What souvenirs to buy in An Giang?

An Giang is known for its rich diversity in both ecosystems and the culture of its indigenous people. What souvenirs to buy in An Giang? Let's discover the local specialties that make excellent gifts from this region!

Chau Doc Fish Sauce

If you're wondering what to buy as a souvenir from An Giang, consider fish sauce. An Giang is a fertile region abundant with aquatic life. The most famous specialty here is Chau Doc fish sauce. Chau Doc's strategic location makes it ideal for catching shrimp and fish, which has led to the fish sauce industry thriving for over a century. This fish sauce is well-known for its unique taste, high quality, and recipe, which is unlike any other region's methods. While in the past, Chau Doc fish sauce was made with just a few types of fish, today, it comes in various forms, such as fish sauce made from linh fish, ba khia shrimp, snakehead fish, tilapia, Thai fish sauce, and even papaya fish sauce.

Dried Seafood

Thanks to its location at the headwaters, An Giang is rich in natural aquatic products that are perfect for drying. Not only is An Giang known as the 'kingdom of fish sauce,' but Chau Doc is also famous for its dried seafood. Popular dried items include dried tra fish, dried snakehead fish, dried tilapia, dried frogs, and dried beef. Visitors can buy these dried goods to enjoy later or to gift to friends and family.

Tung Lo Mo

Tung Lo Mo is a delicious specialty of the Cham people in An Giang. In the Cham language, 'tung' means intestines, and 'lo mo' means beef. Tung lo mo refers to beef sausage. This dish requires meticulous preparation and care. The Cham people select the finest ingredients and prepare them carefully. Tung lo mo is made entirely from fresh beef, without preservatives or any pork fat. The Cham people use beef intestines, carefully cleaned, sun-dried, and then stuffed with the ingredients.

Cham Cake

What to buy as souvenirs when visiting An Giang? Try the unique sweet cakes of the Cham people. For the Cham, sweet cakes are not only a daily food but also an essential offering in important ceremonies. In addition to traditional cakes such as Ha-pay-chan (bird’s nest cake) and Ha-na-guwh (star-shaped cake), the Cham people of An Giang also inherit many other types of cakes, such as Nùm-pa-răng (baked rice cake), Nùm-kel (egg cake) from the Khmer people, and cakes from India.

Kà Tum Cake

This famous cake is a specialty of the Khmer people, often made during the Chôl Chnăm Thmây festival, Sen Dolta celebration, and Óoc Om Bóc festival. 'Kà Tum' means 'pomegranate' or 'wrapped around.' The small, slightly square-shaped cake has a crust resembling a pomegranate. Young sugar palm leaves are used to wrap the cake, and the crust is intricately woven. After the crust is woven, a small hole is left to fill the ingredients, which are then tightly sealed. The ingredients consist of sticky rice, white beans, coconut, and sugar. Once wrapped, the cake is boiled, and the aroma of sugar palm leaves blends with the fragrant smell of cooked sticky rice, making it incredibly appetizing.

Thot Not Sugar

Thot Not sugar is a specialty of An Giang. It is a sweet, aromatic, and nutritious ingredient that adds a unique flavor to dishes. Thot Not sugar is commonly used in desserts, braised fish, or to make fermented fish, enhancing the taste of your meal. After extracting the sap directly from the Thot Not tree, it is boiled for 3 to 6 hours until it thickens. The sugar’s consistency or 'doneness' depends on the cook’s experience, ensuring the highest quality batch. Once the sap reaches the desired consistency, it is poured into a large jar and stirred continuously to form the final product.

Spiny Fruit

The spiny fruit is orange when unripe and turns a slightly dark color as it ripens. The fruit has small thorns on its exterior, making it easy to peel. The flesh of the fruit has a distinctive sweet and sour taste. However, the spiny fruit only stays fresh for a few days. It’s best to choose fruit that is slightly unripe or nearly ripe as a souvenir.

Phu My Puffed Cake

Phu My puffed cake is a traditional delicacy with a distinct flavor, made from sticky rice produced locally. This gives the cake its unique taste—fragrant, rich, and sweet. There are many varieties of puffed cakes, such as white sugar milk puffed cakes, sugarcane sesame puffed cakes, and coconut milk sesame puffed cakes. If you’re wondering what to buy as a souvenir in An Giang, these delicious Phu My puffed cakes are a great choice.

Flattened Rice

Flattened rice is made from young sticky rice grains, typically harvested one or two weeks earlier than usual. The rice is soaked, roasted, and pounded to create the flattened rice. A key step is roasting the rice in a clay pot to retain heat for longer. After roasting, the rice is placed in a mortar to remove the husks. Once the rice is pounded, it is sifted to separate the husks and obtain the flattened rice grains. Flattened rice is used in making sticky rice desserts, cakes, or even mixed with grated coconut for a simple treat.

According to Mytour.vn

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Reference: Mytour.vn Travel Guide