Halong Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes for Every Traveler

Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam, is renowned not only for its breathtaking scenery but also for its active food scene. This MOTOGO Tours article will introduce the diverse Halong food, from regional cuisine to secret gastronomic treasures every visitor should sample.

Must-Try Ha Long Food: A Culinary Journey You Can’t Miss

One of the experiences you just cannot miss when visiting Ha Long Bay is sampling the native delicacies. But given so many mouthwatering choices, it can be difficult to choose initially what to try. Here’s a well chosen list of the must-try Ha Long dishes to help you decide since they provide the ideal mix of tastes to definitely delight your pallet.

Ngan Bien (Sea Clam)

Though with a strange name, ngan (sea clam) is a delicious shellfish that will tantalize your taste receptors. Ha Long specializes on this mollusk, which is similar in size but different from clams. It can be grilled, steamed, turned into soup, or stir-fried with noodles among other methods. Every cooking accentuates an original and enticing taste.

Moreover, bored by the sea can be drunk in alcohol, giving the drink a unique marine taste. Should you ever find yourself in Ha Long, do not hesitate to order a bit and savor this unique cuisine.

Cha Muc (Squid Cake) – A Ha Long Favorite

Grilled squid should most certainly be on your list if you’re curious about Ha Long’s actual taste. Made with finely chopped or minced squid, fashioned into circular cakes, this delicacy fried till golden and crispy. Ha Long’s squid cakes are a preferred among both residents and visitors since the squid here is naturally sweeter than in other areas.

Apart from the classic fried squid cake, Ha Long also presents sticky rice beside which the crispy squid cakes provide a taste explosion while the sticky rice is flawlessly prepared. Another alternative is steamed rice rolls with squid cakes, a delicious meal whereby the rice rolls are stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms, topped with golden, aromatic squid cakes. Present it along with a thick, savory dipping sauce to really appreciate Ha Long.

Halong food – Sam Bien

Ha Long Bay is also well-known for its sea buckthorn, a delicacy from the sea with several methods of cooking. Try sweet and sour stir-fried sam, sam salad, stir-fried sam with vermicelli, stir-fried sam with lemongrass and chile, or perhaps fried sam eggs. Even the most finicky eaters can appreciate the distinctive taste of the soft, sweet, somewhat chewy meat of the sam.

Vermicelli with Shrimps

A must-eat meal in Quang Ninh, vermicelli with shrimp is really famous. The meal blends the chewy vermicelli texture with the delicate sweet taste of fish. This meal is cool and filling when combined with a light, savory broth and aromatic herbs. For those who enjoy seafood, it’s a great pick.

Clam Porridge

A healthy and delicious meal that wonderfully embodies Ha Long is clam porridge. This meal is perfect for stifling hunger and giving your excursions vitality. Locals often choose porridge because it is nourishing and soothing as well as because the fresh clams provide a great, flavorful taste.

Halong food – Baby Oyster Porridge

Another Ha Long delicacy that is tasty and nouraging is baby oyster porridge. Besides making you feel good, eating this food gives your body vital vitamins and minerals. This porridge is also a good choice since it is supposed to help with diseases including diabetes, headaches, and high blood pressure.

Cantonese Fried Rice

A great fusion meal with harmonic combinations of several components is cantonese fried rice. Perfectly seasoned, the dish consists in fragrant rice, prawns, coconut, dried shrimp, salted duck eggs, and peas to produce a tasty and full dinner. For someone seeking something substantial and satisfying, this is a tasty choice.

Ha Long Yogurt with Tapioca Pearls

Ha Long yogurt with tapioca pearls is a delightful and reviving dish you really should not miss. Complementing the yogurt’s smooth, creamy smoothness with chewy tapioca pearls and coconut milk’s richness, is This dessert is a great way to finish your dinner since you will also discover added crispy aloe vera, jelly, and dried coconut.

Upside-Down Ice Cream

Ha Long’s “Upside-Down Ice Cream,” well-known for its unusual appearance and great quality, is among the most adored delicacies among both residents and visitors. Though it won’t melt or drip, this ice cream can be turned upside down as the name implies. This is a result of the extremely chewy, soft texture of the ice cream, which melts gradually and offers a somewhat different experience than regular ice creams.

