Top 15 Must-Try Specialties in Bac Giang - Mytour.vn

Three-color sticky rice is a unique dish with its own characteristics from the Nung ethnic group in Luc Ngan district. To create the attractive colors of this dish, the locals use natural ingredients without any artificial coloring. This distinctive three-color sticky rice is made from natural ingredients, including red cinnamon leaves, sau sau forest leaves, turmeric, and Bao Thai yellow rice.

To create the black color of the sticky rice, they grind sau sau leaves and soak them in water, filter the water, then boil it before soaking the rice for 4-5 hours. The same process is applied to red cinnamon leaves and turmeric to achieve red and yellow colors. After that, each type of sticky rice is cooked separately. The ingredients used to make the sticky rice are beneficial for health. Sau sau leaves have cooling, detoxifying, pain-relieving properties, and are effective against abdominal pain and diarrhea. Red cinnamon leaves treat muscle and tendon injuries, prevent diaper rash, and turmeric is known for its skin-healing properties.
Here, every year on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, Nung families make three-color sticky rice to offer to their ancestors, welcoming them to bless the descendants.

Price: 35,000 VND/plate.

Fragrant, rich, and flavorful - these are the irresistible qualities of Nham, a rustic but renowned specialty of the people in Van Xuyen village, Hoang Van commune, Hiep Hoa district.

The main ingredients for making Nham include boiled and de-seeded black sesame, thinly sliced pork belly, and grilled or crispy-fried carp meat from the Cau River with bones removed. These three ingredients are mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio with spices such as roasted peanuts, grilled nuc nac fruit, aromatic herbs, sour starfruit, and seasoned with the right amount of salted fish sauce. This Nham dish is then wrapped in nhoi leaves or young nuc nac leaves. It's a dish that creates an unforgettable taste of the homeland for Bac Giang, a place many cannot forget.

Address: 489 Le Loi Street, Bac Giang.

Price: 50,000 VND

When in Luc Ngan, savoring the rich, flavorful, and nutritious Khau Nhuc dish, you'll undoubtedly want to enjoy this delicacy many times over and find it unforgettable. Originating from the Hoa ethnic group, this dish has long been a specialty in every luxurious meal or receptions for distant guests in Luc Ngan. The ingredients for processing include pork belly, thao qua, clove, star anise, cinnamon, five-spice powder, galangal, cardamom...

Preparing this dish is quite intricate, with many steps. The pork used must be free-range pork, boiled until cooked, using a needle to pierce the fat so that the meat absorbs the spices evenly. Soak the meat in ginger water and vinegar, then wipe it dry, evenly coat it with salt. Stir-fry the meat in hot oil until it is cooked and evenly golden. Immediately transfer the meat to cold water and then boil it again. Then take the boiled meat out to slice, marinate with spices, and steam until the meat is tender and chewy. The finished Khau Nhuc has a fragrant aroma, a rich taste, and is often served with pickled vegetables and salted onions in a meal.

Price: 100,000 VND/bowl.

Traditionally, people in some areas of Bac Giang still consume ant eggs as a nutritious food source. However, there is only one type of ant whose eggs are edible, known as the brown ant that builds nests on tree branches, often referred to as the curved or round ant.

The ant eggs are cleaned and stir-fried with fragrant shallots, then seasoned to taste. Stir evenly until you smell the fragrant aroma of ant eggs and the scent of shallots. When the sticky rice is thoroughly steamed, transfer it to a bowl, mix well with the stir-fried ant eggs, then put it on a plate. Sprinkle a little fried dried shallots on top and enjoy it while it's hot. The dish, after completion, has the richness of shallot oil, the chewiness of ant eggs, the aroma of glutinous rice, and especially, when eaten, you will hear the ant eggs popping softly in your mouth, creating a very interesting sensation.

Address: 284 Phon Xuong, Yen The, Bac Giang.

Price: 25,000 VND/portion.

If you happen to visit the Yen Dung region, Bac Giang on windy autumn days, you will always be treated to one of the rare and delicious dishes prepared by the locals using stone crab. This type of crab lives in the rocky rapids of the Cau River, flowing through some communes of Yen Dung district. This crab species only appears in early winter, during a period of 2-3 months (around September-October lunar calendar).

