Top 10 best Halong Bay food that you simply must try

halong bay food

Referring to Ha Long, everyone immediately thinks that this is an extremely famous tourist destination in Vietnam with thousands of magnificent islands and beautiful natural scenery. But have you ever wondered what Halong Bay food is like and what is special about it? Through the following article, Paradise Vietnam will introduce to you the top 10 extremely special and attractive dishes of Halong Bay food.

Have you ever wondered what Halong Bay food is like and what is special about it?

What's special about Ha Long Bay to explore?

Ha Long is like a large nature museum with nearly 2,000 large and small rocky islands. The uniform distribution and unique shape have created many unforgettable impressions for visitors. Taking a cruise around Halong Bay, visitors will encounter rocky islands with strange names such as Hon Trong Mai, Hon Lu Huong, Hon Rua, Hon Ong Su, etc.

In addition to the rocky islands, Ha Long also has many beautiful islands such as Ti Top Island, Soi Sim Island, Quan Lan Island, Hon Oan, and Ngoc Vung Island... In some islands, there are both beaches and caves, visitors can freely have fun and explore. The above features are only in terms of landscape, Ha Long also has other special features such as food, and an amusement park,...

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Top 10 best Halong Bay food not to be missed when coming to Ha Long

Traveling to Ha Long, in addition to enjoying the natural scenery, do not forget to learn about the extremely rich culinary culture of this place. Some famous Halong Bay foods that you should try at least once are:

Squid Sausage

Squid sausage is a famous specialty of the coastal area of Ha Long, Quang Ninh, Vietnam. Fresh squid is carefully selected, then its body and tentacles are taken, minced, and mixed with various spices such as garlic, shallots, pepper, natural spices, and some other special ingredients. The squid mixture is then formed into uniform and beautiful round cakes.

Squid sausage is often deep-fried to a crispy golden brown, creating a crunchy outer layer and a tender and flavorful interior. When tasting it, you will experience the rich taste of squid combined with the aroma of garlic and shallots. This dish is usually served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, chili, and garlic, creating a unique and delightful flavor.

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Squid sausage served with white sticky rice is the most delicious

In addition, squid sausage served with white sticky rice is the most delicious. The aroma of new sticky rice blends with the smell of spring rolls to create an extremely attractive taste. You can easily find squid sausage at many eateries around Halong Bay, and it is priced at around 0.84 USD/ Portion (20,000 VND).

Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe Crab (Sam) is a unique and distinctive dish in the cuisine of some coastal regions in Viet Nam, particularly in the northern coastal areas such as Halong Bay, Quang Ninh. It is a type of sea crab with a shape resembling a horseshoe and a hard shell. The meat inside the crab is the main part used for culinary purposes. The crab meat has a sweet and aromatic taste, with a tender and crispy texture, similar to oysters and lobsters.

Horseshoe Crab can be prepared into various delicious dishes such as fried crab, salted crab, crab in tamarind sauce, or steamed crab. Particularly, the steamed crab dish with onions, chili, and natural spices is often favored by the local people.

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Horseshoe Crab (Sam) is in the same family as Crab but has a larger carapace

Despite being a unique and delicious dish, Horseshoe Crab is not widely available, and its hunting is not strictly controlled, making it a special and rare delicacy in Vietnamese cuisine.

Austriella Corrugata

The name sounds strange, but Ha Long is a specialty in this coastal land. The Austriella Corrugata (Ngan) has the same shape as a clam but is larger and has many times higher nutritional value. Austriella Corrugata is highly favored as a delicious and unique delicacy in the local cuisine of Halong Bay. 

It is prepared in various dishes such as steamed with scallion and oil, stir-fried with garlic, or steamed with a sweet and sour fish sauce dressing. The meat of Austriella Corrugata has a sweet and fragrant taste, with a tender and chewy texture, making it a distinctive and appealing dish for tourists to savor.

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A dish consisting of fried vermicelli with black meat, wood ear, shiitake mushrooms, and onions

The famous Halong Bay food made from Ngan is Noodle stir-fry, a dish consisting of fried vermicelli with black meat, wood ear, shiitake mushrooms, and onions. When eaten, there is a strange aroma of Ngan meat, mouth-watering, and harmony of flavors. This is a dish that should be experienced when coming to Halong Bay.

Fresh Oysters

In Ha Long Bay, oysters are a special dish and are favored for their freshness and distinctive flavor. Visitors to Ha Long can enjoy delicious oyster dishes such as:

• Raw oysters: Fresh oysters with natural sweetness and mild salty taste, served with fish sauce mixed with lemon, garlic, chili, onion, and raw vegetables.
• Grilled oysters with scallion and oil: Oysters are cooked with onion fat, garlic, and spices, creating a delicious and rich flavor.
• Stir-fried oysters with garlic: Oysters are quickly stir-fried with garlic and raw vegetables, creating a simple but attractive dish.
• Beer-steamed oysters: Oysters are steamed with beer and spices, creating a unique dish and typical flavor of Ha Long Bay.

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Oysters are a special dish and are favored for their freshness and distinctive flavor

These oyster dishes all represent the famous seafood quintessence of Ha Long Bay and are an indispensable part of the trip to enjoy the unique cuisine of this land.

Drunken Prawn and Lobster

Drunken prawn and lobster is a delightful seafood dish that is popular in Halong Bay. The dish is made by cooking fresh prawns and lobsters in a flavorful broth infused with alcohol, such as rice wine or beer. The alcohol not only enhances the taste but also helps to tenderize the seafood, giving it a succulent texture.

