When visiting Ha Long (Quang Ninh), tourists are not only captivated by the majestic limestone mountains, but also by its incredibly diverse and rich culinary scene. Below are some famous delicacies that no food lover should miss.
1. Hand-pounded squid patties
Squid patties combined with sticky rice and rice rolls have become a famous breakfast dish. Photo: Sticky Rice - Rice Rolls with Squid Patties Ha Long - Quang Phong
Squid patties may seem like a simple dish that can be made anywhere, but in Ha Long, this dish has been elevated to an icon. The reason is that squid from the Quang Ninh sea region has a richer, sweeter flavor than those from other areas, and the patties are made by skilled artisans using a meticulous hand-grinding method.
Fresh squid is pounded entirely by hand until it blends perfectly with traditional spices. Taking a bite of this golden-fried squid cake, visitors will clearly feel the chewy, slightly firm texture of the fresh squid meat.
In particular, squid patties combined with rice rolls or fragrant sticky rice create incredibly popular breakfast dishes.
Currently, squid patties are categorized into three price segments from low to high: machine-ground squid patties, hand-pounded squid patties, and VIP squid patties made entirely from squid bodies. The price of squid patties ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 VND per kilogram.
2. Sea worms
Fresh sea worms stir-fried with vegetables. Photo: Quang Ninh Provincial Electronic Information Portal.
Sea worms are one of the most expensive dishes in Ha Long cuisine due to their rarity. Fresh sea worms are often prepared as a delicious stir-fry with garlic and celery, or cooked into a nourishing porridge.
Additionally, locals dry the sea worms and then roast them until golden brown, creating an ideal, fragrant snack to enjoy with beer. With its superior nutritional value, each kilogram of dried sea worms can fetch several million dong.
3. Cu Ky Noodle Soup
The bowl of crab noodle soup also includes mantis shrimp. Photo: Linh Boo
The rock crab (also known as the thunder crab) is a type of seafood that comes in two colors, black and red. Rock crab noodle soup is a very popular breakfast dish among tourists. The body of the rock crab is meticulously peeled and simmered to make a broth, creating a harmonious, naturally sweet and fragrant flavor.
When enjoying this dish, a generous bowl of vermicelli soup is topped with crab roe, meat, and thick, meaty crab claws. A bowl of crab vermicelli soup costs between 50,000 and 70,000 VND.
4. Sea cucumber
Grilled horseshoe crab. Photo: Khongsolac
Horseshoe crabs are a rare and precious seafood with firm, delicious, and intensely sweet meat. With just one horseshoe crab, chefs in Ha Long can create an incredibly diverse feast of dishes: from steamed horseshoe crabs, horseshoe crab salad, sweet and sour stir-fried horseshoe crab legs, stir-fried horseshoe crab with lemongrass and chili, stir-fried horseshoe crab with vermicelli, crispy fried horseshoe crab eggs, and more.
Each horseshoe crab costs between 50,000 and 70,000 VND depending on its size, ready to satisfy even the most discerning diners.
5. Tired of the sea
Despite its rather boring-sounding name, the "sea clam" is a delicacy that is anything but boring. The clam resembles a regular clam but is much larger.
This type of seafood can be prepared in many ways, such as grilled with scallions and oil, steamed with lemongrass and chili, used in soups, or made into flavorful stir-fried noodles.
6. Dried shrimp paste
The long-legged octopus (also known as the long-legged octopus) is related to the octopus but is smaller in size. Each one weighs only about 100g and has legs up to 20cm long. Thanks to its small size, the long-legged octopus, after being cooked, is very crispy, sweet, and not chewy.
The peak season for harvesting krill is from July to October of the lunar calendar each year. During this time, the yield is high, so the price tends to cool down a bit, ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 VND/kg.
7. Gnodding Cake
Gật gù cakes are handmade from rice flour, are pure white in color, and have no filling. Photo: Đoàn Hưng
When visiting Ha Long, tourists cannot miss a cake with a unique name: "gật gù" cake. Made from finely ground rice flour, the cake has a long, cylindrical shape, and when held, it nods up and down, hence its name.
This dish is best enjoyed with a dipping sauce made from steamed fish sauce or with flavorful braised pork. Although the "gật gù" cake is most famous in Tien Yen district, tourists can easily enjoy a serving in Ha Long for only 20,000 – 30,000 VND.
8. Ha Long Pearl Yogurt
Ha Long tapioca pearl yogurt has a mild sour taste, a fragrant aroma, and a chewy texture. Photo: Linh Boo
Ending your culinary journey with an authentic Ha Long pearl yogurt is an absolutely fantastic choice. The combination of smooth, creamy yogurt, chewy tapioca pearls, rich coconut cream, and toppings like dried coconut, aloe vera, and jelly will instantly beat the summer heat. Each cup of yogurt costs only 25,000 to 40,000 VND.
Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/am-thuc/9-mon-ngon-tru-danh-nhat-dinh-phai-thu-khi-den-ha-long-1712360.html
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