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Wondering which gifts from the Mekong Delta are the best to bring back? What makes these Southwest gifts special? Discover why tourists favor these purchases the most. Read this article before selecting Southwest specialties as gifts!
The Southwest region (or Mekong Delta) is the affectionate name for the delta of the Mekong River, comprising one city and 12 provinces. The total area of the Mekong Delta provinces is 40,548.2 km². With its vast expanse, the Southwest is home to many delicious specialties that make perfect gifts for tourists.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 1: Bến Tre Coconut Candy.
Coconut candy, a specialty of Bến Tre, is not just a treat but also a signature gift from the Southwest for family and friends. It serves as an iconic symbol of the Mekong Delta. Bến Tre Coconut Candy - a Southwest specialty - offers a diverse selection, including: soft coconut candy with coconut milk, peanut-filled coconut candy, cocoa coconut candy, durian cocoa candy, and more. Depending on individual preferences, you can choose the perfect one as a delightful gift.
Coconut candy, a specialty of Bến Tre, is a beloved indulgence in the South.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 2: Lai Vung Fermented Pork Roll from Đồng Tháp.
When it comes to buying Lai Vung fermented pork rolls as gifts, many immediately think of the Lai Vung craft village - a district in Đồng Tháp province, known for the best Lai Vung fermented pork rolls. The vibrant red color of Lai Vung specialty is enticing, and when you taste it, you'll experience a delightful combination of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors. Loved by both men and women, this dish is a favorite at gatherings. When in the Mekong Delta, be sure to buy Lai Vung fermented pork rolls as gifts for your friends!
Lai Vung Fermented Pork Roll is highly cherished by both men and women.
You can purchase Lai Vung specialty at locations such as Ut Thang Lai Vung Fermented Pork Roll Shop, Hoang Khanh Lai Vung Fermented Pork Roll Shop, or directly visit the Lai Vung craft village. If you're new to buying Vietnamese specialties as gifts, check out the article 'Insider Tips for Bone-Blood Experience When Buying Vietnamese Specialties as Gifts' for guidance.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 3: Châu Đốc Fish Sauce.
Châu Đốc Fish Sauce from An Giang is perhaps one of the well-known Southwest specialty gifts. This local delicacy has been around for nearly 150 years, gaining fame both domestically and internationally with hundreds of delicious fish sauce varieties, each with its unique flavor. Châu Đốc Fish Sauce comes in various types such as snakehead fish sauce, catfish sauce, mixed fish sauce, carp fish sauce, and more. However, the most renowned is the Thai-style fish sauce.
Châu Đốc Fish Sauce dates back nearly 150 years and is renowned both domestically and internationally.
Châu Đốc Fish Sauce is widely available at Châu Đốc market, and you can easily purchase it here without worrying about bargaining.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 4: Rice Paper with Milk.
Rice Paper with Milk is a highly meaningful gift from the Mekong Delta. It is mainly made from coconut, rice flour, mixed with a bit of arrowroot powder, water, sugar, sesame, mung beans, pandan leaves, and durian. As durian is an ingredient in Rice Paper with Milk, it's advisable to inquire beforehand if the recipient enjoys the taste of durian to avoid buying an unusable gift.
Rice Paper with Milk is a highly meaningful gift from the Mekong Delta.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 5: Ramie Fruit.
Continuing our exploration of the Top 15 specialties from the Mekong Delta as gifts, let's move on to the next unique gift, the Ramie Fruit. Ramie Fruit originates from Thailand and has been introduced to Vietnam in various provinces in the Mekong Delta. The distinctive feature of Ramie Fruit is its outer skin covered in tiny, soft thorns, but the skin is easy to peel. When consumed, you can clearly perceive a light fragrance and an irresistible sweet-sour taste.
Ramie Fruit – A delightful and exotic gift from the Mekong Delta.
A small note for long-distance travelers: it's advisable to choose unripe fruits because if you opt for ripe ones, they won't last long and might spoil quickly.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 6: Soc Trang Pia Cake.
If you are exploring the landscapes in Soc Trang, make sure to indulge in and purchase Soc Trang Pia Cake as a gift. This is the number one famous delicacy in Soc Trang. Soc Trang Pia Cake is captivating with its intricately layered crusts, leaving an unforgettable impression. Therefore, remember to buy some Soc Trang Pia Cakes as a meaningful gift.
Soc Trang Pia Cake – A specialty from the Mekong Delta.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 7: Purple Leaf Tet Cake in Can Tho.
In the list of specialties from the Mekong Delta as gifts, not mentioning purple leaf Tet cake would be a significant omission. The way of making purple leaf Tet cake in the Mekong Delta is similar to the northern region's Chung cake. However, the purple leaf Tet cake stands out with its eye-catching purple color, rich and vibrant from the purple leaves.
Purple Leaf Tet Cake has an eye-catching purple color, rich and vibrant from the purple leaves.
Some notable types of purple leaf Tet cakes for gift purposes include those made by artisan Huynh Thi Trong, Chín Cẩm Tet Cake, Tư Đẹp Tet Cake, and more.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 8: Dried Fish.
