Sapa, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long are the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Vietnam. They are not only known for their picturesque landscape but also for their culinary treasures.These destinations are a food lover's dream, where you can taste the essence of Vietnamese cuisine in distinct regional flavors.
Sapa
Being favored by nature, Sapa is known as a paradise for tourists to relax. People who come here will be enchanted by its fresh air, cool climate, range after range of mountains, outstanding scenery, and especially the amazing culinary scene. Also inheriting traditional spices like Hanoi cuisine, but the best food in Sapa brings extremely unique and different experiences.
Thang Co
Wandering markets in the town, visitors can easily find this best local food in Sapa with a strange name - Thang Co. It is a soup made from beef, buffalo meat, horse organs, stewed bones, raw vegetables and many special spices. This best food in Sapa is a traditional delicacy of the H'Mong people and is nearly 200 years old. When enjoying this dish, it will give a greasy and bitter taste - extremely suitable for the cold weather in Sapa.
Recommended places
1. Thang co A Quynh
Address: No.15 Thach Son Street, Sapa Town.
2. Thang co A Phu
Address: No.15 Fansipan Street, Sapa Town.
Com Lam (Sticky Rice In The Bamboo Tube)
This famous Sapa food to eat is a simple yet delicious specialty of the town. To make this dish, native people spend hours selecting, cleaning and chopping the bamboo into the perfect size. Once the bamboo is cleaned, they stuff glutinous rice in the bamboo tube with a pinch of salt and local stream water. When tasting this best food in Sapa, the taste of sticky rice, the spiciness of ginger, the sweetness of bamboo water, the taste of banana leaves, the smell of the smoke from the fire is really captivating.
Recommended places
1. Sapa Grilling Area
Address: Cau May Street, Sapa Town.
2. The Hill Station Signature Restaurant
Address: No.37 Fansipan Street, Sapa Town.
Thit Trau Gac Bep (Buffalo Meat Upstairs Kitchen)
In Sapa, travelers are able to find a variety of dried meats at the local market yet the most popular one is buffalo meat. The Black Thai ethnic people marinate with salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger to create a very exclusive flavor; the meat then hangs in their kitchens for about eight months to a year to create this must-eat food in Sapa. When savoring it, squeeze some lime juice on, the first bite will always be a little tough, but after that, people can enjoy the savor, the sweetness, and the sourness dancing in their mouth.
Recommended places
1. Duy Chien Store
Address: No. 57 Thach Son Street, Sapa Town.
2. Sapa Grilling Area
Address: Cau May Street, Sapa Town.
Sapa Black Chicken
Black color not only appears in the beautiful picture of Sapa nightlife but also in this top specialty food of Sapa.
Sapa black chicken can be processed into many delicious dishes such as fried, sautéed, steamed, or boiled, but Sapa black chicken grilled with honey is still a name on the list to be worth trying when coming to this misty highland. When eating, the sweet taste of honey, the mild sourness of salt and pepper soup mixed with firm black chicken and the sweet aroma after grilling will surely conquer all visitors. In addition, Sapa stewed black chicken is also a consideration when it is an extremely nutritious dish and is extremely suitable for those who want to improve cardiovascular problems.
Recommended places
1. Sapa Smile
Address: No.18 Cau May, Sapa Town.
2. A Phu Restaurant
Address: No.15 Fansipan Street, Sapa Town.
Hanoi
Hanoi dishes - those two words are enough for locals and foreign tourists to feel the traditional taste of Vietnamese cuisine. The ingredients to make these traditional foods were passed down from the ancestors decades ago, but it still retains the original flavor. Therefore, it stimulates the curiosity of foreign tourists about how delicious Hanoi foods are.
Pho Bo (Beef Noodle)
Vietnam beef noodle was born in the early 20th century in the Hanoi capital and Nam Dinh province. This traditional dish is a combination of broth, rice noodles, some kinds of herbs, and beef. It is garnished with coriander leaves, green onions, and white onions, which is quite different from the beef noodle in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Hanoi dish has been included in CNN’s list of 20 best soups in the world. Travelers may quickly fall in love with this native one because of its savory broth, chewy noodles, tender beef slices, and the scent and taste of herbs.
