Top 12 Places to Buy Thai Binh Specialties You Shouldn't Miss

The town of Quỳnh Côi in Thai Binh is closely associated with its famous Quỳnh Côi Fish Soup. This local dish has become a signature of the people of Thai Binh. While it's called a fish soup, it's traditionally enjoyed with crispy rice crackers, making it a popular breakfast dish for locals. Its long-standing reputation has turned it into the soul food of this small town.

The Quỳnh Côi Fish Soup is a comforting, simple dish with a subtle sweetness and refreshing taste. The sweetness comes from the fish, the freshness from the herbs, and the rice crackers add a nice texture. Fried fish pieces combined with the earthy flavor of dill and the fragrance of fresh ginger create a truly unique taste.

This dish is enjoyed year-round, perfect for both chilly winter days and the hot summer months. Whether you’re seeking warmth in the cold or relief in the heat, the hearty soup offers a comforting experience. Despite its versatility, it remains a staple in daily meals throughout the year.

Location: Quỳnh Côi Town, Quỳnh Phụ District, Thai Binh Province

When visiting Thai Binh, don't miss the chance to try the Bến Hiệp Rice Cake. Made with simple ingredients, this local specialty stands out with its unique and captivating flavor. These humble rice cakes have become a beloved treat, and once you've tasted them, you’ll remember them forever.

This dish is perfect for any time of day, which is why it’s so popular with the locals of Thai Binh. The Bến Hiệp Rice Cake may seem simple at first glance, but its taste is rich and fragrant, embodying the essence of Thai Binh’s countryside. Even those who have moved far away still hold a fondness for this flavorful reminder of home.

Similar to rice cakes found in other regions, the Bến Hiệp version has an elongated shape, resembling a hand cupped in prayer, and is wrapped in banana leaves. The filling is generous, packed with tender meat and perfectly seasoned. The rice cake’s chewy texture is easy to enjoy and never too tough.

The humble yet flavorful Bến Hiệp Rice Cake is a true taste of the countryside, a treat that will make anyone away from home long for a taste of their roots. Be sure to try this simple, delightful dish.

Location: Bến Hiệp, Quỳnh Phụ District, Thai Binh Province

When talking about Thai Binh, aside from the historic Keo Pagoda and the sacred Trần Temple, visitors are often drawn to the region’s simple yet delicious dishes. Among these, fish cake is considered a charming rural treat by many.

The name of this cake comes from the use of glutinous rice (specifically the golden flower variety) which is soaked, mixed with red gac fruit to make sticky rice, then pressed, cut into cubes, and dried (the yellow color resembles the egg of a crab, which is why it’s called fish cake). While many areas in Thai Binh make this dish, the most famous version comes from Nguyễn Village in Nguyên Xá, Đông Hưng District. Although simple, the preparation of this cake is meticulous and requires great care. Currently, around 300 households in the village produce about 120-150 tons each month.

The finished fish cake should have a balanced sweetness, the nutty aroma of peanuts, toasted sesame, the richness of candied squash, the fatty flavor of sticky rice and coconut, with a hint of spicy ginger. When you take a bite, the chewy, fragrant texture combines with the earthy, nutty flavors from the ingredients grown in the fields. Behind every bite lies the painstaking process and sincere care from the people of Nguyễn Village.

The best way to enjoy the fish cake is to savor it with a cup of hot green tea during a cool day. The warmth of the tea paired with the spicy ginger in the cake will give a comforting, refreshing experience.

Location: Nguyễn Village (Nguyên Xá, Đông Hưng, Thai Binh)

Sticky rice cakes are made in many regions, each with its own unique flavor tied to its place of origin. Famous varieties include Ninh Giang sticky rice cake from Hải Dương, Bà Thi sticky rice cake from Nam Định, and Đại Đồng sticky rice cake from Thai Binh.

In Đại Đồng Village, Tân Hòa Commune, Vũ Thư District, Thai Binh, sticky rice cake has become a beloved local specialty. The cake has been a part of the region’s culinary tradition for nearly 400 years. Originally, it was made only for festivals, religious ceremonies, or as gifts, but today it is produced year-round and has become a popular commodity.

Like Nguyễn Village fish cake, the Đại Đồng Sticky Rice Cake is crafted from simple ingredients found in the Thai Binh countryside. Yet, it has an irresistible aroma and a rich, creamy flavor that’s sweet yet not overpowering. The taste of the cake leaves a lasting impression on anyone who tries it.

The sticky rice cake of Thai Binh features a chewy, fragrant outer layer of glutinous rice flour paired with a smooth, rich filling of mung bean paste. It’s sweet, but never too heavy, and has an impressive shelf life.

Location: Đại Đồng Village, Tân Hòa, Vũ Thư, Thai Binh

Thái Thụy is a coastal district known not only for its rich historical and cultural heritage, with captivating eco-tourism and spiritual destinations such as Đen Island, the Mangrove Forest Reserve, and the Nguyễn Đức Cảnh Memorial Site, but also for its unique seafood dishes, including jellyfish salad and Nhệch fish salad.

Thái Thụy Jellyfish Salad is a refreshing dish with a delightful crunch, featuring jellyfish mixed with a savory fish sauce dressing, complemented by the rich flavor of peanuts, aromatic herbs, fresh coconut, and a hint of squid. This is a must-try dish for anyone visiting Thái Thụy.

