The unique Phan Thiet hot pot - a specialty that holds an Asian record.

Phan Thiet's "Lẩu thả" (Floating Hot Pot) has been recognized as an Asian record, featuring numerous ingredients arranged in a beautiful circular shape on banana leaf stalks, much to the delight of tourists.

Nowadays, when people think of Mui Ne, they immediately think of "lau tha" (a type of hot pot). From a simple dish of the coastal residents, lau tha has been elevated to a specialty dish of Mui Ne - Phan Thiet, the resort capital.

Phan Thiet's "Lau Tha" hot pot was recognized and awarded an Asian Record by the Vietnam Institute of Records in October 2024. Binh Thuan province submitted the dossier for this hot pot dish to the Asian Institute of Records for record establishment according to the criteria for Asian culinary value and specialties.

Asian culinary records and specialty dishes are carefully considered and nominated based on the natural geographical factors of the dish, such as ingredients, characteristic spices, cooking secrets, and its association with specific locations and regions.

Phan Thiet-style hot pot is presented attractively. Photo: Duy Tuan.

As one of the first chefs to bring the "Lẩu thả" (a type of hot pot) dish to culinary competitions and win numerous awards, chef Truong Thi Thu Lieu said that people in Phan Thiet have been familiar with this dish since the 2000s.

The Phan Thiet coastal region is known for its fresh fish, which fishermen use to make fish salad, mixed with vegetables and lime. Particularly noteworthy is the scad fish salad, with its firm and flavorful flesh. Responding to market demand, the "hot pot" dish was created, with scad fish as the main ingredient.

A hot pot set in Phan Thiet, complete with broth, fish sauce, and accompanying ingredients. Photo: Duy Tuan.

The platter also features rustic ingredients such as boiled meat, shredded eggs, cucumber, shredded unripe mango, and fresh vegetables arranged symmetrically in a circle on banana leaves, stimulating the diner's visual senses. Alongside these are the broth for the hot pot and peanut-based dipping sauce.

Chef Truong Thi Thu Lieu prepares the "Lau Tha" hot pot dish. Photo: Duy Tuan

"The secret to our hot pot broth lies in simmering pork bones, the subtle sweetness of tomatoes and onions, and adding pear juice for a refreshing sweetness," shared Chef Truong Thi Thu Lieu, Head Chef of Sunrise Mui Ne restaurant.

The way the dish is decorated, arranged, and the flavors in hot pot dishes also originate from the philosophy of the five elements, with the five colors (white, green, black, red, and yellow) in the dish, along with the five flavors (spicy, sour, salty, bitter, and sweet).

Visitors enjoying hot pot will be impressed by the bubbling broth and intoxicating aroma. When eating, scoop all the ingredients into a bowl, mix them together, and pour the hot pot broth over them.

Two ways to enjoy Phan Thiet-style hot pot. Photo: Duy Tuan

Hot pot is not only a unique local dish but also closely associated with tourism , creating a highlight in Vietnamese culinary culture .

Duy Tuan

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/am-thuc/doc-dao-lau-tha-phan-thiet-dac-san-lap-ky-luc-chau-a-1439158.html