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Must-Try Dishes in Ninh Binh: A Foodie’s Guide

07:36 - 01/01/2025

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Join MOTOGO Tours to discover the must-try cuisine in Ninh Binh, where distinctive tastes collide with rich history and breathtaking surroundings of this ancient capital!

Ninh Binh boasts a variety of unique and mouthwatering dishes that leave every visitor craving for more. (Source: Collected)

Must-try dishes in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a heaven for foodies as well as a place with amazing scenery. Its must-try cuisine capture the fresh, distinctive tastes of the area and a rich cultural legacy.

1. Goat meat

Ninh Binh is known for its goat meat, which is often cooked in a variety of ways, such as on a grill, in a stir-fry, or in a hot pot. The special quality of this meal is the tenderness of the flesh, which comes from goats kept in the hilly parts of Ninh Binh and has a different taste than goats kept in other areas.

Goat meat in Ninh Binh is tender and flavorful, often served with herbs and a tangy dipping sauce. ( Source: Collected)

The preparation is especially unique since the meat is marinated in a mixture of locally grown herbs and spices, so guaranteeing strong tastes. With prices ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 VND every dish, goat meat meals are readily available in eateries all over Ninh Binh.

2. Nhech raw fish salad

Nhech raw fish salad is a special dish from Ninh Binh. It is made with a hard local fish called “Nhech” and is usually served raw, mixed with herbs and special sauces.

Nhech raw fish salad offers a perfect blend of fresh fish, galangal, and aromatic herbs, bursting with flavor. ( Source: Collected)

Combining the natural taste of the fish with the tanginess of lime, the heat from chili, and the aroma of herbs, this meal is well-known for its reviving taste. With prices typically between 50,000 and 70,000 VND, you may savor this meal at neighborhood markets or specialized eateries in Ninh Binh.

3. Ant egg sticky rice

Made by combining sticky rice with freshly gathered ant eggs—small, delicate, and filled with protein—sticky rice with ant eggs is an odd but cherished meal in Ninh Binh. Usually around middle of the year, during the ant egg season, ant egg sticky rice is presented when the eggs are plentiful. Hard to find elsewhere, the taste is savory and somewhat tart, combining textures in a special way.

Ant egg sticky rice is a rare and nutritious dish with a rich, buttery taste loved by adventurous foodies. ( Source: Collected)

4. Burned rice

People in Ninh Binh often eat burnt rice, which is leftover rice that is fried until it is crispy. It is usually served with a sauce made of fish sauce, sugar, and chili. Its cooking technique, whereby the rice is cooked in an earthenware pot to produce a crispy coating on the bottom that gives every bite a pleasing crunch, distinguishes it. A bowl of burned rice typically runs between 30,000 and 50,000 VND in cost.

Burned rice, a crispy specialty of Ninh Binh, pairs perfectly with rich and savory dipping sauces. ( Source: Collected)

5. Ninh Binh mountain snail

People in Ninh Binh love mountain snail, a dish made from snails that live in the rocky hills. A delicious and aromatic meal is produced from the thick broth made with ginger, lemongrass, and local herbs cooking the snails. These snails have a unique taste and texture since they are just found in the mountains of Ninh Binh. Many local eateries have this meal available, with rates ranging from 40,000 to 60,000 VND each plate.

Ninh Binh mountain snails are a seasonal delicacy, often stir-fried with lemongrass and chili for a spicy kick. ( Source: Collected)

6. Eel vermicelli

The delicate eel and creamy, savory broth make Ninh Binh’s eel vermicelli stand out. Fresh and collected from nearby rivers, the eel provides the meal a delicate yet unique taste. Made by cooking the eel’s bones with different herbs, the soup smells aromatic and has a sweet, savory, and somewhat earthiness.

Eel vermicelli soup is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring tender eel and a fragrant, savory broth. ( Source: Collected)

The version in Ninh Binh usually has a more aromatic and rich broth, mixed with indigenous herbs that accentuates its unique taste, than eel vermicelli in other areas. Furthermore, the eel in Ninh Binh is typically cooked to an ideal texture, hence it is more tender than in some other provinces where it could be rather rougher.

7. Can Nho Quan Wine

Nho Quan wine is made using a traditional fermentation method that brings out the tastes of the area. Can Nho Quan Wine starts with locally grown rice, meticulously cooked and combined with unique herbs and medicinal plants discovered in the Ninh Binh area.

Can Nho Quan Wine is a traditional rice wine with a strong flavor, perfect for pairing with local dishes. ( Source: Collected)

The concoction is then put in a big clay pot, sealed, and let to ferment for several weeks while the natural yeasts and herbs give a unique, strong smell. Emphasizing the cultural value of sharing and unity, the wine is presented in a communal “can” from which one drinks with a straw.