Location: Trường Sinh Diêm Điền Restaurant, 313 Khu 6, Diêm Điền Town, Thái Thụy. Additionally, you can find many jellyfish salad stalls along the Thái Thụy coastline, offering a variety of options to choose from.

Shrimp spring rolls are a signature dish from Diêm Điền Town, Thái Thụy District, Thai Binh. This local delicacy has captured the hearts of many, inspiring a popular verse:

"Shrimp-filled rolls in the morning light,
Leave you craving them till night."

Unlike other spring rolls filled with minced meat and wood ear mushrooms, Diêm Điền’s shrimp spring rolls feature golden shrimp with delicate, paper-thin shells but incredibly sweet, tender meat, making for a truly unique filling.

Location: Located at the heart of Diêm Điền Town, just a few steps from the main road, you'll find the bustling Gú Market, offering a wide variety of seafood and local goods. It's the perfect place to sample this delicious dish.

In addition to the famous Bánh Cáy, another well-known specialty from Đông Hưng, Thai Binh is the delicious Nguyễn Village Peanut Candy. In the past, it was a tradition to offer a cup of green tea and a piece of peanut candy as a gesture of friendship, opening up conversations about life's joys and sorrows. Over time, this sweet treat has become a staple at weddings, festivals, and village celebrations in Thai Binh.

The peanut candy is crunchy, sweet with malt syrup, and rich with roasted peanuts. It's a popular custom in Northern Vietnam to enjoy peanut candy with a cup of green tea or iced tea. While you can find peanut candy anywhere these days, the special variety from Nguyễn Village still holds a unique place in the hearts of visitors to Thai Binh.

Location: Tuấn Hưng Candy Factory, Nguyên Xá Commune, Đông Hưng District, Thai Binh.

Bo Guava is a special fruit of Thai Binh, renowned for its delicious sweetness. Unlike other types of guavas, Bo guava stands out for its fragrant, sweet, and refreshing flavor, with a thick, smooth flesh and few seeds. There are various types of Bo guava, including those shaped like flat oranges, pears, or even five-lobed fruits. However, only the guavas grown in the Bo village soil are considered authentic Bo guavas. The fruit is typically harvested in July, which is the peak season for the sweetest and most flavorful guavas.

Location: Bo Village, Hoang Dieu, Thai Binh

The best fermented rice wine made from golden sticky rice comes from Keo village. This village is famous for growing the finest sticky rice in all of Thai Binh. Keo village has a centuries-old tradition of brewing rice wine, and the locally-grown sticky rice, with its rich aroma, produces a wine that is both affordable and delicious. The rice and fermentation process are authentic, and people from all over the region seek out Keo wine without any need for the villagers to advertise or sell it elsewhere.

Location: Keo Village, Duy Nhat, Vu Thu, Thai Binh

Turmeric Cake is a unique, traditional snack beloved by the people of Thai Binh. If you find yourself in this beautiful region, Mytour highly recommends trying this local specialty.

When people think of turmeric cake, many are reminded of their childhood. This traditional treat has long been a part of the cultural landscape of Thai Binh, evoking fond memories for many locals.

The allure of this cake begins with the aroma of turmeric, which is subtly earthy and rich, with a delicate fragrance. But it's not just the smell that makes it irresistible; the bright yellow hue of the cakes adds to their appeal, instantly tempting your appetite. Despite their simple appearance, turmeric cakes hold a significant place in Thai Binh’s culinary heritage. They taste best when served hot, so don’t miss the chance to enjoy them fresh, straight from the kitchen!

Location: Ba Hoi, Phu Coc Village, Kien Xuong District, Thai Binh

When talking about Thai Binh, one dish that often piques curiosity due to its unique name is snakehead fish salad. This dish is a well-known local delicacy that should definitely be sampled by any traveler visiting the area.

The main ingredient in this salad is snakehead fish, a flavorful fish native to Thai Binh. Although the preparation seems simple, creating the perfect salad requires great skill and attention to detail from the chef. If not done correctly, the fishy taste can overpower the dish, masking its authentic flavors.

The snakehead fish is carefully selected, cleaned, and sliced thinly. It's then mixed with rice powder, and the bones are ground down to create a rich dipping sauce known as cá chẻo.

To enjoy this dish, wrap the salad in sung leaves, add crispy fish skin, and dip it into the cá chẻo sauce. Pair with fresh herbs such as lime leaves, Vietnamese basil, and perilla for a truly exceptional experience. This unique and flavorful salad may just become your new favorite dish that you can enjoy time and again.

Location: You can find this dish at various eateries along the coastal area of Diem Dien, Thai Thuy, Thai Binh.

Bun Bung is a renowned delicacy from Thai Binh, a must-try for any food lover or anyone looking to explore the local specialties of this beautiful region.

If you're passionate about northern Vietnamese cuisine, you've likely heard of bun bung from Hanoi, which is known for its bright yellow broth. However, the version from Thai Binh captivates visitors with a more subtle, earthy flavor, highlighted by the slightly bitter, cloudy broth and the dark hue of the boiled banana flower.

The flavor of Thai Binh's banana flower bun bung is uniquely refreshing and never overwhelming, thanks to that slight bitterness. This bitterness is what sets Thai Binh's bun bung apart from others.

The dish becomes even more flavorful when paired with herbs, water spinach, and finely chopped banana flower mixed with vinegar. If you're eager to try this dish, head over to Bun Bung Ngo Thi Nham for an unforgettable taste experience.

Location: 03 Ngo 222 Ngo Thi Nham, Thai Binh.