As a renowned chef who has won numerous regional and national awards and participated in many domestic and international food festivals, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh - a lecturer at Nguyen Du College - cherishes many memories of introducing his hometown's dishes to visitors from all over the world.
Among those experiences, he still recounts with pride the trip he took accompanying the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the Russian Federation in 2019. For him, it was not just a duty, but also a journey to share the culture of his homeland with international friends.
Mr. Thanh recounted: “I was one of six chefs from across the country selected to serve the delegation and participate in the Vietnam-Russia Cultural Festival in Moscow. Before leaving, in addition to a general skills assessment, the Organizing Committee asked me to select some typical dishes from Ha Tinh to serve during the trip. I decided to choose Do Trai beef noodle soup and banh muot (a type of steamed rice noodle dish) to introduce.”
To prepare for that important event, Mr. Thanh spent many days selecting ingredients. Everything from meat, bone broth, rice cakes, rice noodles to spices and herbs… were carefully selected from his hometown, vacuum-packed for preservation, and transported thousands of kilometers to Russia. As a result, not only were the dishes served at several banquets for the leaders of the two countries, but Ha Tinh dishes were also warmly received by tourists at the Vietnam-Russia Cultural Festival booth. "Many guests, after eating, asked me through the interpreter: 'Where in Vietnam does this dish come from, and how is it prepared to have such a flavor?'" Mr. Thanh said.
Chef Nguyen Duc Thanh's story shows that the appeal of Ha Tinh cuisine lies not only in the cooking methods but also in the flavor of the ingredients. And what creates that distinctive deliciousness is the produce of his homeland, the Hong Mountain and La River region. Many chefs and tourists from various provinces and cities across the country acknowledge that Ha Tinh's products, from the forest to the sea, have a unique and unmistakable quality. This is most evident in seafood dishes such as squid, shrimp, crab, and fish. While many coastal regions across the country have abundant seafood resources, many people are still "addicted" to Ha Tinh seafood.
According to many experts, the distinctive flavor of Ha Tinh's products is largely due to its geographical location and natural conditions. Located in the North Central region, Ha Tinh experiences harsh weather conditions with distinct seasons: hot summers, cold winters, and relatively cool autumns and springs. This constantly changing weather requires plants and animals to develop special survival mechanisms, creating unique characteristics. In particular, with a coastline of 137 km, Ha Tinh's sea is a confluence of warm and cold ocean currents that change seasonally, and numerous estuaries and inlets, creating an abundant aquatic life that provides food for fish, shrimp, squid, and crabs, enhancing their rich flavors. These natural conditions contribute to the unique character of Ha Tinh's cuisine.
Cuisine has become an indispensable part of the travel experience for tourists visiting Ha Tinh. Actress Thanh Huong, famous for many films on VTV's prime time, once enjoyed the fresh squid from Vung Ang and posted a video on her personal page with the comment: "The fresh squid from Vung Ang is the best in the country." The actress's post quickly attracted hundreds of thousands of likes and comments expressing agreement, further affirming the deliciousness of Ha Tinh's cuisine in the hearts of tourists from near and far.
These days, as coastal tourist areas like Thien Cam, Xuan Thanh, and Ky Xuan bustle with visitors, cuisine becomes an even more prominent highlight of the experience. From early morning, in the fishing villages, fresh catches of fish, squid, and crabs brought ashore from the boats attract tourists. Freshly caught squid can be eaten raw on the boat, while steamed squid with a few slices of ginger releases a sweet and fragrant aroma. Steamed crabs and prawns with beer are served hot, with firm, flavorful meat. Fresh fish placed on a charcoal grill sizzles in the smoke, dipped in chili salt or fish sauce… the salty taste of the sea spreads, awakening all the senses.
Ha Tinh's seafood cuisine is not elaborate; its deliciousness lies in the freshness and the way the distinctive flavors are preserved. Diners may not remember all the names of the dishes, but they will remember the feeling of sitting by the beach, listening to the waves, and enjoying freshly prepared food… these are very "authentic" experiences that will be remembered forever during their trip to Ha Tinh.
Besides the feasts, Ha Tinh's cuisine also leaves a lasting impression on tourists with its flavorful "local gifts" that accompany each trip. These include seasonal specialties such as Phuc Trach pomelo, Khe May orange, and Huong Son mandarin orange; and processed products such as Cu Do candy, sun-dried squid, Ram cakes, and traditional fish sauce…
And above all, the flavors of the local specialties also contain the "flavor of human connection," the warmth of hospitality in their voices, and the enthusiastic welcome extended to visitors from all over the world by the people of Ha Tinh. Saleem Hammad (a Palestinian tourist) once shared: "The flavors of Ha Tinh cuisine are very special, but what I remember most is the friendliness. The culture of the people of Ha Tinh is expressed generously and sincerely, especially in the way they invite each other to eat and drink, so naturally, which made me feel impressed and close."
In the context of tourism development, Ha Tinh's cuisine is gradually transforming, contributing to connecting and promoting Ha Tinh tourism to visitors from all over the world. Along with dishes on the table, many local products are being branded, participating in OCOP programs, trade fairs, or sold on social media, creating a significant impact. Each product then tells a story about the cuisine, culture, and people of Ha Tinh, continuously spreading and instilling fond memories in visitors near and far.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/chat-rieng-cua-am-thuc-ha-tinh-post309614.html
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