EXOTIC VIETNAMESE FOOD ( Part 1)

We have introduced to everyone about a lot of tasty and lovely Vietnamese food from our A Taste of Hanoi facebook, blog and website,...Today, we bring to you to a different part of our cuisine, something more adventure and unique "Exotic Vietnamese food". If you ever come to Vietnam, please have a try at least one of them because something doesn't kill you will make you stronger!

1. Chả Rươi or Water Worm Cake in Vietnamese

In Vietnam cuisine, Cha ruoi is not available all year round. Ruoi is a type of sand worm that can only be found from the end of September to the middle of October. The short season is why Hanoians regard cha ruoi as a special but expensive gift from nature. The sand worm doesn’t live in Hanoi – it lives in the mangroves and wetlands along the coast. 

In the capital, cha ruoi is a delicacy this time of year – the delicious smell of it cooking is very pervasive, a temptation to passers-by. The combination of fried ruoi and egg isirresistible. It is usually served with vermicelli, salad and fish sauce.

Chả rươi is the meat of a type of worm found close to the shore, particularly in low-tide conditions. They are only available for a month at this time of year, and stalls often pop-up specialising in this before disappearing for the rest of the year. The worms (sometimes referred to as fly eggs) are often cooked into an omellete or mixed with ground pork into a patty and fried.

2. Coconut Worm or Đuông dừa in Vietnamese

Duong Dua is one of the specialties in Vietnam; for many people, however, seeing the fat worms crawling about is enough to give the creeps let alone put into one’s mouth.

Duong Dua is a form of beetle larvae. After the breeding season the beetle usually chooses the healthy coconut, pierces a hole on top and lays the eggs in it. After the eggs hatch, the larvae grow by eating the young shoot of the coconut tree until the tree is pierced through.

Although the coconut is spoiled by Duong Dua, the worms are delicious and are a delicacy in the coconut land of the Mekong River delta. Duong Dua is a harmful species and breeding them is prohibited. Consuming them is believed to enhance men’s sexual abilities. One kilogram of Duong Dua usually costs 500.000 Dong (about 23 USD); out of season the price is even higher.

3. Duck embryos or Trứng Vịt Lộn in Vietnamese

Trung Vit Lon is made from duck eggs when the embryo has developed into shape but not hatched for certain reasons. Trung Vit Lon is processed in many ways such as boil, fried with tamarind. It is one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam and considered a nutritious but scary food when the egg is opened revealing a full small duck with hairy parts.

Trung Vit Lon is sold in every street of Vietnam from rural areas to alleyways. Just a small table, some chairs and a pot of boiled eggs or just by the vendors by walking around and the shop is ready to serve. The Vietnamese have a habit of eating Trung Vit Lon in the morning or late evening.

This is an affordable dish that is delicious and nutritious for locals. For many international tourists, however, it is a horror when they see the Vietnamese eating Trung Vit Lon.

4. Blood Pudding or Tiết Canh in Vietnamese

Tiet Canh is a popular dish of Vietnamese people. It is processed in different ways. Tiet Canh is made from animal blood, fresh after slaughtering, coupled with light fish sauce or salt water, thoroughly stirred with chopsticks and mixed with minced meat, spring onions, and groundnut so that the blood coagulates.

After boiling the meat, the cook cuts some cartilage, gizzard, tripe, chopped into small bits and put in a bowl. The substance on the surface of the blood is brushed off, then some broth is mixed with blood and gently and quickly sprinkled on the dish.

Tiet Canh is popular and can be found easily at road side restaurants in Vietnam. Despite its tastiness it can make you shiver when you see it.

This experience is made by A Taste of Hanoi. Please visit our website and social media for more information about our tours in Vietnam:

 https://atasteofhanoi.com/

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PHỞ HÀ NỘI

PHỞ HÀ NỘI

Today, we will bring you to Hanoi, Vietnam to try one of the most well- known Hanoian dish called " Phở". Most locals here often wake up there new day by a bowl of simple, delicious and healthy Phở. 

Where people go to get the best Pho in Hanoi? 