8. Nem chua Yen Mac

Nem chua Yen Mac is a popular dish from Ninh Binh’s Yen Mac village. It has a unique taste and texture. Made from finely ground pork, it is combined with garlicky, chili, and fermented rice then wrapped in banana leaves and left to ferment for a few days. Often presented with fresh herbs and dipping sauce, the outcome is a tangy, flavorful delicacy with a soft, chewy texture.

Nem chua Yen Mac is a fermented pork delicacy wrapped in guava leaves, offering a tangy and unique taste. ( Source: Collected)

9. Ninh Binh floating cake

Made from sticky rice flour, Ninh Binh floating cake—also known as “Banh troi nuoc Ninh Binh”—is a classic treat stuffed with sweetened mung beans. Usually covered with sesame seeds and coconut, the cake is presented on a bowl of warm, aromatic syrup. At local markets or small restaurants in Ninh Binh, priced around 10,000 VND each serving, you may savor it.

Ninh Binh floating cake is a soft, glutinous rice dessert filled with sweet mung bean paste. ( Source: Collected)

10. Kim Son Stickey Rice Wine

Kim Son Sticky Rice Wine is a unique drink from Ninh Binh’s Kim Son area. It is made by fermenting sticky rice with a special mix of ingredients. Usually with a modest alcohol content—usually between 15 and 18%—it is well-known for its smooth, somewhat sweet taste. ( Source: Collected)

Kim Son Sticky Rice Wine is a smooth, aromatic wine made from fermented glutinous rice in Kim Son District. ( Source: Collected)

Usually, this wine is drank during festivities or with classic cuisine. Local markets in Ninh Binh have it, and people especially value it for its health advantages and capacity to increase appetite.

11. Ninh Binh Braised Fish

Ninh Binh Braised Fish is a popular food in the area that is known for its rich, savory taste. It is usually made with river fish like carp or tilapia. Slow-cooked with caramelized sugar, fish sauce, and spices, the fish creates a delicate, tasty meal with strong umami taste. It goes nicely with the fresh herbs from the area and is commonly presented with hot rice. For those who enjoy seafood, the meal is a must-try and readily found at the local restaurants in Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh braised fish is a rich and flavorful dish, slow-cooked with spices for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. ( Source: Collected)

12. Ninh Binh Grilled Banana Fish

Ninh Binh Grilled Banana Fish is a local specialty known for its unique way of being made and delicious taste. Often caught fresh from Ninh Binh’s rivers, the fish has a smokey and delicious taste after marinated with a mix of native spices and well cooked. Usually eaten with rice or vegetables, the dish is well-known for its soft texture and subdued sweet taste. Local diners and restaurants in Ninh Binh will have it readily available.

Ninh Binh grilled banana fish is marinated to perfection and grilled over charcoal for a smoky, succulent taste. ( Source: Collected)

13. Gia Vien shrimp paste

Highly sought-after condiment in Ninh Binh, Gia Vien Shrimp Paste is renowned for its unique, strong taste. Usually used as a dipping sauce or flavoring for many foods, especially fish and vegetables, it is created from fresh shrimp that has been fermenting for months. Its strong umami flavour gives any dish a special richness. Local markets sell Gia Vien shrimp paste; the jar costs usually start at 50,000 VND.

Gia Vien shrimp paste, made from fresh shrimp and salt, adds a rich umami flavor to many local dishes. ( Source: Collected)

14. Dipper fruit

Dipper Fruit (Qua Gao) is a specialty of Ninh Binh that can only be found in this area. It grows in streams and on hillsides. Cooking makes frequent use of it, particularly for soups or braising fish, where its moderate sourness and cooling qualities assist to balance the fishy taste and offer a refreshing flavour. Apart from its taste, this fruit has health advantages. It has cost about 80,000 VND every kg.

Dipper fruit, a sweet and tangy specialty of Ninh Binh, is enjoyed fresh or as a refreshing dessert. ( Source: Collected)

15. Crab Roasted in Lolot Leaves

For the dish Crab Roasted in Lolot Leaves in Ninh Binh, fresh, medium-sized crabs with firm and sweet meat are the best selection. The firm shell of the crabs will show that they are completely developed, and the meat inside should be plump and juicy. Usually obtained from the rivers and coastal regions surrounding Ninh Binh, the crabs guarantee a delicate, pure taste.

Crab roasted in lolot leaves combines the earthy aroma of betel leaves with the savory flavor of roasted crab. ( Source: Collected)

From aromatic grilled banana fish to savory goat meat, Ninh Binh’s must-try cuisine flavor of history and plenty of nature. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy these unusual tastes during your trip!