Buzz
If you're wondering what to buy as gifts for your family and friends at home, take note of the top 10 specialties from the Mekong Delta region that many tourists choose.
List of 10 specialties from the Mekong Delta region to buy as gifts
1. Coconut candy
Specialty coconut candy (Photo by ST)
Discovering the traditional methods of making coconut candy (Photo by ST)
It can be affirmed that coconut candy stands as one of the distinctive symbols of the Mekong Delta. Whenever this specialty is mentioned, thoughts immediately turn to Ben Tre - a well-known destination for coconut candy making in the South. Coconut candy has a sweet, fragrant taste and a chewy texture that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who tries it.
Visiting a coconut candy workshop in Ben Tre (Photo by ST)
Coconut candy – Specialty of the Mekong Delta (Photo by ST)
If you have the opportunity to travel to the Mekong Delta, don't miss the chance to buy coconut candy as gifts. To purchase this specialty, you can conveniently visit tourist areas like Lan Vuong, Con Phung, and more!
2. Nem Lai Vung
Image of Nem Lai Vung with beautiful colors (Photo by ST)
Nem Lai Vung offers a unique flavor (Photo by ST)
For those traveling to Dong Thap, Nem Lai Vung is a must-try specialty. Just peel off the outer layer and you'll crave for the pink color of the nem. That's not to mention the sour, spicy, salty, sweet flavors all packed into one nem. If you visit the Mekong Delta and don't bring back Nem Lai Vung as gifts for your friends, you're missing out.
3. Fish Sauce
Specialty fish sauce in Chau Doc (Photo by ST)
Various types of fish sauce are displayed at Chau Doc market (Photo by ST)
Visiting the markets in Chau Doc, tourists will be overwhelmed by the abundance of dried fish and the enticing 'mountains' of fish sauce stretching along the streets. These are flavorful dishes of the Mekong Delta that you can buy as gifts for your family. Each type of fish sauce comes with a price tag for tourists to easily choose and purchase without bargaining.
4. Milk Rice Paper
Specialty milk rice paper (Photo by ST)
Image of milk rice paper production in Ben Tre (Photo by ST)
Thanks to the smooth texture of the rice paper combined with the distinctive flavor of durian, milk rice paper is chosen as a meaningful countryside gift. Nowadays, milk rice paper is one of the most consumed products in the South. With just 30k, you can have the famous specialty of the Southwest region in your hands.
5. Prickly Custard Apple
Image of Prickly Custard Apple – Specialty of the watery Mekong Delta (Photo by ST)
Continuing the list of specialty gifts to buy when traveling to the Mekong Delta is the prickly custard apple. Originating from Thailand, this fruit has been imported to Vietnam and can be found in various provinces in the Mekong Delta. Despite its small prickly exterior, the custard apple is easy to peel. When eaten, you'll notice its irresistible sweet and sour flavor. For travelers from afar looking to buy these fruits as gifts, it's recommended to choose the green ones, as ripe ones don't last long.
6. Mooncake
Mooncake used in engagement ceremonies (Photo by ST)
Specialty Mooncake (Photo by ST)
If you're traveling in Soc Trang, you must indulge in and bring back as gifts. This is the number one famous specialty here. The allure of the intricately stacked layers of crust will leave a lasting impression on anyone who tastes this dish. Therefore, you should definitely buy some bánh pía as gifts, it's very meaningful.
7. Purple Leaf Tet Cake
Purple Leaf Tet Cake with beautiful colors (Photo by ST)
How to wrap Purple Leaf Tet Cake (Photo by ST)
Among the specialties in the Mekong Delta, not mentioning Purple Leaf Tet Cake would be a huge oversight. This specialty is renowned for its incredibly unique aroma, combining the rich fatty flavor of meat, the cool sweetness of coconut water, mung bean filling, and the fragrant scent of purple leaves.
8. Dried Fish
A famous specialty of the Mekong Delta region (Photo by ST)
Image of dried fish that can be used as gifts (Photo by ST)
Dried fish is a famous specialty of Chợ Mới, Thoại Sơn, An Giang. Initially, only a few households made dried snakehead fish to sell at the market. However, now dried fish can be found everywhere, even in supermarkets. Thanks to this, the local people have a stable source of income. During the days leading up to Tet, the dried fish craft village becomes busier and more bustling as it supplies this specialty to the market.
9. Cần Đước sausage
Cần Đước sausage has a quite unique flavor (Photo by ST)
Image of sausage, a favorite dish of people in the South (Photo by ST)
Lạp xưởng, a type of fresh sausage, maximizes the use of natural sunlight to partially dry during the fermentation process and is made manually. When eaten, lạp xưởng has a sweet and sour taste; without this flavor, it would just be ordinary fresh sausage. This makes lạp xưởng appealing to many palates.
10. Garden-fresh fruits
Many types of garden-fresh fruits are sold at the floating market (Photo by ST)
It's no surprise that fruits are on the list of must-buy gifts when traveling in the Mekong Delta. Fruits here are not only delicious but also known for being cheaper than in the city. If buying as a gift, choose ripe fruits to ensure they remain fresh when presented.
