Mountain goat - a famous specialty of the ancient capital city.

In the ancient capital region, in addition to visiting and paying respects at famous scenic spots and tourist attractions, visitors also pay special attention to dishes made from Ninh Binh mountain goats.

The goats here are raised naturally, feeding on mountain grass and plants, so the mountain goat meat is neither too tough nor too tender, and has a uniquely sweet flavor unlike that of other places. This is also a specialty that Ninh Binh has developed into a local culinary brand.

To raise a goat from a young age until it reaches a size that produces high-quality meat, it takes approximately 10 months to a year for it to weigh around 25-30 kg.

That's why mountain goat meat is always fragrant, sweet, tender, and has a very distinctive flavor that no goat raised in the lowlands or industrially can match.

From breed selection to goat farming, careful consideration is essential. Only free-range goats with small ears, raised naturally on rocky mountains, can be chosen, foraging for leaves, ripe fruits, medicinal plants, and herbs. This ensures the meat is of high quality. Mountain goat meat is lean, firm, and fragrant. When eaten, the meat is tender, not too chewy, sweet, and has a slightly gamey, characteristic goat smell.

The preparation process is also very elaborate and meticulous, from selecting the meat to combining it with spices for each dish, ensuring that when eaten, you can still taste the fresh, delicious, and sweet flavor of goat meat without losing its distinctive taste.

The herd of mountain goats belonging to Mr. Vu Tri Thuc, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district ( Ninh Binh province).

The selection of goat breeds is very important; you must choose grass-fed goats with small ears, and when raised naturally in the mountains, they must be free-range to ensure the meat is flavorful and delicious.

Ninh Binh has many rocky mountains, rich vegetation, and many valuable medicinal plants growing on the mountains, making it very suitable for goats, which are good climbers, to feed on the grasses, flowers, and leaves of the forest.

Goats are naturally inclined to climb and their favorite foods are all kinds of grasses, leaves, and even fruits found in the mountains, so their meat is firm, very fragrant, and delicious.

Goats are raised in a free-range system, living in the mountains, so finding and catching them is a long, time-consuming, and arduous process.

Tourists enjoy delicious dishes made from mountain goat meat at Chinh Thu Goat Meat Restaurant, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.

Photo essay by Dinh Duy