If you really want to get the best Phở in Hanoi, don't expect to a beautiful and expensive restaurant! Everything you should do is left your hotel and ready to explore some local family own food restaurants, where you can see many people are sitting on little plastic stools and enjoy their Phở.

 Local are having Pho along the sidewalk

People are waiting to order their Pho

What is a good Phở?

-  Firstly: the broth has to cook for many hours together with a load of different ingredients and enough that mount of time. Also, the chief has to take off the foam very often to make the broth as clear as possible but all the flavors have to be there.

- Secondly: the meat is cut in big and very thin slices to make sure that it's really tender 

- Thirdly, the noodle is as smooth as silk and has be daily made from the locals.

Phở is served with fresh spring onion on top... It’s savory, piping, appetizing and flavorful! 

So how the local have Phở?

Before having Phở, we often add some rice vinegar with garlic, some lime and few slices of fresh chilli and then we enjoy our food.

Where we have Phở?

There are some good places that you can try the best Phở in Hanoi:

1. Phở Thìn at 13 Lò Đúc, Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

2. Phở Bát Đàn at 49 Bát Đàn street, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

3. Phở Sướng at 24B Trung Yên Lane, Đinh Liệt street, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

4. Phở 10 at 10 Lý Quốc Sư street, Hoang Kiếm, Hà Nội

If you are ever in Hanoi, stop at one of these Pho place “ Keep Calm and Eat Phở” 

Made by A Taste Of Hanoi

Top 5 Best Food To Try On Food Walking Tour In Hanoi

Introducing Hanoi –

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam tends to be on the sweeter side amongst all other cities across the country for its unique range of authentic food recipes. The city makes the best use of freshwater ingredients like squids, mussels, shrimps, prawns, crabs and clams. Therefore, while vacationing in Vietnam, taking a food tour in Hanoi is a must.

Though the city stands out as a home to many dishes around Vietnam, diners are always served with platters of herbs and greens as well as the nuoc cham dipping sauce as the quintessential accompaniment. Since a vacation in Vietnam is incomplete without tasting the traditional delicacies on a Food Tour in Hanoi, here is a list of the top 5 must-try recipes in Hanoi:

1. Banh Goi –

Banh Goi is nothing but the Fried Dumplings, shaped like small pillows. Comprising of finely-chopped glass noodles, minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, steamed quail eggs and seasoned within a rice-flour pastry. It’s deep-fried for a crispy taste and is best served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce made with chilly, sugar, fish sauce, and garlic and lime juice.

2. Banh Cuon –

Banh Cuon or the Rolled Cake is a great light breakfast recipe or a midday snack, combined a ground meat (shrimp, pork or chicken), minced wood ear mushroom, steamed beansprouts, onions, Vietnamese ham (cha lua), cucumbers wrapped in a steamed rice flour sheet. In fact, the overall taste of this recipe is very mild in nature, despite of the savory ingredients.

3. Cha Ca –

Cha Ca or the Turmeric Fish with Dill is a unique delicacy for a food walking tour in Hanoi. It’s nothing but the white fish seasoned with turmeric, garlic, ginger and dill served on a sizzling pan. You can get a bowl of rice noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, nuoc cham sauce, red chili slices and parsley – all are meant to be mixed together with the turmeric fish.

4. Bun Thang –

Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg and pork can be a recipe for any time of the day. However, the clear yet flavorful broth is prepared with 20 ingredients, including dried shrimp, spring onion, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, vinegar, coriander, shrimp paste and squid.

5. Xoi Xeo

Xoi Xeo or Sweet Sticky Rice is usually coming with staple toppings of green mung bean paste, dried shallots and soy sauce, But you can choose from a variety of add-ins like pate, boiled chicken, cha lua (Vietnamese ham), marinated pork belly, or preserved eggs for enjoying more substantial meal.

Conclusion –

Are you excited for your Food Tour in Hanoi? Start booking your Food Walking Tour in Hanoi with A Test Of Hanoi ahead of time and enjoy tasting unique, fully authentic variety of food recipes like never before. Feel free to contact us today and let us plan your food tour in Hanoi for a fully delicious experience!

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