The unique characteristics of Binh Dinh, the land of martial arts.

Rich cuisine is one of the strengths that attracts tourists to Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh. Visiting this land of martial arts, tourists will have the opportunity to treat their taste buds to the flavors of simple yet rich and unforgettable dishes of this region.

The various types of cakes in Binh Dinh are one of the special things that make tourists remember and cherish the land and people of Binh Dinh even more.

The first treat that cannot be overlooked is the "bánh ít lá gai" (sticky rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves). There's a saying in Binh Dinh: "If you want to eat bánh ít lá gai, marry a man from Binh Dinh to make the journey longer ." Bánh ít lá gai is like a traditional cultural feature whenever traditional dishes of Binh Dinh are mentioned. It offers something special in both flavor and appearance.

Bánh ít lá gai is originally a type of cake from the Champa people, whose name in Champa means "mountains." The Champa people made this cake to offer to their gods. The outer layer of bánh ít lá gai is made like the Champa bánh ít, while the filling is made like the bánh gai of Hai Duong , reflecting the cultural exchange between the Vietnamese and Champa people.

The ingredients for bánh ít (sticky rice cake) can vary, but the common feature of this type of cake is its pointed, mountain-like shape. Making the finished cake requires many steps. The glutinous rice used must be a special variety, soaked overnight. Coconuts must be carefully selected, not too old. Fresh thorny leaves are harvested, boiled, then pounded into a paste, mixed with glutinous rice flour, and then sugar, vanilla powder, and other flavorings are added. Shredded coconut and mung beans are used as filling. To preserve the cake for about 4 to 5 days, bakers often bake the dough over coconut shell charcoal fire to dry it. Without this step, bánh ít lá gai only lasts about 1 day. The finished cake is the result of a meticulous and skillful process. Each bánh ít lá gai is a simple yet meaningful gift that the people of Binh Dinh want to send to tourists, a lasting memory of the flavor imbued with the land and people of this region.

Another perfect combination that brings a lingering deliciousness to Binh Dinh cuisine is the rice vermicelli with pork offal porridge. Rice vermicelli is one of Binh Dinh's distinctive traditional dishes, made entirely from rice. The porridge is cooked thinly, with less rice and more water. Locals say that in the past, when people were poor, they often brought this type of rice vermicelli to the engagement ceremony for their children, hence its name, "rice vermicelli with offal porridge."

In addition, Binh Dinh is also famous for its "banh hong" (pink cake). This is one of the oldest specialty cakes of this martial arts land. The main ingredients of this cake are fragrant and sticky "ngu" glutinous rice and fresh coconut. The cake looks similar to "che lam" (sticky rice cake), but the flavor is completely different; "banh hong" has a sweet and fragrant taste of glutinous rice and coconut.

When visiting Quy Nhon, tourists shouldn't forget to try the "jumping shrimp" pancake (banh xeo tom nhay). Gia Vy and Quan Ong Hung are the best places to try this dish.

Besides enjoying its pastries, Binh Dinh is also famous for its delicious fresh seafood. The sea of Quy Nhon provides this region with many types of seafood, including scad and herring. These two types of fish are very tasty and are ideal ingredients for fish salad. Locals have combined these two types of fish with Ly Son garlic (with many cloves) and Chu Se pepper to create the region's famous and delicious fish cake noodle soup. Two famous fish noodle soup restaurants in Quy Nhon where tourists can enjoy authentic scad and herring fish cake noodle soup are Ngoc Lien Fish Noodle Soup and Phuong Teo Fish Noodle Soup, both located on Nguyen Hue Street in Quy Nhon city.

After enjoying the local specialties of Binh Dinh, to learn about the daily life of the people in this martial arts land, tourists can visit three famous markets: Go Gang conical hat market, An Luong bamboo market, and Go market. The bamboo market is a weekly market specializing in selling only bamboo. Go market is held only one day a year, on the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), selling all kinds of goods, most notably betel nuts and leaves. There's a saying in Binh Dinh: "At the beginning of spring, we welcome good fortune and pray for love / I carry betel nuts and leaves to Go market." People in the Tuy Phuoc area often go to Go market during Tet to enjoy the diverse food. Go Gang conical hat market specializes in selling hats and usually opens around 3 or 4 in the morning, with sellers strolling around and buyers sitting in one place.

When visiting Binh Dinh, the land of martial arts, besides enjoying the unique local cuisine, tourists shouldn't forget to visit famous tourist destinations such as the Quang Trung Museum. The Quang Trung Museum is an ideal place for visitors to learn more about the national hero Nguyen Hue. In addition, visitors can also visit Thien Hung Pagoda, the traditional Bau Da wine-making village, Eo Gió, the Twin Towers, Thi Nai Bridge, Ham Ho Eco-tourism Area, Ky Co beach, and more.

The famous Ghenh Rang Tien Sa tourist area features Hoang Hau Beach, Mong Cam Slope, and the peaceful tomb of the renowned poet Han Mac Tu, nestled on Thi Nhan Hill. Visiting Han Mac Tu's tomb, the hustle and bustle of city life gradually fades away, leaving visitors in a tranquil space to enjoy the peaceful feeling of being surrounded only by the chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind, echoing the verses of this talented but ill-fated poet.

Enjoying the rich cuisine, admiring the picturesque landscapes, and learning about the life and people of Binh Dinh will bring visitors many interesting experiences. A visit to this land of martial arts will make you love the land and its people even more.

LAM CHIEU

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