Recommended places
1. Pho gia truyen Bat Dan
Address: No.49 Bat Dan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
2. Pho Ly Quoc Su
Address: No.10 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
3. Pho Thin
Address: No.13 Lo Duc Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi City.
4. Pho Ganh
Address: No.4 Hang Ma Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
Banh Mi
First appeared in the years of the 20th century like Pho, but banh mi originated in France. When this dish arrived in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, it became more different from the original. Banh mi is made with a combination of wheat and rice flours with a thin crispy crust. It is stuffed with pork, pâté, cured ham, a mélange of Vietnamese herbs and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, carrot, slices and radish. Spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and aromatic are the flavors that visitors will feel when they take a bite of this Hanoi dish.
Recommended places
1. Banh mi dan to
Address: Cao Thang - Tran Nhat Duat Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
2. Banh mi ba Khanh
Address: No.55B Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
3. Banh mi pate Lan Ong - Cha Ca
Address: No.8 Cha Ca, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
Bun Cha (Vermicelli Noodle with Grilled Pork)
There is a wide variety of dishes with vermicelli in Hanoi cuisine. This traditional food has similarities with the noodle dishes in central and southern Vietnam, but the difference is in the broth when it has a lighter taste. Bun cha is a harmonious and healthy combination of rice vermicelli, grilled pork, and fresh herbs. Dipping the noodles in the fish sauce features well-balanced saltiness, sourness (vinegar or lemon), spiciness (chili) and sweetness (sugar), also some thin slices of green papaya and carrot pickles, and eating bites of pork and fresh herbs - including lettuce, coriander - which is how gourmet in Hanoi show the best way to taste this Hanoi dish.
Recommended places
1. Bun cha Hang Quat
Address: No.74 Hang Quat Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City
2. Bun cha Sinh Tu
Address: No.2 Nguyen Phong Sac, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City.
3. Bun cha Huong Lien
Address: No.24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District or No.14, Alley 59 Lang Ha Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi City.
Cha Ca (Grilled Fish with Dill and Turmeric)
Cha Ca is one of the unique specialties of the Hanoi people when it was crudely processed in 1871 and handed down until now and definitely a must-eat food in Hanoi cuisine. It refers to grilled turmeric-marinated catfish served with a mountain of fresh dill.
A server will set up a hot pot on your table and will bring everything you need to accompany your meal. Each bite of the buttery grilled fish, perfectly seasoned with turmeric and noodles soaked in fish sauce, combined with the fresh herbs, is a delicious explosion of flavors.
Recommended places
1. Cha ca La Vong
Address: No.14 Cha Ca Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
2. Cha ca Kinh Ky
Address: No.43 Cua Dong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)
The first cup of egg coffee was made in 1946 and after decades, the fact that coffee appeared in variations such as coconut milk coffee, and cereal coffee, but this Hanoi food still occupies a special place in the minds of local people as well as foreign tourists. Egg coffee is traditionally prepared with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and Robusta coffee. The drink is made by beating egg yolks with sugar and coffee, then extracting the coffee into half of the cup, followed by a similar amount of egg cream, which is prepared by heating and beating the yolks. The cup is served inside a bowl of hot water to retain its temperature. The marriage of the egg’s rich taste and aromatic coffee wafting through the air makes up a specific flavor. The recipe to make a cup of egg coffee is extremely special - and it makes foreign travelers to Hanoi find out the charm of this traditional drink.
Recommended places
1. Giang Ca phe
Address: No.39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
2. Dinh Ca phe
Address: No.13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
Trang Tien Ice Cream
This Hanoi traditional dish was first made in 1958 at Trang Tien Street and that name for the food has been maintained until the present. Trang Tien ice cream has a variety of flavors including chocolate, vanilla, nuggets, coconut milk, cocoa, green beans, etc, but 2 types of ice cream cones and canned popsicles are still the most purchased. Moreover, this dish has an extremely affordable price and is served to everyone on any food tour.
