Cuisine is not just about food; it’s also a journey of exploration and discovery into a region’s unique flavors. Quang Binh, nestled in central Vietnam, offers a culinary adventure that reflects its rich cultural heritage and natural bounty. Each dish tells a story of local traditions and flavors, from fresh seafood along the coast to hearty mountain specialties.
Let’s dive into the top 10 delicious dishes, allowing you to savor Quang Binh cuisine like a local.
What makes Quang Binh cuisine so unique?
Quang Binh cuisine stands out for several reasons. Its geography and climate play a crucial role. With a 100km coastline and abundant rivers, such as the Son River and Chay River, the region boasts diverse, fresh, and flavorful seafood. In the mountainous areas, unique wild vegetables thrive, adding distinctive flavors. Locally sourced ingredients are varied, fresh, and readily available.
Cultural diversity also enriches Quang Binh cuisine. With a mix of Kinh people and various ethnic groups like Bru-Van Kieu, Tri, Khua, Ma Coong, and Sach, the local food reflects a blend of cultures. Influences from Central Vietnamese cuisine and the skillfulness of locals have led to the creation of unique dishes found only in Quang Binh.
The best Quang Binh cuisine to savor during your visit
1. Noodle and spring roll (Cháo canh và ram)
One staple you’ll encounter at nearly every breakfast spot when exploring Quang Binh is Cháo canh. Despite its name, which translates to “porridge soup,” it resembles a noodle dish like pho or bun more than traditional porridge. The process involves simmering noodle-like dough in a flavorful broth until tender.
Cháo canh in Quang Binh boasts a variety of base ingredients, from rice flour to wheat flour, tapioca starch, or brown rice.
Accompanying ingredients vary based on personal preference but often include pork ribs, snakehead fish, clams, and fresh shrimp. Each bowl is garnished with finely chopped spring onions and served steaming hot. It features a flavorful broth, chewy rice noodles, and tender pieces of snakehead fish.
Cháo Canh stands out with its use of finely chopped mustard greens instead of traditional herbs. This dish is often served with hot, crispy spring rolls, creating a delightful contrast with the rich, sweet broth of Cháo Canh. Each bite embodies Quang Binh’s culinary tradition, a harmonious blend of flavors.
2. Bombay duck fish hotpot (Lẩu cá khoai)
Bombay duck fish hotpot is a delicious dish in Quang Binh cuisine, available only in late autumn and winter, from October to February. The main ingredient is the Bombay duck fish, which lives in the brackish waters along the Central Vietnamese coast.
The hotpot broth has common ingredients like tomatoes, tamarind juice, starfruit, pickled vegetables, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms. It is seasoned to taste. Once the broth is ready, place the pot on the stove to cook. Add the fish when the broth boils, cooking it until done. Eat the fish immediately for the best taste.
Dip a few pieces of fish at a time to avoid overcooking. Popular vegetables for this hotpot include mustard greens, banana flowers, and celery. You can enjoy this hotpot at Quang Binh restaurants such as Minh Ha Restaurant (Truong Phap Street, Dong Hoi City) or Tan Quy Dao Restaurant (Block 10, Dong Phu, Dong Hoi City). These restaurants offer simple and cozy spaces, perfect for gathering with friends and family around a steaming hotpot.
3. Sea-snake (Đẻn biển)
The sea snake, known as đẻn biển, is a unique and valuable creature in Quang Binh cuisine. It is a slender, small-bodied snake from 1 to 2 meters long. Dishes made from sea snakes are known for being fresh and nutritious. Quang Binh’s most famous dishes are sea snake blood wine and ram đẻn (sea snake spring roll). Various sea snake dishes, like sea snake porridge, grilled sea snake, and sea snake cooked with medicinal herbs, are also popular among tourists.
Ram đẻn is a must-try dish made from seasoned sea snake meat, rolled, and fried. Each restaurant has its unique recipe, making each bite a memorable experience. The fragrant aroma of frying ram đẻn is irresistible and leaves one craving more.