Gat Gu Cake

Another famous meal from Ha Long is “Gat Gu Cake,” a beloved breakfast fare enjoyed by residents as well as guests. Soft, chewy, and aromatic texture of this dish is well-known. The cakes are presented alongside a unique chicken fat sauce that accentuates their taste, therefore producing a delicious and filling dinner. Often eaten as a classic breakfast, nod gu cake is a great way to introduce Ha Long’s gastronomic scene.

Halong food – Sea Worms

Especially found in locations like Van Don, Ha Long, and Mong Cai, Sa Sung, also known by several names including “sea earthworms,” “bibi,” or “earth ginseng,” is a unique delicacy of Ha Long. This seafood is regarded to have therapeutic qualities and great nutritional worth. It can aid with diseases like night sweats, chest pain, postnatal problems including inadequate milk, and even nerve problems.

Stir-fried sea worms with garlic is one of the recipes created from sea worms that you really ought to try. This is a delectable feast of tastes, and the dish is usually eaten with rice, thereby making it a satisfying lunch. Another well-liked choice is porridge worms, fresh herbs and ginger added for a taste and nutritional boost when presented fresh and boiling hot. A real Ha Long specialty, this meal will make you yearning more.

Shrimp Floss (Dried Shrimp Flour)

Consider sending “Shrimp Floss,” a delicacy created from fresh shrimp mixed with lean pork, home for someone seeking a distinctive memento from Ha Long. Both residents and visitors love this meal because of its pleasing texture and savory, somewhat sweet taste. It’s ideal as a snack to enjoy on your trip or as a present to a dear friend or relative.

Dried Squid from Ha Long

Although dried squid is a popular snack in many coastal areas, Ha Long’s dried squid is very flavorful and solid. If you classify yourself as a foodie, you will find the difference right away. Perfect for grilling, teamed with chili sauce, the squid is a great snack for a laid-back evening or a social gathering served with a nice beer.

Halong food – Dried Sa Sung

Easy to travel and store, dried sea worms are another fantastic memento choice. Making soups or broths from this dried fish provides a tasty and healthy dinner. For people who value unusual and premium cuisine, this is a considerate present. The strong taste of sea worms will surely convey some taste of Ha Long’s oceans right to your house.

Recommended Locations for Purchasing Halong Food

Apart from the particular products mentioned above, you can visit different local markets to get even more seafood choices. Ha Long boasts several busy markets with dry items, fresh catches of the day, and other local specialties.

Cai Dam Market

For anybody seeking fresh, locally caught fish, Cai Dam Market, located Tien Ong Street, Bai Chay, Ha Long City, is a must-visit site. Renowned for its reasonably priced fresh and dried fish, the market is Try the well-known Ha Long Squid Cakes, which are quite appreciated for their crispy texture and rich, mouthful taste, while shopping at Cai Dam Market. Compared elsewhere, they are far softer and juicier.

Ha Long Night Market

Located on Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Hung Thang Ward, Ha Long City, Ha Long Night Market is an ideal place for night visitors seeking local cuisine. Perfect gifts from the market are the several dried seafood options like squid, sea worms, and prawn floss. This market provides something for everyone whether your search is for a great dinner or a unique present.

Ha Long 1 Market

Renowned for its abundance of fresh local delicacies, Ha Long 1 Market is situated on Bach Dang Street, Ha Long City. Fresh fish, crabs, shrimps and more may all be purchased here among other seafood. There are also several food booths on the market where you may taste freshly made cuisine and enjoy Ha Long’s active gastronomic scene.

Ha Long Market 2

Ha Long Market 2, at 433 Le Loi, Tran Hung Dao, Ha Long City, is another fantastic market worth visiting. This market provides reasonably priced, somewhat extensive range of dried seafood. Back home, dried squid, sea worms, and many other items are ideal presents for friends and relatives. This is a fantastic spot to pick up some wonderful mementos and really experience local life.

Halong Bay is a heaven for foodies as much as it is for breathtaking scenery. The cuisine of Halong Bay is sure to be among the highlights of your trip, whether your taste is for fresh seafood or something different from a street vendor. Seize the opportunity to discover the diverse gastronomic customs of this stunning area.