Top 10 Quang Ninh Specialties That Win Over Every Diner

1 Tien Yen Hill Chicken - An unforgettable Quang Ninh specialty

During your journey exploring Vietnam, you have surely enjoyed many enticing dishes across various regions such as specialties from Tra Vinh, Quang Binh, Yen Bai... Among them, the cuisine in Quang Ninh is also a unique highlight that you cannot miss. Tien Yen hill chicken is the first Quang Ninh specialty that MIA.vn suggests to you, possessing a flavor that anyone who tries it once will remember forever. Free-range chickens raised naturally on hills boast sweet, firm, and never-tough meat. Hill chicken meat can be prepared in various dishes such as grilled, steamed, cooked in porridge, boiled, etc. However, to fully enjoy the flavor of this chicken, you should have it boiled to feel the firmness of the meat and the richness of the skin.

In addition, the grilled hill chicken dish also attracts great attention due to its uniqueness. After grilling, the chicken usually turns a vibrant golden color with tender, sweet, and aromatic meat. Tien Yen hill chicken is often eaten together with fresh herbs and crispy rice crackers, creating a unique culinary experience for travelers.

2 Tien Yen Khau Nhuc (braised pork belly)

When mentioning Quang Ninh specialties, MIA.vn cannot overlook the irresistibly delicious khau nhuc dish. Even though this dish is made merely from pork, thanks to elaborate and distinctive cooking methods, it has become a "delicacy" of the Quang Ninh region. "Khau" can be understood as steaming until tender and falling apart, while "nhuc" means meat; therefore, this dish can be described as meat steamed until fork-tender. Khau nhuc is usually prepared in a bowl, then inverted onto a plate to shape it like a round hill, featuring an appetizing golden-brown hue. Taking a bite of khau nhuc feels as though it melts right on the tongue, creating an unforgettable sensation when dining.

Nowadays, for the greater convenience of tourists, Tien Yen khau nhuc is processed cleanly and conveniently packaged in containers to bring home as gifts for friends and relatives.

3 Nem chao (fermented pork skin with roasted rice powder)

Nem chao, also called nem thinh, is a popular snack usually made from pork skin and roasted rice powder. The ingredients for this type of nem are very simple: pork skin shaved small and cut into thin julienne strips mixed with powder made from roasted, crushed rice. Simple as it is, thanks to unique preparation secrets, nem chao has become an enticing delicacy and secured a spot on the list of Quang Ninh specialties.

Usually, when savoring nem, people eat it together with fresh herbs, especially fig leaves. Wrapping a few pieces of nem along with Vietnamese coriander in rice paper and dipping it into sweet and sour dipping sauce creates an exquisite and unforgettable flavor. If you have the chance to visit Quang Ninh, you definitely must taste this nem chao dish.

4 Dong Trieu Palolo Worm Omelet (Cha Ruoi)

Palolo worms (sandworms) are regarded as a gift from heaven, and not every place can receive this precious blessing from nature. Dong Trieu is one of the fortunate areas nationwide that can harvest palolo worms. Palolo worms are made into many delicacies, among which the most famous is the rich, fragrant palolo worm omelet with an irresistible taste. Tasting this dish, you will never forget the distinctive flavor found only in Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh.

5 Banh gat gu (Nodding rice cake)

Banh gat gu - a Quang Ninh specialty - is handcrafted by Tien Yen locals from a signature local rice variety known as "gao xu". In appearance, banh gat gu looks somewhat similar to pho noodle sheets, but upon tasting, you will find it has a much richer, savourier flavor.

In the past, locals in Tien Yen liked having pho sheets for breakfast but did not want any filling inside, preferring to savor only the rice sheet wrapper to experience the pure, natural flavor of rice; thus, banh gat gu was born. The reason behind the name "gat gu" (nodding) is that when picking up a piece of the cake, it sways and nods up and down, delighting eaters.

6 Quang Ninh Ca say (Mule duck)

Ca say is a hybrid between Muscovy duck and mallard duck; its meat is neither too dry nor too soft, creating an exceptionally distinct and novel flavor. Just like Muscovy ducks and common ducks, ca say can be prepared into a variety of delicious dishes, but the best to try are steamed ca say or grilled ca say.

Grilled ca say is rich and savory thanks to its thick, glistening golden, crunchy skin that is very satisfying, while the meat remains remarkably firm, sweet, neither too chewy nor too mushy, tasting delicious on its own or paired with steamed rice. This is indeed a Quang Ninh specialty that you should not miss when visiting.

7 Fresh and dried seafood of Quang Ninh

Quang Ninh possesses a coastline over 200 km long. The tidal amplitude here is considered the highest in the country, which provides ideal conditions for abundant and diverse seafood resources, yielding seafood dishes richer in flavor compared to other coastal regions.

It is difficult to have the opportunity to sample all unique types of seafood in Quang Ninh during a single vacation, so you should prioritize savoring delicacies such as mud clams (ngan), baby octopus (ruoc lo), Quang Yen horseshoe crab (sam), peanut worms (sa sung)... For tourists who wish to buy seafood as gifts, dried seafood like dried squid, dried shrimp, tiny shrimp floss... can be chosen for convenient storage and transport.

8 Ha Long Pearl Yogurt

If you are a snack lover, you definitely should try pearl yogurt when visiting Ha Long - a specialty snack of Quang Ninh. Tender tapioca pearls combined with refreshing yogurt and creamy coconut milk blend together to create an irresistible treat for anyone who tries it.

9 One-sun dried mackerel

One-sun dried mackerel - a Quang Ninh specialty - is one of the perfect choices when you want to bring a fresh, delicious gift home to your family and friends. After being caught, fresh mackerel is meticulously selected and cut into thick cutlet slices, then dried under direct sunlight for a single day, so its nutrition and flavor are preserved almost entirely without being lost.

One-sun dried mackerel can also be turned into many appetizing dishes such as: one-sun dried mackerel in tomato sauce, grilled one-sun dried mackerel, pan-fried one-sun dried mackerel, dried mackerel floss, etc.

1 0 Hoanh Bo fermented glutinous rice wine

As a specialty liquor of Quang Ninh, the distinctive aroma of Hoanh Bo wine is the result of a fermentation process using wild forest leaves. Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine boasts a unique sweet-and-sour taste, helping stimulate digestion and quench thirst on hot summer days. Hoanh Bo soaked glutinous rice wine goes down very smoothly, leading many people to believe that one can never get drunk from drinking it. However, drinking excessively may lead to a deep slumber where it takes 2 to 3 days to sober up. Nonetheless, upon waking up, there is no hangover headache and one still feels completely refreshed.

Above are 10 famous Quang Ninh specialties that you should try at least once or purchase as gifts for friends and family. Don't forget to take along the MIA.vn travel guide to make your trip truly exciting and ensure you don't miss out on anything in Quang Ninh. Wishing you a meaningful and joyful journey with your friends and loved ones.