Due to the difficulty of catching and preparing sea snakes, only a few restaurants near Nhat Le Beach offer this delicacy. Guests usually choose live sea snakes and cook them fresh, ensuring the best taste. Each dish is served hot, allowing guests to enjoy the flavors at their best.
4. Pồi rice (Cơm Pồi)
Pồi rice or Cơm Pồi is a traditional dish of the Nguon people, a Viet-Muong ethnic group in Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh. This daily food features two main ingredients: corn and cassava. These are pounded, mixed, and steamed, resulting in a spongy and tasty dish. The shape of Com Poi depends on the utensils used for steaming. To learn more about how to make Cơm Pồi, you can check out Com Poi: a traditional dish of the Nguon people in Minh Hoa, Quang Binh.
Com Poi is typically served with vegetable soup cooked with fish and snails. It can also be enjoyed with salt, pounded chili, and lemon leaves for added flavor. People often shape Com Poi into small balls during family meals, especially those with multiple generations. They share these to show affection and start warm conversations.
Tourists visiting Tan Hoa village in Minh Hoa district often enjoy Com Poi during dinners at local homes. Oxalis Adventure organizes these dinners to help visitors understand the culture of the Tan Hoa region, especially during tours exploring the Tu Lan cave system. This delectable dish is loved by many who experience it.
5. Traditional rice cakes (Bánh bèo, bánh lọc, bánh nậm)
Traditional rice cakes are a famous specialty in Quang Binh cuisine. You can easily find places selling bánh bèo, bánh lọc, bánh nậm. These cakes are available along streets, in alleys, and in small lanes.
If you visit Quang Binh, try the delicious Banh Beo with shrimp. Dong Hoi is a coastal city with fresh seafood, so locals use fresh shrimp. Each plate is filled with thin, white rice cakes topped with golden shrimp and crispy pork fat. The bánh bèo is neatly arranged, with a simple but beautiful presentation. Two bowls of fish sauce are provided, one with chili and one without. You drizzle the sauce over the cakes before eating. The cool, soft cakes and the flavorful shrimp, crispy pork fat, and rich fish sauce create a delightful taste.
Besides bánh bèo, Quang Binh is also known for bánh lọc, which is made from tapioca flour and filled with shrimp, minced meat, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, wrapped in leaves and steamed. Three common types are wrapped in banana leaves, unwrapped, and fried.
For culinary experiences in Quang Binh, visit Dong Hoi Market, Banh Beo Di Tiep (29 Le Thanh Dong, Dong Hoi), and Banh Beo Co Van (82 Le Thanh Dong, Dong Hoi). For Banh Bot Loc, try Me Xuan (Le Thanh Dong, Dong Hoi).
6. Son River Carp (Cá trắm)
Son River Carp in Phong Nha is a famous culinary symbol of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and a unique specialty of Quang Binh tourism. The people of Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, have a long tradition of fishing and cage farming on the Son River. Over time, diverse fish species like grass carp, catfish, and eel have thrived here. In particular, Phong Nha Son River carp has gained a reputation and attracts many tourists to this heritage region.
The fish feed naturally in the clear waters of the Son River, making their meat firm, tasty, and odor-free. Son River Carp is prepared into various delicious dishes such as steamed, braised, grilled, and especially the flavorful, slightly spicy braised Trắm with pickled vegetables.
At Chay Lap Farmstay restaurant, Son River ccarp is a staple. Besides braising with galangal, frying, grilling with lime leaves, or cooking in sour soup, chefs also prepare “Son River carp cake noodles.” These cakes can be used in soups or fried and served with noodles, offering high nutritional value and delicious, firm meat.
7. Grilled chicken with cheo salt (Gà nướng chấm muối cheo)
Grilled chicken in Phong Nha, Quang Binh, has an authentic taste that blends natural flavors and traditional cooking. Made from free-range chickens, the meat has a chewy texture and a rich, sweet taste. Cooked on charcoal stoves, the chicken keeps its natural essence, providing a pure and authentic dining experience. Often served with sticky rice, it enhances the savory profile of the dish.