Dried fish is a specialty gift found in various provinces of the Mekong Delta. However, the most famous dried fish specialty is from Chợ Mới, Thoại Sơn, An Giang. Dried fish involves sun-drying the fish for consumption without refrigeration, ensuring a long shelf life, even up to a year, without spoilage.
Dried fish is a specialty gift found in various provinces of the Mekong Delta.
With this dried fish gift, you can grill it for a delightful accompaniment to wine. Some special types of dried fish with higher prices include: dried snakehead fish, dried catfish, golden-thread-fin bream, various marinated squid, and more.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 9: Can Duoc Chinese Sausage.
The Can Duoc Chinese Sausage, a specialty from Long An in the Mekong Delta, is a fresh type of sausage made using traditional methods that utilize sunlight for partial drying during the fermentation process. The distinct sweet and sour taste of Can Duoc Chinese Sausage is a notable characteristic. This flavor is what captivates the eater, making it more than just a regular fresh sausage.
The Can Duoc Chinese Sausage, a specialty from Long An in the Mekong Delta
Specialty from the Western region as gift 10: Cao Lanh field mice, mole rats.
Dong Thap Muoi's famous specialty, field mice and mole rats from Cao Lanh, are well-known delicacies. These two types of rodents are skillfully transformed into various delicious dishes, leaving tourists full of praise, such as stir-fried mice, mice with fermented rice, grilled mice, mice in lemongrass sauce, and more.
Delicious and unique, specialties from the Mekong Delta
Field mice and mole rats from Cao Lanh are typically hunted by locals from October to March in the lunar calendar, with the best catch coming after the rice harvest.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 11: Coconut Worms.
Coconut worm, a regional delicacy, is an acquired taste as not everyone dares to try this Mekong Delta specialty. However, those who dare to indulge will be pleased. Coconut worm is the larvae of the ant species that inhabit coconut trees. When savoring this delicacy, you'll experience a rich and creamy flavor similar to the yolk of a chicken egg, gradually melting in your mouth.
Đặc sản đuông dừa khá kén người ăn.
While this dish may not suit everyone's palate, it's best enjoyed by tourists who are nearby, as coconut worms are most delicious when still fresh and alive.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 13: Exotic Garden Fruits.
The Mekong Delta is renowned for its delicious and diverse fruits. Exploring fruit orchards is a delightful experience, with the open space filled with the sweet aroma of fruits. You can directly purchase freshly picked fruits from these orchards as a thoughtful gift for your loved ones. Rest assured, the fruits are harvested right from the trees, ensuring their freshness. Some notable orchards in the Western region include Vinh Kim Fruit Orchard, Cai Be Orchard in Tien Giang, and Cai Mon Orchard in Ben Tre.
Fruit orchards.
If you're buying fruits as gifts, it's advisable to make the purchase on the last day of your trip to ensure the fruits stay fresh for a longer duration.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 13: Bull's Skin Lychee from Bac Lieu.
Bull's Skin Lychee is a renowned specialty from the Mekong Delta known for its thick, juicy flesh, intense fragrance, and deep sweetness, making it a favorite among many. Not only does Bull's Skin Lychee offer a delightful taste, but it also boasts various health benefits, containing minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, as well as vitamins A and C.
Bull's Skin Lychee not only delights the taste buds but is also incredibly beneficial for health.
Bull's Skin Lychee, a distinctive Mekong Delta specialty, actually originates from Hue. To savor its exquisite taste, a trip to Bac Lieu is a must!
Specialty from the Western region as gift 14: Fragrant Princess Dao Rice.
The fragrant princess rice, a specialty found only in Long An, is a tale of love between Mr. Rice and Ms. Fragrance, resulting in a rice with a unique aroma found nowhere else. Chợ Đào Fragrant Princess Rice features long, slender grains that cook up into tender and highly aromatic rice, once used in ancient times for royal feasts.
The exclusive Fragrant Princess Rice is a unique gem found only in Long An.
To obtain these delectable grains, farmers must nurture and patiently wait for 6 months before harvest, a much longer period compared to other rice varieties.
Specialty from the Western region as gift 15: Three-spine Goby Fish.
If you're traveling to the Mekong Delta around October, remember to buy Three-spine Goby Fish as a gift. During the rainy season, the flesh of Three-spine Goby Fish is firmer and sweeter. According to locals, it's better to choose smaller fish with many scales, as they have firmer and tastier meat. The flavor is enhanced when you choose fish carrying eggs.
Three-spine Goby Fish.
With Three-spine Goby Fish, you can make delicious sour tamarind stir-fry or Thai-style papaya salad with a fantastic flavor.
In the Top 15 list of specialties from the Western region, I just shared the most popular gifts to bring back when traveling. Is there any specialty that intimidates you, making you hesitate to try? Comment below!
Moreover, there are many fascinating aspects of regional specialties across Vietnam waiting for you to explore on the Regional Specialties - PasGo Blog page.
_Thùy Dung & PasGo Team_
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