Halong – one of the world’s seven wonders is not only famous for its breathtaking scenery but also a land of distinctive cuisine. Halong food stands out because it holds the unique features of the land – a perfect combination of a coastal area and a typical Northern province of Vietnam. For a fulfilling trip to Halong, here are 8 dishes you definitely should try:

1. Cha muc (Fried squid)

In the top 10 of the list of the best food in Asia, Cha muc is a proud specialty of the people here. Coming to Ha Long, although going to any restaurant, you would be introduced to this dish by the owner. From a distance, you can smell the intense aroma of spring rolls while still lying on the frying pan. When enjoying each of these natural yellow rolls, you will see the crispy, chewy and juicy taste of fresh squid. Not only that, the “pomegranate seeds” are iron from the fins and the bearded crunchy squid lumpy in the mouth also feels quite interesting and strange.

Fried squid served with white sticky rice is the best. The aroma of new sticky rice blends with the smell of spring rolls creates an extremely attractive flavor.

Price: ~400.000 VND/ kg

2. Horseshoe crab

Horseshoe crab (Sam) is the same as the crab family, also has shells and pincers but bigger. Interestingly, the Horseshoe crab often comes in pairs, the female piggyback on the male so when caught, people often catch a pair. There is an assumption that  that eating one would easily cause a cold heart, so when processing, people often make a pair to sell. Horseshoe crab can be processed into many different dishes such as steamed sam, stir-fried sam, grilled sam cartilage, sam salad, stir-fried sam with lemongrass, fried sam eggs…

Price: ~140.000 VND/ pair

3. Sa sung

Sa sung are also known as ginseng or sea worms. Although the price is a bit high, sa sung are preferred by many on the list of certain delicious dishes to try of Ha Long cuisine. At first, many do not dare to eat because they look identically like worms with pink colour which are  very scary. Yet after a reckless attempt, you will definitely understand why this dish could be so popular. These Sa sung have a very sweet and fresh taste, and when stir-fried with garlic, they have a rich aroma of sea flavor.

Price: ~500.000 VND/ kg

4. “Nodding” cake

The cake with this strange name has a controversial shape. Some people think that nodding cake resembles “Pho”, while others think it is “Banh uot” – a traditional dish whose taste is like steamed rice rolls. The cake is rolled into a long roll, when picked up to eat, it just nods up and nods down, so it is called nodding cake. Served with fish sauce served with chicken fat and fried onions, the shop also sells bread with meat stock marinated carefully. The softness, together with the sweet, tangy sweetness of the cake, will surely make you want to enjoy it for a long, long time.

Price: ~40.000 VND/ portion

5. Mantis shrimp noodle (“Be be” noodle)

Another extremely strange name is on the list of delicious dishes of Ha Long cuisine. In fact, “Be be” is called Mantis shrimp by Southern people. Fresh mantis shrimp is taken from the Quang Ninh waters. After pre-processing, people take them out of its shell with the bone to make broth. In a superficial bowl, there are other ingredients such as choysum, tomatoes, shrimp and other herbs to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Price: ~40.000 VND/ bowl

6. Tai long ep cake

This cake is a specialty made from the skillful hands of San Diu people. At first glance, you will see that the sticky rice cake is quite similar to the “Banh bo thot not”  in the West, only the color is a bit darker. Despite its extremely simple appearance, the process of making this type of cake is quite meticulous and thorough. The aromatic, sweet, fleshy taste of the talented chef will definitely make you forever remember Ha Long.

Price: ~10.000 VND/ piece

7. Tien Yen hill chicken

Tien Yen hill chicken is an indispensable dish of Ha Long cuisine in many trips of tourists. Chickens in Tien Yen are released on the hillsides to find food for themselves, every day they had to “walk” a lot, so the meat is very tough, firm, sweet-smelling, greasy without being over. Tien Yen hill chicken can be processed into many dishes but boiled chicken is still a priority choice for visitors to enjoy this specialty.

Price: ~200.000 VND/ one

8. Pearl Yogurt

In big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city, you may get used to pearl milk tea. However, there’s another no-less-popular dessert called Pearl yogurt in Halong. Without any doubt, this dish is worthy of Ha Long specialties that you cannot miss. When ordering yogurt yogurt, the owner will bring you a small cool yogurt bottle and a bowl of hot coconut milk with pearls inside. Mix and try a spoonful of cold yogurt mixed with coconut milk and hot pearl, you will have a pretty interesting experience with this dish! The sweet, sour, fleshy taste of this delicious dish will surely make you “fall in love” right from the first try.

Price: ~15.000 VND/ cup