What to Eat in Ha Long: Check Out the Top 15+ Most Delicious Dishes

1 Ha Long Milky Oyster Congee

Milky oysters are a favorite seafood among many food lovers. When combined in congee, they create an even more captivating and unforgettable flavor. The oysters are kept whole, plump, rich, and well-seasoned with robust spices. Served piping hot and enjoyed while blowing to cool it down, this is an ideal late-night treat.

2 What to Eat in Ha Long - Tien Yen Ca Say

Ca say is a rather unique dish for first-time visitors to Quang Ninh. If you haven't heard of it yet, ca say is a cross between a common duck and a muscovy duck. Therefore, ca say meat is exceptionally delectable—neither too dry like muscovy duck nor overly soft and greasy like regular duck.

If you are still wondering what to eat in Ha Long, head to restaurants specializing in ca say to enjoy it. There are numerous preparations available, such as grilled ca say, boiled ca say, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, or stewed with galangal and fermented rice... In addition, you can buy ca say meat to bring home as a gift for family and friends if convenient to carry.

3 Quang Yen Fermented Pork Roll (Nem Chua) and Shredded Pork Skin Roll (Nem Chao)

The next dishes on the Ha Long food list introduced by MIA.vn travel guide are Quang Yen nem chua and nem chao. Both combine pork meat and pork skin with roasted rice powder, undergoing a natural fermentation process to develop a unique flavor profile. Nem is typically served with aromatic herbs and dipped in chili sauce for unbeatable satisfaction.

4 Ha Long Dried Shrimp Floss

Dried shrimp floss is also a superb Ha Long specialty that tourists frequently purchase as a souvenir. Made from fresh shrimp meat processed into fine floss, it delivers a natural seafood aroma paired with a rich, well-balanced taste. Shrimp floss preserves easily and complements many staples such as steamed rice, sticky rice, congee, and bread...

5 Minced Pork Braised with Krill Shrimp Paste

Minced pork braised with krill paste (mam tep chung thit) is a rustic dish that has long been a familiar presence in the daily meals of Ha Long locals. You can savor this dish at restaurants serving traditional home-cooked cuisine. Enjoying it with hot steamed rice or clay-pot rice is delicious beyond compare. Therefore, when exploring food in Ha Long, do not miss this humble yet incredibly rice-consuming dish.

6 Ha Long White Sticky Rice with Squid Patties

As a coastal city, Ha Long boasts an abundance of tempting seafood dishes, among which squid patties (cha muc) are an absolute must. The patties are made from fresh squid ground or hand-pounded until chewy, generously seasoned, and deep-fried to golden crispness. This specialty is at its best when paired with fragrant, soft white sticky rice, creating a harmonious blend that gets you hooked after just one bite. Squid patties also go well with many other dishes and can be kept frozen for months, making them a great gift or a handy pantry staple.

7 Dishes Made from Fresh Clams (Ngan)

Ngan is a rare and prized seafood delicacy of Quang Ninh, resembling a hard clam but much larger in size. Ngan can be prepared in various ways, including grilling, steaming, cooking into soup, stir-frying with noodles, or dipping in hotpot... Furthermore, many people purchase ngan to infuse in rice wine. Ngan wine is considered beneficial to health and carries a very distinct flavor that leaves a lasting impression after just one sip.

8 Peanut Worms (Sa Sung)

Next on the Ha Long culinary journey is sa sung, also known as earth ginseng. This marine worm species inhabits the coastal waters of Ha Long, so anyone visiting tries to take the opportunity to taste it. The standout dish is sa sung stir-fried with garlic, which releases a mouthwatering aroma. In addition, dried sa sung is often used to simmer broth for pho, noodle soup, or congee, imparting a remarkably natural umami sweetness.

9 Ha Long Horseshoe Crab (Sam Bien)

Horseshoe crab is another sumptuous seafood treat; while its outer appearance may look slightly intimidating, it is packed with succulent meat. Many foodies remark that horseshoe crab is even tastier than shrimp or crab because the flesh is firm, slightly chewy, and sweet. There are numerous delicious dishes crafted from horseshoe crab that you must try in Ha Long, such as crab roe soup, patties, roe salad, and steamed crab…

1 0 Hoanh Bo Fermented Glutinous Rice Wine

When searching for a Ha Long specialty to purchase as a gift, people usually think first of Hoanh Bo fermented glutinous rice wine. This liquor is brewed from premium glutinous rice, rendering it richly fragrant and naturally sweet. The wine is then steeped with wild forest leaves, which enhances its complex aroma and aids digestion.

1 1 Ha Long Mantis Shrimp Noodle Soup

A must-try dish in Ha Long is mantis shrimp noodle soup (bun be be). Mantis shrimp, also known as squilla, is a crustacean commonly steamed or cooked in noodle soups. A bowl of bun be be features an intensely sweet, savory broth, topped with fried tofu, shrimp, squid patties, and more. Whether you enjoy it at a sidewalk eatery or in an upscale restaurant, its taste is sure to make a lasting impression.

1 2 Ha Long Rock Oyster Congee

Another dish praised even by the most discerning food connoisseurs is rock oyster congee (chao ha). Rock oysters cling to sea cliffs, offering a pure, delicate sweetness and a signature marine scent. Ha is often cooked into congee and served with crispy fried dough sticks (quay) and pork or shrimp floss. It is exceptionally comforting during winter; just a few spoonfuls are enough to warm you up thoroughly.

1 3 Ha Long Gat Gu Steamed Rice Rolls

The first impression of this dish lies in its curious name—"gat gu" means "nodding." The finished rice rolls are quite long and pliable; when picked up, they cannot stand upright, gently nodding back and forth from side to side. This specialty shares many traits with Hanoi's banh cuon, yet has no filling. Instead, it is paired with a dipping sauce of braised minced pork and chicken fat, fried shallots, and chili fish sauce.

1 4 Spicy Fish Noodle Soup

MIA.vn's Ha Long food guide would not be complete without spicy fish noodle soup (bun ca cay). The bowl comes packed with toppings such as crispy fried fish fillets, fish viscera, fish cakes, and pork meatballs, accompanied by a basket of fresh herbs. The broth is simmered to full-bodied richness, marked by a pleasantly sharp, tingling spiciness. If you visit Ha Long, don't miss out on this vibrant dish.

1 5 Balut and Blood Curd Stewed with Mugwort Leaves

Fertilized duck egg (balut) is already delicious on its own, but when stewed with pork blood curd and mugwort leaves, its savory depth reaches another level. The distinct herbaceous, slightly pungent aroma of mugwort infuses thoroughly into each chunk of blood curd and egg. Beyond being delicious, it functions as a traditional herbal remedy believed to regulate blood circulation and alleviate headaches. If you have never tasted mugwort, you might find it somewhat bitter at first, but once accustomed, you will likely find it addictive.

1 6 Hot Sweet Ginger Rice Ball Soup

To round off your culinary expedition in Ha Long, do not miss the enticing dessert known as banh troi tau. Each rice dumpling is sculpted into a smooth sphere, enclosing either aromatic toasted sesame or silky mung bean paste, served in warm ginger-and-sugar syrup with a harmonious blend of sweetness and mild heat. Whenever the weather turns chilly, locals cherish relaxing with a steaming bowl of rice balls while watching the bustling street traffic go by.

These are top recommendations from MIA.vn travel guide to make your Ha Long dining adventure rich with captivating tastes. Wishing you a memorable journey and the chance to fully experience the signature specialties of this scenic coastal city.