Ha Long (Quang Ninh) is home to numerous attractive sightseeing, entertainment, and resort spots. It also boasts delicious delicacies for visitors to savor. Join iVIVU in discovering 13 Ha Long specialties that captivate countless diners.
Enjoy 13 famous delicious Ha Long specialties
1. White sticky rice with squid patties
White sticky rice with squid patties is a famous Ha Long specialty not to be missed on your culinary journey here. The white sticky rice is cooked from fragrant, chewy glutinous rice; the squid patties are made from fresh squid, making them crunchy, chewy, and naturally sweet. The dish combines white sticky rice with golden-grilled squid patties, served with fish sauce and chili sauce that are super delicious. The price for each portion of white sticky rice with squid patties at casual eateries ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 VND. Additionally, you can buy squid patties by the kilogram for about 250,000 VND/kg.
Address:
Minh Hoa Squid Patty Sticky Rice Eatery – 38 Thuong Mai, Hong Gai Ward, Quang Ninh Province
Quang Phong Squid Patties – Lot C112A, Old Town area, Hong Gai Ward, Quang Ninh Province
2. Steamed rice rolls with squid patties
Steamed rice rolls with squid patties
Steamed rice rolls with squid patties are one of the Ha Long specialties that you definitely must try. The special highlight of this dish lies in the squid patties. The patties are made from fresh squid caught right in the waters of Quang Ninh and are hand-pounded to create crispy, chewy pieces rather than being pureed like machine-ground ones. The steamed rice rolls are soft and silky, filled inside with minced pork, shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, etc. The combination of steamed rice rolls, squid patties, and sweet-and-sour dipping sauce leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has ever tasted it. In particular, the dipping fish sauce in Ha Long is lighter and more diluted than that in the South.
Address:
Ba Yen Steamed Rice Rolls with Squid Patties – 36 Doan Thi Diem, Hong Gai Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
Squid Patty Steamed Rice Rolls – 702 Ha Long, Bai Chay, Quang Ninh Province.
Goc Cay Bang Steamed Rice Rolls with Squid Patties – No. 189 Alley 1, Nha Hat Street, Le Thanh Tong Road, Quang Ninh Province.
3. Tien Yen hill chicken
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Tien Yen is a mountainous district in Quang Ninh Province, about 90 km from Ha Long City on the way from Ha Long to Mong Cai. Tien Yen is famous for its hill chicken breed, free-ranged naturally, climbing slopes all day and foraging for insects, which gives it yellow skin, fragrant meat, and sweet broth. Tien Yen chicken is also considered a Ha Long specialty that every diner wants to try when setting foot in the city. Tien Yen chicken can be prepared in various dishes, but the most delicious remains simply boiled, served with raw herbs and a palatable, mildly spicy and sour dipping sauce.
Address:
Co Xanh 2 Restaurant – Gieng Day, Bai Chay Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
4. Dishes made from "ngán" (Austriella corrugata)
Grilled "ngán"
Ngan is a type of mollusk with a bivalve shell like a clam, but larger, and is a rare, delicious specialty of Quang Ninh. Ngan is prepared in many ways similar to other fresh seafood: grilled, steamed, cooked in porridge, or stir-fried with noodles or vegetables and served with a very appetizing dipping sauce. Ngan is also used to infuse liquor. Ngan liquor is also used to make wine with a unique ocean aroma.
Address:
Ha Long Fresh Seafood – 33 Le Quy Don, Quang Ninh Province.
Thien Anh Seafood Restaurant – No. 11, Phan Boi Chau Street, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City (near PhanTom Karaoke – Cai Dam Market).
5. Dishes made from peanut worms
Peanut worm porridge
Peanut worms are also known as earth ginseng or sea worms. Peanut worms are used to prepare many nutritious dishes and are considered a precious food source, so their price is somewhat high. There are many peanut worm dishes you can try, such as: garlic stir-fried peanut worms, peanut worm porridge, grilled peanut worms... If you have the opportunity to visit Ha Long City, visitors definitely must savor this unique specialty.
Where to buy:
DASAVINA – Plot 41, Group 1, Zone 6, Hong Gai Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
Fresh Sea Food – Quang Ninh Province.
Phuc Gia Seafood – Tuan Chau Ward, Quang Ninh Province
Ong Ba Seafood – Ha Long Old Quarter, Lot C122, Sun World, Quang Ninh Province.
6. Tay nong ep cake (tai long ep cake)
Photo: Bao Vy
Tay nong ep cake is a specialty of the San Diu people in Quang Ninh. The San Diu ethnic group mainly resides in Ha Long City, Cam Pha, Van Don... and several northern mountainous provinces. Tay nong ep cake serves as both a casual treat and an offering during Tet holidays for the people of Quang Ninh. The cake is made from ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, rock sugar or molasses, crushed ginger juice, peanuts, and roasted sesame seeds. When cooked, tay nong ep cake has a golden-brown color, topped with an evenly sprinkled layer of sesame seeds and peanuts that looks appetizing. The cake features the chewiness of glutinous rice, the aromatic spiciness of ginger, and the rich nuttiness of peanuts and sesame... To purchase tay nong ep cake, you can visit the shops along the road leading up to Tran Quoc Nghien Temple (or Cua Ong Temple) in Cam Pha City.
7. Ha Long pearl yogurt
Pearl yogurt is a delicious, nutritious dessert characteristic of Ha Long cuisine. The dish is a perfect combination of smooth, creamy yogurt paired with coconut-milk pearls, various toppings, and even fruit. Ha Long pearl yogurt shops are typically situated in extremely convenient locations for tourists to visit and enjoy throughout the city.
