One of the most interesting things to do while traveling in Vietnam is to take a seat on a small plastic stool by the roadside and follow how the locals enjoy their meal. This way of eating culture can be seen throughout the cities in Vietnam including Hoi An.
Hoi An is an old town with plenty of delicious and inexpensive delicacies. And there are a number of specialty foods in Hoi An that you can hardly find them in any other cities of Vietnam.
These are the traditional foods that you must eat when you visit Hoi An.
1. Cao Lau
Cao Lau is the most famous traditional food in Hoi An. This is a bowl of tasty noodles that are topped with thin slices of roast pork, fresh vegetables and small pieces of crispy fried lard. In order to produce an authentic Cao Lau, the water used to cook the noodles must be specially drawn from an ancient well named Ba Le. All visitors to Hoi An shouldn't leave without trying this exclusive dish.
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| Cao Lau |
2. Banh Dap (Rice Cracker)
Banh Dap is literally known as smashing rice paper, one of the simplest yet unique food that you can find in Hoi An. Banh Dap is made by smashing two pieces of rice paper together; one piece is dry and crispy, and the other piece is wet and sticky. Also, it is served with a small bowl of special fish sauce for dipping. Make a trip to the nearby Cam Nam Village where you can find plenty of restaurants selling this traditional delicacy.
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| Banh Dap |
3. Com Ga (Chicken Rice)
Chicken rice is a very common dish in Southeast Asia, and the most popular one is the Hainanese chicken rice. However, the people of Hoi An have successfully come out with their own style of chicken rice and eventually Com Ga has become one of the signature dishes in Hoi An. A plate of Hoi An Com Ga consists of yellow fragrant rice, hand-shredded village chicken, fresh herbs, sliced onions, small amount of black pepper sauce and a spoon of special mixed chili paste. If you love chicken rice, you definitely have to try out this tasteful specialty of Hoi An.
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| Com Ga |
White Rose is a type of steamed rice dumpling with shrimp meat filling and it is wrapped in the shape of a rose. The dish is presented with crispy fried shallots topping and served with a shrimp broth dipping sauce. This unique delicacy is also the best food that we had eaten in Hoi An. For the most traditional and original White Rose, you can visit the White Rose Restaurant at 533 Hai Ba Trung Street.
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| White Rose |
Written By: Q.J.
Photography By: Q.J. & K.K.