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Strange dishes to try when coming to Vietnam according to Lonely Planet

Strange dishes should try when coming to Vietnam according to Lonely Planet - Photo 1.

Cha ruoi – a specialty dish in Hanoi made from the main ingredient is the rui – is a “challenge” for foreigners – Photo: DUONG LUO

Vietnam’s tourism is gradually prospering again with the return of more and more international tourists when epidemic control measures are eased.

From time immemorial, the factors to attract tourists to Vietnam include beautiful scenery, people, climate, and especially the food.

However, not all dishes can be eaten by foreigners, there are dishes that make them “run long”, and there are dishes that stimulate their curiosity and adventure.

In an article on the famous Lonely Planet travel guide, author Fabienne Fong Yan once listed the “weirdest” dishes that courageous diners can try when coming to Vietnam, from the perspective and understanding of author.

“Vietnamese cuisine offers delicious street food, but for those visiting the country for the first time, some dishes may seem too difficult for their taste. Perhaps some dishes. Vietnamese traditions will stimulate adventure to the extreme: for example dishes with blood and organs, and then the famous duck egg dish …”, wrote Fabienne Fong Yan.

However, the author of the article advises readers “don’t judge the eating habits of local people when traveling”.

“You may like some of those dishes, and if not, there are plenty of other culinary options at Vietnamese street food stalls, markets and restaurants,” emphasizes Fabienne Fong Yan.

Balut

The article explains that a duck egg is an egg in which an embryo has been partially formed, although not all eggs can be seen with a whole duck in them (depending on the stage of development).

Strange dishes should try when coming to Vietnam according to Lonely Planet - Photo 2.

Duck eggs have long been a famous “strange” dish in the eyes of foreigners – Photo: NGOC PHONG

Duck eggs are considered a rich source of protein, often eaten with laksa leaves and salt with lemon and chili.

Author Fabienne Fong Yan also recommends an easier-to-eat “version” for those who are afraid to eat duck, which is stir-fried quail eggs with tamarind.

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Stir-fried duck with tamarind with peanuts and laksa leaves – Photo: HOANG AN

Chicken with Chinese medicine

This soup is very popular and appreciated for its medicinal properties. The broth of this dish is cooked from Chinese herbs, wormwood, dried dates, goji berries, etc.) and a very bitter root but adds flavor to the dish.

The chicken in this dish is a special breed of chicken with a black color. This soup is recommended for women.

Chicken feet

Chicken feet are very popular in Vietnam and are sold everywhere. Chicken feet can be fried with chili and honey sauce, or boiled with ginger and lemongrass.

Pudding

Blood pudding is a dish that is not recommended anymore because it is a dish made from fresh blood of animals and is easy to cause infection.

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Mountain goat meat and blood soup in Ninh Binh – Photo: Duc De

“I have not had a chance to see this dish in real life, let alone eat it,” wrote Fabienne Fong Yan.

Snails

Especially in the North, in Ha Long area, snails are very popular. There are many dishes made from snails, of which snail vermicelli is one of the most “classic”, but you can also enjoy a variety of snail dishes at snail shops on the street.

Red jellyfish with shrimp paste (in the article called “octopus” – octopus)

This is a dish that you can’t find everywhere. Although not too delicious, Vietnamese people eat this dish because of its texture. All the flavor of this dish comes from the herbs (mint and perilla) and above all the shrimp fish sauce.

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Red jellyfish is a summer specialty of Hanoi – Photo: NAM TRAN

Shrimp paste is a surprising food in itself: so rich, salty, and hearty that the Vietnamese say that if you can eat shrimp paste, you’re Vietnamese.

Worms, pupae

Grilled silkworm pupae (pupa) is a very popular street food. This dish is appreciated for being rich in protein and minerals. In the North in particular, silkworms are raised on mulberry leaves in rural villages.

When processed into dishes, they are dried and mixed with salt and then fried with fish sauce. You can easily find them as a “nails” served at popular buffet restaurants, so it’s not difficult if you want to try them.

We should also talk about beetle larvae – or coconut weevils, which are especially consumed in the Mekong Delta region. Contrary to silkworm, this worm is eaten raw and dipped with fish sauce. Usually people bite its head first and then eat it.

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A shop selling mullet and spring rolls in Hanoi – Photo: DUONG LUO

Another type of worm used in typical dishes is the centipede. This type is often processed in the form of fried eggs, mixed with pork. This dish is called Cha ruoi.

It is said to be very nutritious and good for arthritis or body aches. It is quite easy to find in markets, in areas selling fresh fish and seafood.

You are reading the article Strange dishes to try when coming to Vietnam according to Lonely Planet
at Blogtuan.info – Source: tuoitre.vn – Read the original article here

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