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Ha Giang is not only blessed with majestic and romantic landscapes but also renowned for its rich culinary heritage. Endowed with abundant natural resources, Ha Giang cuisine has become a unique feature.
Ha Giang Specialties
Take a glimpse at 10 Ha Giang specialties that enchant travelers @shutterstock
Ha Giang is a province located in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam. It lies 23 km from the Vietnam-China border and 320 km from Hanoi.
Renowned for its unique geographical position and highland terrain, Ha Giang is not only famous for its terraced fields, triangular flower fields, and rich ethnic cultural heritage but also for its diverse culinary paradise. These elements blend together to create the outstanding delicacies of Ha Giang that captivate the hearts of many.
1. Thắng Dền
A delightful evening snack in the highlands @internet
The main ingredient of Thang Den is fragrant sticky rice from Yen Minh district. This type of rice is large, round, and firm, when cooked it becomes fragrant and delicious.
Inside the chewy sticky rice balls are various fillings, from green beans, red beans,... When you chew them, you'll feel the chewiness and a subtle sweetness along with the faint aroma of sticky rice.
To enhance the flavor, you can add a bit of ginger syrup or coconut milk, sesame, and roasted peanuts.
2. Thang Co
According to tradition, Thang Co is made from horse innards. However, to cater to tourists and ensure a taste suitable for everyone, the owners here have used ingredients such as buffalo, beef, and pork instead. As the main ingredient is meat, Thang Co translates to meat soup.
Thang Co @internet
The essence of Thang Co lies in its broth - simmered from bones and offal. If you try this dish for the first time, it might be challenging as Thang Co carries the distinct aroma of beef and pork innards. However, the more you eat, the more addicted you'll become!
To create delicious and nutritious Thang Co, locals here often combine 12 characteristic mountainous spices: lime leaves, cloves, cardamom,... With the sweet and savory taste of meat, the spicy richness of the broth, and the unique aroma of blended flavors, it has enchanted countless travelers from afar.
Also read: Sung La Valley - A beautiful flower amidst the rocky mountains of Ha Giang
3. Buffalo meat hanging by the stove
Specialty of the Thai ethnic group - buffalo meat hanging by the stove @internet
Ha Giang specialty
This is not only a daily dish for people living in the highlands of the North but also often appears in festivals, ceremonies, and as gifts for honored guests.
The flavor of buffalo meat hanging by the stove lives up to its name - marinated with spicy Szechuan peppercorns, the meat is fresh, sweet, and rich, with the distinctive aroma of mountainous regions. The outer part of the meat is dark brown, but inside, it is eye-catching red and flavorful.
The average price of a kilogram of buffalo meat hanging by the stove ranges from 800,000 to 1,100,000 VND. Recommended addresses: Local markets or inquire at households.
4. Hanging sausage by the stove
Locals here often hang sausages by the stove to preserve meat longer. The main ingredient of hanging sausage by the stove is pork shoulder without skin. The filling is made from pork loin, shoulder, or buttock finely minced, marinated with fragrant minced garlic and Szechuan peppercorns.
As a result, the dish is rich in meat flavor with a strong smoky aroma and delicious sweet taste. To produce the final product, people have to continuously smoke it over the stove for 12 to 14 hours for the spices to permeate the meat.
Hanging sausage by the stove @internet
5. Sour pho
Formerly, sour pho was a breakfast dish of the Chinese people. It was later introduced to Vietnam, especially in the northern mountainous regions such as Ha Giang, Lang Son, Bac Kan,... The main ingredients of sour pho are fragrant sticky rice and sweet and sour sauce combined with char siu, roasted meat, hanging sausage, and sautéed chili.
Ha Giang specialty
Sour pho - a distinctive dish of the rocky plateau in Ha Giang @internet
6. Buckwheat triangle cake
Buckwheat is famous as one of the iconic flowers of the Northeast region of Ha Giang. Therefore, buckwheat triangle cakes also become a specialty of this land.
You can find these cakes anywhere in the local markets. Not only do they have the characteristic purple color, but buckwheat triangle cakes also come in different colors such as white, yellow,...
Buckwheat triangle cakes @internet
When you bite into it, you'll taste the soft, fluffy texture with the distinctive aroma of buckwheat flowers. To fully enjoy the flavor of the cake, you can pair it with Cap Nach Pork or Thang Co,...
Also read: Ta Lang (Ha Giang) - a little-known fairyland
Moreover, you can buy the cakes and take them with you on the road or back to your resting place to enjoy. A small tip when traveling to Ha Giang is to choose accommodation and book in advance. You can consider booking hotels on Mytour for a great place to stay and enjoy delicious cakes!
7. Five-color sticky rice
If you ask what specialties Ha Giang has, Mytour will answer that it has five-color sticky rice. This dish has shaped the identity of the highland people and symbolizes the mighty mountains.
Five-color sticky rice is mainly made from fragrant and sticky glutinous rice, so if left for a long time, it will become hard and when eaten, no need for additional spices. For a long time, five-color sticky rice has become a traditional dish of the Tay people living in Ha Giang. On ancestral holidays, Tet,... in every household, this dish is indispensable.
Five-color sticky rice has 5 different colors: white, purple, blue, red, and yellow corresponding to the five elements metal, wood, water, fire, earth. The coloring ingredients include: glutinous rice, magenta leaves, gac fruit, ginger leaves, pomelo peel, turmeric, black glutinous rice leaves.
8. Dong Van Ancient Town rolled cake
Rolled cake is often eaten for breakfast and lunch by not only locals but also favored by tourists. The cake crust is made from thin, soft, and fragrant steamed rice flour. Inside the rolled cake is a filling of minced meat and wood ear mushrooms.
Dong Van Ancient Town rolled cake @internet
Unlike in the plains, Ha Giang rolled cake is served with broth made from bones. When eating, it's best to accompany it with dried shallots and herbs.
9. Tau Tau Porridge
Tau Tau Porridge is made from soaked tau tau roots in rice water and boiled until soft. When cooked, the rice, minced pork, and tau tau roots will produce a light brown porridge with a rich aroma.
Originally, tau tau is a type of root with high toxicity, but with traditional processing experience, tau tau becomes a special ingredient, rich in nutrients, good for health.
Tau Tau Porridge @internet
To enhance the sweetness of the broth, people often simmer tau tau roots with fragrant sticky rice and pork trotters. Therefore, tau tau porridge not only carries the distinctive flavor of Ha Giang but also helps nourish health. When eating, you can combine it with an egg, pepper, chili,...
10. Gu Square Cake
Ha Giang specialty
Carrying profound cultural significance, Ha Giang's Gu Square Cake cannot be confused with any other type of square cake from other regions. The main ingredients to make Gu Square Cake are glutinous rice, green beans, and fatty pork.
Unlike traditional square cakes, Gu Square Cake is only wrapped in one layer of leaves on the outside. Especially, Gu Square Cake is wrapped in dong rieng leaves, so it has a distinctive green color and is very eye-catching.
Specialties imbued with the cultural essence of Ha Giang's highland regions @internet
Currently, Ha Giang has become a top tourist destination in Vietnam. Therefore, to ensure a complete travel experience, you should plan and book tickets, Ha Giang hotels on Mytour for the best prices. There are many airlines operating flights to Hanoi such as: Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vietjet Air, Vietravel Airlines. You can move from Noi Bai Airport to catch a bus to Ha Giang. Don't forget to turn on the Ticket Price Alert feature to not miss out on promotions on Mytour.
Additionally, if you want to save costs, you should visit the markets in Ha Giang. These are bustling trading hubs in the city where you can find any delicious dishes.
Conclusion
Ha Giang's specialties
