperor crab, but steaming is the most popular.
Phu Quoc noodle soup
Although noodle soup is found in many provinces and cities, Phu Quoc noodle soup carries its own unique flavor. The main ingredient for making Phu Quoc noodle soup is thick vermicelli noodles. The accompanying ingredients are diverse, including seafood, meat, and fresh vegetables. This Phu Quoc specialty comes in many varieties, but the most famous ones are noodle soup with mackerel fish cakes and noodle soup with conch. A bowl of noodle soup costs only around 30,000 - 40,000 dong.
Honeycomb sticky rice cake
The main ingredients used to make honeycomb sticky rice cake are glutinous rice, green beans, and pork. Essentially, the ingredients are not much different from those used to make sticky rice cakes in other regions. However, it is considered a Phu Quoc specialty because despite the familiar ingredients, the unique preparation method brings out a distinct flavor. Glutinous rice is mixed with pandan leaves to add fragrance, and the cake is wrapped in mật cật leaves - a type of leaf found in the forests of Phu Quoc commonly used to make traditional palm leaf hats. Therefore, the cake has a beautiful green color and a delightful aroma that will make anyone who tastes it praise its deliciousness.
Sim honey, sim wine
Sim honey and sim wine are the signature beverages and regarded as Phu Quoc specialties. Sim fruits are soaked with sugar for about 40 - 45 days to naturally ferment, resulting in sim honey. Sim honey is enjoyed with ice for a refreshing and delicious sweet-sour taste. As for sim wine, it is a blend of sim honey and rice wine in a ratio of 1:5.
Whether it's sim honey or sim wine, both are excellent for health. This beverage can help enrich the blood, promote blood circulation, aid digestion, and strengthen the bones and tendons. The prices of sim wine and sim honey are also quite reasonable, around 240,000 VND per liter for sim wine and 300,000 VND per liter for sim honey.
So there you have it, we've introduced you to the list of 10 Phu Quoc specialties. The specialties of this island mainly consist of various delicacies. Therefore, for travelers passionate about local specialties, Phu Quoc is definitely an ideal destination.
Posted by: Cuong Bui The
Keywords: Top 10 must-try Phu Quoc specialties