Recommended place
1. Kem Trang Tien
Address: No.35 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City.
Ha Long
Ha Long, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and UNESCO World Heritage Site status, also boasts a vibrant culinary scene that will delight food enthusiasts. From fresh seafood harvested from the nearby waters to delectable Vietnamese specialties, Ha Long offers a wide range of flavors and culinary experiences.
Fresh Seafood Galore: A Seafood Lover's Paradise
As a coastal city, Ha Long is synonymous with fresh and succulent seafood. Indulge in a delightful array of seafood dishes, such as grilled squid, steamed shrimp, or buttery crab. Visit one of the seafood markets or restaurants along the harbor to savor the catch of the day. Be sure to try the iconic Ha Long Bay-style grilled scallops, a local specialty that combines the natural sweetness of the scallops with flavorful toppings and spices.
Ca Nhong (Ha Long's Signature Fish)
Cá Nhồng, or Ha Long Grouper, is a local fish that has become a culinary highlight in the region. This white-fleshed fish is known for its delicate texture and subtle flavor. Whether you enjoy it steamed, grilled, or in a hotpot, Cá Nhồng offers a delightful seafood experience unique to Ha Long. The fish is often served with fresh herbs, tangy dipping sauces, and a side of steamed rice, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
Cha Muc (Ha Long's Squid Patties)
Cha Muc, or grilled squid patties, is a popular street food specialty in Ha Long. Made from minced squid, pork fat, and various seasonings, this savory dish is grilled over an open flame, giving it a smoky and slightly charred flavor. Sliced and served with a tangy and spicy dipping sauce, Cha Muc is a delightful and unique culinary experience that shouldn't be missed.
Ninh Binh
When mentioned in Vietnamese cuisine, the fragrance is not only found in the traditional bowls of pho or bread rolls of Hanoi cuisine but also in the best food in Ninh Binh. The famous place with 4 UNESCO titles promises visitors specialties that only restaurants in Ninh Binh can serve.
Ca Kho Gao (Stew Fish with Nauclea Orientalis)
This is one of the must-try foods in Ninh Binh for foodies because of the strange and indigenous of this dish. Nauclea Orientalis is often used as medicine, but with the skillful hands of chefs in Ninh Binh, the fruit is sliced into small pieces and then lined on the bottom of the pot, then the fish is placed on top and covered with thin slices of Nauclea Orientalis on top. The taste of the dish is not fixed because it depends on the taste of that fruit from time to time. This best food in Ninh Binh will be quite unique and enhance tourists’ taste buds by its attractive color and characteristic sour or acrid taste.
Goat Meat
Raising goats for their meat is common not only in Ninh Binh Province but also in other neighboring provinces. However, this best specialty food to try in the province is said to be second to none because of the very special taste which comes from the way the goats are fed. Ninh Binh provides dozens of different dishes prepared from goat meat. The most tasteful among them are goat soup, grilled goat meat with five spices, steamed goat meat with ginger, goat hotpot, and goat porridge. To enjoy this Ninh Binh food, travelers can visit a lot of restaurants to have a meal in the areas around Trang An, Tam Coc Caves or at the foot of Hoa Lu Mountain.
Xoi Trung Kien (Steam Glutinous Rice With Ant Egg)
Sticky rice may be a common dish in Vietnam that travelers can easily find on every street and the ingredients can vary from green beans, and black beans to durian but there has never been any kind made of ant eggs so far, this unique dish may satisfy the question which is ”What to eat in Ninh Binh?” of many tourists. Strange yet absolutely delicious, this best food in Ninh Binh is definitely an unforgettable dish and is also extremely nutritious. But it sometimes does not appear in the Ninh Binh food guide because ant eggs only hatch in a specific season, besides, processing and finding a strange ingredient like ant eggs takes a great deal of effort.
Conclusion
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