Ha Giang, the northernmost province of Vietnam, captivates visitors not only with its majestic mountains and winding roads but also with its unique and flavorful ethnic cuisine. In Ha Giang, travelers can immerse themselves in breathtaking scenery, explore rich culture, and savor renowned local specialties that leave a lasting impression. Let’s discover the must-try Ha Giang specialties that you should experience at least once in your lifetime.
Ha Giang Five-Colored Sticky Rice
“If you haven’t tried five-colored sticky rice, you haven’t truly been to Ha Giang” – this playful saying partly reflects the significance of this special dish in the hearts of travelers. Five-colored sticky rice is not just delicious food; it’s a cultural symbol with deep spiritual meaning for the local ethnic communities.
Colorful five-colored sticky rice, a specialty of Ha Giang.
The sticky rice is dyed using natural forest leaves like magenta plant, turmeric, and gac fruit, creating five eye-catching colors: white, green, red, purple, and yellow. Each color represents an element of the five elements, symbolizing harmony, prosperity, and happiness. The glutinous rice is steamed to perfection, becoming soft and fragrant, blending with the distinctive flavors of forest leaves to create a unique and unforgettable dish. You can enjoy five-colored sticky rice anywhere in Ha Giang, from highland markets to restaurants in the city.
Ha Giang Au Tau Porridge
Au Tau porridge is one of Ha Giang’s most unique and somewhat “adventurous” dishes. Au Tau is a toxic tuber, but through the skillful preparation of local people, it becomes a nutritious porridge with medicinal properties to relieve colds and boost vitality.
Bowl of Au Tau porridge, a Ha Giang specialty.
To make Au Tau porridge, the tuber must be soaked overnight in ash water, then simmered with plain rice, pork leg, and spices. The porridge has a dark brown color, a slightly bitter taste from Au Tau blending with the sweetness of bone broth, creating a distinctive and unforgettable flavor. Ha Giang people often eat Au Tau porridge in the evening, believing that this dish works best when sleeping. You can find Au Tau porridge in Dong Van Old Quarter, Meo Vac town, or Ha Giang city.
Thang Den – Ha Giang Sweet Dumplings
Thang Den is a popular snack of the highland people, especially loved on chilly days. At first glance, Thang Den looks quite similar to “banh troi” and “banh chay” of the lowlands, but the taste is completely different.
Bowl of Thang Den sweet dumplings in ginger syrup, a Ha Giang dessert.
The dumplings are made from glutinous rice flour, shaped into small balls, with or without filling, boiled and then served with hot ginger sugar syrup. The Thang Den syrup has a delicate sweetness, a strong aroma of ginger, combined with the chewy texture of glutinous rice dumplings, creating a heartwarming dish that dispels the highland cold. Thang Den is often sold at local markets or by street vendors at very affordable prices, from only 5,000 to 10,000 VND per bowl.
Ha Giang Egg Roll Cake (Banh Cuon Trung)
Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls) is a popular breakfast dish in many localities, but Ha Giang Banh Cuon has its own unique flavor. The biggest difference lies in the dipping sauce. Instead of sweet and sour fish sauce, Ha Giang Banh Cuon is served with sweet bone broth, with a little scallion or cilantro.
Plate of Ha Giang egg roll cake (Banh Cuon Trung) with broth.
Egg roll cake is a special version that many people love. Chicken eggs are thinly coated on hot steamed rice rolls, creating a dish that is both delicious and nutritious. Ha Giang Banh Cuon is often made on the spot, so it is always hot, fragrant, and delicious.
Ha Giang Grilled Moss
Grilled moss is a unique and somewhat strange dish, but it is a specialty that Ha Giang ethnic people love. Moss is collected from pristine streams, washed, chopped, and marinated with spices such as fish sauce, salt, lemongrass, chives, and Vietnamese coriander. Then, the moss is wrapped in dong leaves or banana leaves, grilled over charcoal until golden brown.
Ha Giang grilled moss wrapped in banana leaves, ready to eat.
Grilled moss has a distinctive aroma, slightly chewy texture, and a very unique taste. Not only is it a delicious dish, but grilled moss is also very good for health, providing fiber, helping to cool down the body, detoxify, and improve blood circulation.
Ha Giang Corn Wine
Visiting Ha Giang without trying corn wine is not a complete experience. Corn wine is a famous specialty of the rocky plateau, made from corn grown and processed by local people.
Traditional Ha Giang corn wine being poured into a glass.
Ha Giang corn wine has a strong aroma, a mild sweetness, completely different from rice wine of the lowlands. The wine is fermented with natural forest yeast, handcrafted, creating a distinctive flavor imbued with ethnic cultural identity. However, Ha Giang corn wine has a relatively high alcohol content, so please enjoy it slowly to fully appreciate its special taste.
Ha Giang cuisine is a harmonious combination of natural ingredients and the skillful hands of local people. Each dish carries its own story, a unique cultural feature, contributing to the irresistible attraction of this land. If you have the opportunity to visit Ha Giang, don’t miss the chance to enjoy these famous specialties, you will surely have memorable culinary experiences.