Experience the taste of the sea.

Steaming bowls of squid noodles, flavorful fish salads, and vibrant seafood festivals contribute to the unique character of Da Nang tourism. From the life of fishing villages, many localities are gradually transforming their culinary culture into experiential tourism products to attract visitors.

From the fresh seafood catches after a night's fishing trip, many dishes from fishing villages are becoming popular tourist experiences in Da Nang . Photo: TRAM ANH

Dishes that keep tourists coming back…

In the early morning, Man Thai beach (Son Tra ward) is bustling with tourists watching the sunrise, swimming, paddleboarding, and enjoying instant noodles with squid – a dish that encapsulates the sweet and refreshing taste of the sea.

Many tourists say the appeal of the dish comes not only from its fresh taste but also from the vibrant life of the fishing village. Ms. Nguyen Ha Lan Chi (born in 1992), a tourist from Hanoi, said she decided to wake up early to experience the dish after watching videos shared on social media. "From the sound of the waves, the sound of the fishing boats docking, to the way the locals prepare the food, everything offers a very unique experience," Ms. Chi enthusiastically said.

Besides instant noodles with squid, many tourists visiting Da Nang also seek out Nam O fishing village (Hoa Hiep Nam ward) to enjoy herring salad - a dish that has been closely associated with the lives of coastal residents for generations.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huy (born in 1986), a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said he was impressed with the taste of Nam O fish salad from the first time he tried it. “The freshness of the fish combined with raw vegetables, rice paper, and fermented fish sauce creates a very distinctive flavor. The dish is not only delicious but also gives me a clear sense of the coastal culture of Central Vietnam,” Mr. Huy shared.

From rustic dishes associated with the lives of fishermen such as instant noodles with squid, herring salad… to seafood dishes from fishing villages, seafood cuisine is becoming an integral part of the travel experience for tourists visiting Da Nang.

Images of fishermen at work contribute to the unique character of Da Nang's fishing village tourism. Photo: TRAM ANH

…Leading to tourism products rich in unique characteristics.

Coastal cuisine is not only appealing for its distinctive flavors but also embodies stories of fishermen's lives, fishing practices, and fishing village culture. As a result, many coastal localities are gradually developing their cuisine as a tourism product to promote the unique identity of their coastal areas and create additional livelihoods for their residents.

In late April, the Tam Hai Flying Fish Festival – Local Cuisine in Tam Hai commune – attracted a large number of locals and tourists. The festival recreated the rhythm of coastal life through the preparation of specialty dishes made from flying fish, such as grilled flying fish, flying fish salad, flying fish porridge, flying fish cooked with green tomatoes, etc., along with many interactive activities such as net weaving, carrying flying fish, learning about fishing activities at sea, and folk games. Through these activities, visitors had the opportunity to experience the life and culture of the fishing village residents.

Meanwhile, from May 22-24, the "Taste of the Sea" Culinary Festival at Tam Thanh Beach Square (Quang Phu Ward) will kick off a series of summer tourism activities linked to coastal culture and community life. Here, the image of a fishing village will be recreated through basket boats, fishing nets, a display of fresh seafood, and more than 50 stalls selling OCOP products and local specialties.

According to Nguyen Van Hieu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Phu Ward, the locality hopes that the festival will promote the image of Tam Thanh as a simple and friendly place; where cuisine becomes a bridge for tourists to better understand the lives of coastal residents. "Each dish not only carries the unique flavor of the Tam Thanh coastal region but is also connected to the working habits, daily life, and community bonds of local fishermen over many generations," Mr. Hieu expressed.

According to Mr. Hieu, the activities at the festival are designed to increase interaction with tourists through activities such as net weaving, noodle making, visiting the fish market, or learning about fishing professions. Through these activities, tourists can better experience the atmosphere of the fishing village and the unique lifestyle of the residents of Tam Thanh coastal area.

Beyond their tourism value, food festivals also contribute to preserving and spreading coastal culture by recreating traditional fish sauce making, seafood processing, and folk games of coastal residents. They also provide an opportunity for the community, especially the younger generation, to better understand and enhance their awareness of preserving their coastal cultural identity.

The rhythm of life and work of coastal fishermen creates a unique charm for experiential tourism in Da Nang. Photo: TRAM ANH

Continuing the series of events, in June, July, and August, many activities exploring the coastal village were maintained, such as boat tours of the Dam River, enjoying riverside cuisine, or the "A Day in Tam Thanh" program with activities like cycling to visit the mural village, weaving nets, pulling nets, rowing basket boats, catching crabs on the sand, etc.

"Through regularly maintained festival and culinary activities, the locality hopes to gradually build the Tam Thanh tourism brand in the direction of community tourism associated with coastal village culture and local cuisine," Mr. Hieu shared.

Today, the flavors of the sea are becoming a way for fishermen to tell the story of their homeland to tourists. From simple seafood dishes, the rhythm of coastal life and the culture of fishermen are preserved and spread through each culinary experience.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/trai-nghiem-huong-vi-bien-3337297.html