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Address:
Ha Long Pearl Yogurt – Branch 00 – C107, Zone C, Sun World Walking Street, Quang Ninh Province.
8. Horseshoe crab
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Horseshoe crab is a rare and unique seafood, but it is very difficult to prepare, requiring an experienced cook. Horseshoe crab has fragrant, moderately sweet and chewy meat, and is featured on the menu of almost every good eatery in Ha Long. Because its appearance is easily confused with the mangrove horseshoe crab (a poisonous seafood), care must be taken when buying, selling, or preparing it yourself. Horseshoe crab is prepared into many delicious dishes such as: horseshoe crab sour soup, horseshoe crab patties, horseshoe crab eggs, horseshoe crab salad, grilled horseshoe crab cartilage, stir-fried glass noodles with horseshoe crab…
Address:
Dung Hoa Horseshoe Crab Restaurant – 96 Thanh Thien, Ha Long Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
Co Beo Horseshoe Crab – Vo Nguyen Giap, Ha Long Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
9. Cu ky noodle soup
Photo: Sang Dang/Vnexpress
Cu ky belongs to the crab family, but has claws that are larger relative to its body size, a brown shell, and green eyes. Cu ky has lots of meat in its claws and a spongy body, and is widely distributed in Quang Ninh. With this type of seafood, people have many ways to transform them into appetizing dishes, the most famous of which is cu ky noodle soup.
Cu ky noodle soup is made almost entirely from ingredients sourced from this seafood. The body of the cu ky is finely ground to cook the broth; its roe is prepared into crab curd; the broth is fragrant with the aroma of cu ky roe and meat. In addition, the bowl of cu ky noodles is topped with claw meat, which looks very appealing. When enjoyed, the dish is fragrant, mildly sour, and easy to eat. Coming to Ha Long, you can easily find this cu ky noodle soup at several good eateries.
Meat from the joint and claws of cu ky. Photo: Sang Dang.
Address:
Ba Lan cu ky noodle soup – Garden area, Plot 12 Thuong Mai, Cai Dam, Bai Chay Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
Huong Beo cu ky noodle soup – 20 Tan Mai, Bai Chay Ward, Quang Ninh Province.
10. “Gat gu” cake
In terms of appearance, gat gu cake is quite similar to steamed rolled rice pancakes (banh cuon) and flat rice noodles, but it has a more unique preparation method. The cake has no filling; when eaten, dipping the piece of cake into a special dipping sauce delights diners. The reason the cake has this unique name is due to its distinctive “nodding” appearance. The rolled cake is long, soft, and pliable, nodding up and down when held in hand. Gat gu cake is a familiar rustic dish, sold in many places across Ha Long in particular and Quang Ninh in general.
Dipping sauce made with a distinctive recipe. Photo: Vnexpress.
Address:
Ba Cuc Eatery 73 Hoa Binh – No. 73, Hoa Binh Street, Quang Ninh.
11. Nem chua and nem chao of Quang Yen Town
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If you have the chance to visit Ha Long, you will also be captivated by Quang Yen's special nem chua and nem chao. This dish offers a unique flavor and is sought after and savored by many tourists visiting the tourist area in Bai Chay – Ha Long. The ingredients for making nem are very simple: shredded pork skin and roasted rice pounded into powder. Whether the nem is delicious or not depends mainly on the dipping sauce. When eating, diners often roll rice paper with fresh herbs and raw vegetables, nem, and dip it into an appealing sweet and sour dipping sauce. Quang Yen nem chua and nem chao are also gifts that many Ha Long tourists choose to buy for relatives and friends.
Photo: Fb Co Huu Traditional Nem Chao – Quang Yen
Address:
Co Huu Traditional Nem Chao – Quang Yen – No. 3 Le Quy Don, Quang Yen Ward, Quang Ninh Province
Thanh Thai Nem Chua – Nem Chao – No. 68 Tran Khanh Du Street, Hiep Hoa Ward, Quang Ninh Province
Ha Long Market - Bach Dang Street, Quang Ninh Province.
12. Tien Yen ca say
Ca say is the meat of a crossbreed between a duck and a muscovy duck. Tien Yen ca say has become one of the Ha Long specialty dishes that you must definitely try. This dish is usually boiled until cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces. Ca say meat is chewy and rich, and in some places it is also fried until the skin is crispy, served with hot rice or bread. In particular,Tien Yen locals prepare ca say meat with a specialized dipping sauce –a dipping sauce infused with the aroma of Cai Rong, Van Yen, and Cat Hai fish sauce, the rich sweetness of Guangxi sarsaparilla, and the gentle spiciness of locally grown Tien Yen ginger.
Illustrative photo
Address:
Ca say restaurant in Cao Xanh area, Quang Ninh Province.
Ca say in Bai Chay area, Quang Ninh Province.
Tan Yen Ca Say, Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh.
13. Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine
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Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine is a unique drink that Ha Long tourists must definitely try. The wine is brewed from Ha Long's specialty glutinous rice. The glutinous rice is not pounded, but cooked and fermented. Once fermented to the right degree, it is steeped with leaf yeast gathered from the Hoanh Bo forest; after some time, it turns into wine, which is then decanted into jars and pots to drink gradually, a few small cups with each meal. Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine has a sweet and sour taste, stimulates digestion, and is very refreshing, especially in the summer. You can also buy Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine as a gift for relatives and friends. To purchase this wine, you can visit local markets across Ha Long City.