Locals and visitors love pairing this delicious chicken with Cheo salt, a special blend from Phong Nha. This unique salt mix, with chili, lime, coriander, and Doi seeds, adds a spicy kick and extra flavor to each bite.
Many restaurants in Phong Nha offer this favorite dish, including Chay Lap Farmstay, East Hill Phong Nha, O O Lake, May Dang Hill, and Len Con. Enjoying grilled chicken in Phong Nha is also a must-try experience for anyone joining an overnight camping experience (with BBQ) at Blue Diamond Retreat.
8. Grilled fish (Cá nướng)
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam is known for its beautiful rivers like the Chay and Son Rivers. A standout dish here is grilled snakehead fish with vegetables. The freshwater predator snakehead fish has firm white flesh and a mild flavor. Fresh from the rivers and lakes, it’s traditionally cooked over charcoal or open flames, giving it a smoky aroma and crispy skin.
The fish is paired with a mix of fresh, seasonal vegetables, common in Phong Nha cuisine. Once cooked, the snakehead is served on a platter with the vegetables. The smoky char, savory spices, and fresh herbs create a delightful aroma. The crispy skin reveals flavorful, flaky flesh, perfectly complemented by the vegetables. A dip in nuoc cham (fish sauce dressing) adds a tangy contrast.
When camping at Blue Diamond, you can enjoy this grilled fish dish from local chefs. It’s a must-try experience that showcases the flavors of Phong Nha. You can also find these dishes in some local restaurants in Phong Nha or Dong Hoi.
9. Stir-fried snails with betel leaves (Ốc xào lá lốt)
Stir-fried snails with betel leaves combine freshwater snails’ plump meat with the flavors of betel leaves, a herb native to the region. The snails are typically harvested in the surrounding Phong Nha. Meanwhile, betel leaves are selected for their freshness and earthy aroma. Some chefs even incorporate the young betel leaves, adding a delightful crunch.
When stir-frying begins, the aroma of shallots, garlic, and chilies fills the air. The boiled snails are introduced to the hot pan, absorbing the fragrant oils. Betel leaves are added, their vibrant green hue contrasting beautifully with the glistening snails.
A touch of fish sauce and sugar balances the dish’s flavors, creating a savory-sweet harmony. Typically served with grilled rice paper, each bite combines the crunchy texture of the rice paper with the robust flavors of the stir-fried snails and aromatic herbs. This dish is a staple in local eateries throughout Phong Nha, including Chay Lap Farmstay, where it exemplifies the region’s culinary richness and cultural diversity.
10. Vegetarian and vegan options
There are also vegetarian restaurants in Phong Nha catering to tourists’ diverse culinary preferences. Vegetarian cuisine in Phong Nha is known for its refreshing and gentle flavors, blending harmoniously with various vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu. The dishes are delicately prepared, preserving the ingredients’ natural flavors and offering diners a sense of tranquility and contentment.
You can enjoy vegetarian pho, fresh spring rolls, soup, hotpots, and more. The prices for vegetarian dishes in Phong Nha are reasonable and suit most travelers’ budgets. Vegetarian eateries are easy to find, especially in the central area of the town. You can also request vegetarian dishes when camping at Blue Diamond Retreat in Phong Nha.
One of the most popular vegetarian dishes is wild vegetables. Simple yet retaining its original flavor, boiled wild vegetables turn a deep green when cooked, soft, and emitting a mild fragrance. They are typically dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce. Stir-fried wild vegetables are also a great way to experience their unique taste. Stir-fried with garlic and various spices, they become crispy and flavorful.
Embarking on a culinary journey in Phong Nha will lead travelers from one delightful surprise to another. Each dish from Quang Binh cuisine carries its unique flavor, showcasing the distinctive cultural heritage of the local people. Visit Phong Nha to marvel at its stunning natural landscapes and savor the delicious and captivating local cuisine.