To prepare the dish, the prawns and lobsters are marinated in a mixture of spices, garlic, and herbs, and then cooked in the alcohol-infused broth until they are fully cooked and infused with the rich flavors. The dish is often served hot, garnished with fresh herbs, and accompanied by a dipping sauce made from salt, pepper, and lime juice.

The dish is made by cooking fresh prawns and lobsters in a flavorful broth infused with alcohol

The combination of fresh seafood, aromatic herbs, and the unique touch of alcohol creates a memorable dining experience that reflects the richness of the bay's culinary culture.

Acorn barnacle porridge

Acorn barnacle porridge is a unique and traditional dish that can be found in Ha Long Bay. This flavorful porridge is made using acorn barnacles, which are a type of small marine crustaceans that attach themselves to rocks and other hard surfaces in the bay. The barnacles are harvested and cleaned before being added to the porridge.

To prepare the dish, the acorn barnacles are cooked in a broth made from various herbs, spices, and seafood, which infuses the porridge with a rich and savory flavor. The porridge is simmered until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency, allowing the barnacles to release their delicious taste.

Acorn barnacle porridge is known for its distinctive taste and is often enjoyed as a delicacy

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Acorn barnacle porridge is known for its distinctive taste and is often enjoyed as a delicacy by locals and visitors alike.

Sipunculus Nudus

Sipunculus Nudus, commonly known as "peanut worm" or "giant peanut worm," is a unique and lesser-known delicacy that can be found in Ha Long Bay. This marine creature is not a worm but belongs to the phylum Sipuncula. It has a cylindrical body with a thin and elongated shape, resembling a peanut, hence the name.

In Ha Long Bay, Sipunculus Nudus is harvested and prepared as a culinary delight. It is often cooked in various ways, such as stir-frying with garlic and other spices or being used in traditional soups and stews. The taste of Sipunculus Nudus is mild and slightly sweet, making it a delicacy appreciated by seafood lovers.

Sipunculus Nudus is a bit expensive but is loved by many people

Gat gu Cake

Another delicious Ha Long Bay food is the nodding cake - a traditional cake of the people of Tien Yen. The cake is rolled, when you hold it, you will feel flexible, nodding up and down, so it has this interesting name. When eating, you should swipe the cake with a piece of chili sauce to feel the pungent taste on the tip of your tongue, stimulating the taste on winter days.

Noodles with mantis shrimp - Be Be 

Another very strange name appears in the list of delicious dishes of Halong Bay foods. In fact, the surface is also called the mantis shrimp in the South. Fresh surface meat is taken from the waters of Quang Ninh. 

After preliminary processing, people take the surface shells and cook them together with the bones to make broth. In a bowl of vermicelli, there are other ingredients such as collard greens, tomatoes, shrimp, and other herbs to help enhance the taste of the dish.

Be is a dish with a special flavor, bearing the impression of Ha Long Bay

The dish is often garnished with fresh herbs, lime, bean sprouts, and sometimes a touch of chili for extra spiciness. It's a must-try for seafood lovers visiting Ha Long Bay, as it offers a unique and authentic taste of the region's culinary delights.

Loi Am grilled chicken

"Loi Am Grilled Chicken" is a specialty dish you can savor in Halong Bay, Vietnam. It is a unique and flavorful grilled chicken dish that showcases the local culinary heritage.

The chicken is marinated in a blend of aromatic spices and herbs, giving it a rich and savory taste. The marinade often includes lemongrass, garlic, shallots, chili, and other secret ingredients that add depth to the flavors.

Once marinated, the chicken is grilled over an open flame, allowing it to acquire a smoky and charred aroma. The grilling process caramelizes the marinade and adds a delectable crispy skin to the chicken, enhancing its texture and taste.

The chicken is marinated in a blend of aromatic spices and herbs, giving it a rich and savory taste

To fully enjoy the "Loi Am Grilled Chicken" experience, it is commonly served with fresh herbs, cucumber, pickled vegetables, and a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, lime, and chili. This dish is a delightful combination of tender and succulent chicken with a burst of flavors that will leave your taste buds satisfied and your heart captivated by the magic of Halong Bay's culinary delights.

In Conclusion

Paradise Suites Hotel features the renowned Ha Long Restaurant with a capacity of up to 150 guests, offering both a set menu and alacarte menu options prepared by a team of professional chefs. The restaurant is famous for its exquisite and diverse cuisine, especially the delectable seafood dishes that both local and international visitors adore. Among the most popular dishes are the savory and flavorful clam soup and squid sausage.

Ha Long restaurant with a space suitable for up to 150 guests of Paradise Suites Hotel

In addition to its exceptional culinary offerings, Paradise Suites Hotel caters to guests relaxation with an array of modern amenities. Guests can indulge in beachfront relaxation and leisurely walks along the private beach, enjoying the soothing sounds of the crystal-clear waters and serene atmosphere. The exclusive swimming pool is another attractive feature that invites guests to unwind that bask in the tranquil ambiance.

With attentive care and professional service, the hotel's staff is always ready to meet guests' every need, be it special requests or arranging entertainment activities and local excursions. In summary, Paradise Suites not only delivers an exceptional gastronomic experience but also serves as an ideal destination for guests to unwind and relish a luxurious retreat in Ha Long Bay.