What to eat in Dong Hoi, Vietnam

1. Water Fern Cakes - Banh beo Dong Hoi

After scrolling around the wet market, you will back on the street. Here you will find a quiet side street which is full of blossoming phoenix trees. Don’t hesitate to sit down for a quick dish of “Bánh Bèo”. For VND 15.000, it’s a really good deal, but it is little more than a snack.

Banh beo, a specialty of central Vietnam, is basically made from rice flour and tapioca starch, topped with minced shrimp or a mixture of pork and shrimp depending on your favorite. 

Read more: Places to visit in Dong Hoi, Vietnam

The most important things making the flavors for Banh Beo is its sauce. To make the sauce, they use a sauce pan to cook the shrimp shells and simmer for 5 minutes. Then, they extract the broth and discard the shells. Stir the fish sauce, sugar, and shrimp broth together. Finally, crush fresh chili with a spoon and add to the fish sauce.

 

2.  Vietnamese clear/tapioca dumplings - Banh Bot Loc

Banh Bot Loc is basically made from the same ingredients with Banh Beo. The recipe changes a little, which makes two types of cakes taste and look differently. The Banh Beo is white; meanwhile, Banh Bot Loc is clear. To make the dough, they pour the hot water into the tapioca starch. Then, knead well until a soft yet elastic piece of dough is formed.

Read more: Places to stay in Dong Hoi, Vietnam

Then, pinch a piece of dough, divide and shape into a small pearl. Then, wrap the seasoned mixture of pork and shrimp. After that, gently slide the dumplings into the boiling water, one by one. Wait until dumplings until they float to the surface. Finally, take them to a bowl of icing cold water, and then the dumplings will turn translucent. To serve, they present dumplings in the serving plate, put generously the dipping sauce. Like Banh Beo, Banh Bot Loc is like a snack. It’s tasty, but can’t make you feel full.

 

Where to eat banh bot loc?

 

3.  Goi ca Ngheo – the harmony between Ying and Yang

Ngheo Fish is a type of cartilaginous fish, so the fish meat has a little fat. To make Goi Ca Ngheo, the local thoroughly choose the fresh fish which have just been caught from the sea. To start, they dip the fish into the warm water and then remove the skin and the tendon from the fish. This step is really important because it helps to conceal the unpleasant smell. Then, they take a sharp knife and carefully cut the rectangle tip off of the fish.  After that, slice the very thin layers off the fish and then present on the plate.

The fish meat is served with traditional fresh vegetable, herb, and seasoned with special sauce. The Vietnamese often enjoy with several cup of white wine to strengthen the flavors. Goi Ca Ngheo features high-value nutrition. According to the perception of the East Asians, it can enhance the balance and harmony between the Ying and Yang which is really important to the human being.

All articles about Dong Hoi, Vietnam: https://journeyonair.com/dong-hoi-vietnam

Where to eat goi ca ngheo?

 

4.  Oyster Soup - Chao Hau Dong Hoi

What makes the difference for the oyster soup in Dong Hoi is its ingredient. The oyster used to make the soup is caught from the Nhat Le River where the fresh and saltwater harmoniously mix together. The oysters in this river taste better and have more nutrition. To make the soup, people add rice, salt and a lot of water in a large pot, and then cook them until rice is very tender. They keep the pot on the fire heater to keep the soup warm. When someone orders, they prepare the topping by frying the oyster with onion, chilli, peper and seasoned with fish sauce. Then, put the hot soup into a bowl, put the topping on the surface and top with some herbs.

 

Where to eat oyster soup?

 

5.  Sweet Potato Chips

 

Sweet Potato Chips is a speciality of Quang Binh Province. The local carefully choose the sweet potatoes harvested a few months ago. Boil them and then cool them down. Next, people gently cut the sweet potatoes into slices. After that, put them on a layer of Ruoi leaves which are placed in a flat basket. Finally dry them in the sun for 7 or 10 days.

 

The sweet potato slices gradually turn into tangerine like honey. Sweet potato chips are sweet, mellow and a bit chewy. Enjoying with a cup of green tea is nothing better.The price of 1-kilogram bag of sweet potatoes chips is from VND 80.000 to VND 100.000.  It’s better to buy several bags to give your family and your friends as presents.