This river crab is nearly as large as a field crab, but looks like a field crab with longer legs, about three times larger. The two claws of this crab have a layer of moss-like fur attached, and its apron also has a charming moss border. It is these characteristics that have given the name 'Cua Da' to this type of crab.

According to the local people's experience, Cua Da can be prepared into various dishes such as steamed crab with beer, salted crab, fried crab, crab pounded for soup, and more. However, the best and simplest dish is steamed crab with beer. The crab meat is sweet, and the shell on the legs and claws is quite tender, so you don't need to use tools like when eating regular or sea crabs. Eating Cua Da with a sprinkle of seasoned flour and lime is nothing short of delightful.

Price: 300,000 VND - 500,000 VND/kg, depending on the size of the crab.

Yen The Hill Chicken is a renowned specialty of the Yen The region in Bac Giang. The chickens here are free-range on the hills, resulting in firm, sweet, and fragrant meat, avoiding the tenderness found in cage or industrially raised chickens. The boiled chicken skin is firm and crispy, dipped in a mixture of salt, lime, and chili, making it a favored delicacy for many.

Address: Cau Go Town, Yen The District, Bac Giang

Price: 130,000 VND

The lychee fruit in Bac Giang, especially in Luc Ngan district, is like a destined connection. The harmony between this plant and the soil, topography, and climate has produced a fruit that is sweeter, more fragrant, and more flavorful than anywhere else it is grown. Luc Ngan lychee has been protected by the state in terms of geographical indications and trademark protection.

Lychee is used in daily food consumption: fresh lychee, dried lychee, canned lychee, lychee juice, and it is even used to create medicines that are beneficial to human health, treating conditions like diarrhea, mouth ulcers, and boils.
During lychee season here, you'll want to carry away bags full of them because they are incredibly affordable.

Address: Nghia Ho, Luc Ngan, Bac Giang

Price: 15,000 VND - 25,000 VND/kg depending on the type of fruit.

The name of this cake originates from the fact that it can be pressed onto the shoulder while traveling and enjoyed anytime. This is a traditional cake of the Cao Lan people in the Luc Ngan region. The ingredients for the cake include Phì Điền sticky rice - a famous fragrant rice variety in Luc Ngan, along with sugar, green beans, banana leaves, and mugwort leaves...

The special feature of the cake lies in the use of mugwort leaves - combined with other ingredients, it creates a cake with the green color of banana leaves wrapped on the outside, the aroma of green bean cake and mugwort leaves, the sweetness of sugar, and the richness of sticky rice, making the cake bold, charming, and unforgettable.

Address: Lim Market, Giap Son Commune, Luc Ngan, Bac Giang.

Price: 5,000 VND/piece.

Nam Duong Noodle is a famous product of the craft village of Thủ Dương, Nam Dương, Luc Ngan district. The noodles are made from the famous fragrant traditional rice - Bao Thai pink rice, so the noodles here have a unique flavor compared to other places. Each strand of noodle will give you a chewy, rich, and sweet taste on the tip of your tongue when enjoying.

Nam Duong Noodle can be processed into various dishes: dipped in hot pot, stir-fried, or used in pho... The chewy and flavorful noodles can satisfy any diner.

Address: 122 Le Loi Street, Bac Giang City.
Price: 35,000 VND/package

This peculiar-sounding cake is made from glutinous rice flour, mustard greens, and honey. The cake-making process is quite simple. Mustard greens are cleaned, finely crushed to extract the water, then kneaded with glutinous rice flour to make a dough. The dough is molded into cakes about the size of a floating cake, then deep-fried until golden brown.

When the cakes are golden, quickly lift them out and immerse them in a pot of honey simmering over low heat. At that point, the honey will self-absorb and swell round inside. Lift the cakes out and roll them in a layer of glutinous rice flour. The cake has the sweet fragrance of honey, with a slightly spicy taste of mustard blending with the aromatic scent of glutinous rice flour, creating a very distinctive flavor.

This type of cake is usually made on festive occasions or to present to relatives, friends, or esteemed guests. If you are lucky to come here, the warm-hearted locals might invite you to enjoy it with their families or offer some for you to take home.

Steamed cake is a rustic dish found in various Vietnamese rural areas. However, each region has its own way of preparation, resulting in different flavors and unique ways of enjoyment. Among them, Dong Quan steamed cake is beloved for its perfect combination of softness and coolness.

The piece of steamed cake is a pristine white, dotted with crunchy sesame seeds, creating a delightful texture that lingers in the memory. Eating steamed cake requires dipping it in a special sauce to achieve the right taste. At that moment, the sweet taste of rice, the earthy flavor of lime, the richness of coconut, and the savory notes of the sauce all blend together to create an unforgettable flavor.

Address: 54 Dang Thi Nho, Tran Phu Ward, Bac Giang

Price: 20,000 VND/dozen

One of the enticing local delights that captivates visitors here is the Da Ke Rice Cracker. The cakes are baked over a red flame. The baking process not only cooks the cakes but also molds their shape. Holding one hand for the rice cracker and the other for the fan, the baker skillfully fans continuously. The rice crackers are flipped back and forth until they turn a rich golden color, releasing a fragrant aroma. Occasionally, they pause to bend the crackers to prevent warping and ensure an even round shape.

The key to achieving crispy and flavorful rice crackers is selecting high-quality rice, soaking it in water, then grinding it thoroughly and mixing it evenly with ripe pumpkin, sprinkling in some sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts. When enjoying these rice crackers, you'll experience a delightful blend of chewiness, sweetness, crispiness, and an enticing aroma. Savoring this rustic gift is an exploration of a cultural aspect, recalling the scenes of rural markets in the midlands and the Red River Delta. Here, mothers and grandmothers often go to the market to buy Da Ke rice crackers as gifts for their children and grandchildren.

Address: 54 Dang Thi Nho, Tran Phu Ward, Bac Giang.

Price: 5,000 VND/piece.

Known as a Bac Giang specialty, Vân Village Rice Wine has captivated numerous travelers setting foot in this region. After being distilled, the wine is not ready for immediate consumption. It is aged in ceramic jars, buried underground in a cellar, and stored at a temperature of 28-30 degrees Celsius. It takes 15 days for the wine to mature, resulting in a fragrant aroma and the authentic taste of traditional village wine.

The wine is made from the Cai Hoa Vang glutinous rice, renowned for its delightful fragrance, and fermented with the traditional yeast of Vân Village, crafted from 35 precious Chinese medicinal herbs. The wine has a clear, gentle color and a smooth, mellow taste. If you ever visit this place, do not miss the opportunity to savor or purchase this uniquely flavored wine as a special gift.

Address: Yen Vien Hamlet, Van Ha Commune, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang.

Price: 150,000 VND/bottle

This is a rustic yet irresistibly charming dish from My Do, Bac Giang. Crafted from green beans, sugar, vanilla, sesame seeds, and cashews, through meticulous preparation and the skilled hands of the people of Bac Giang, My Do simmered sweetened green beans offer a seductive taste, with the beans providing a delightful chewiness, the aroma of roasted sesame, and a subtly sweet, nutty flavor.

Simmered Sweetened Green Beans from My Do are typically made during festive occasions, showcasing the locals' hospitality. The dish reflects the refined and serene pleasure of the people of My Do and, by extension, the people of Bac Giang. For every resident of Bac Giang, no matter how far they travel, enjoying this dish evokes memories of their homeland. For distant travelers, savoring this dish brings to mind various other specialties of Bac Giang.

Bố Hạ Orange is one of the renowned fruit specialties of Bac Giang. This type of orange usually ripens during the Lunar New Year, featuring bright yellow, flattened sphere-shaped fruits with a smooth, thick peel. The unique appeal of this orange lies in its distinctive fragrance, rich sweetness, plump juicy pulp, and a high content of fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. It also contains essential minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Iron, and Phosphorus, providing benefits for immunity, the immune system, cholesterol reduction, anti-inflammatory effects, and more.

The product is cultivated using organic methods, without residual pesticides, ensuring food safety and hygiene. You can use Bố Hạ Orange to create various delicious dishes such as desserts, cakes, preserves, or simply juice for refreshing and nourishing your body daily.

Address: Bố Hạ Farm, Nghĩa Hòa Commune, Lạng Giang, Bac Giang.

Price: 70,000 VND/kg.