Nghe An, a land in Central Vietnam filled with sunshine and wind, is not only famous for its heroic historical sites and white sand beaches but also captivates visitors with its rich and unique cuisine. Nghe An’s cuisine carries the distinct flavors of the countryside, from rustic dishes imbued with rural flavors to fresh and delicious seafood specialties. Let’s explore the top 7 Nghe An specialty dishes that you cannot miss when visiting this land.
1. Xa Doai Oranges – A Delightfully Light and Fragrant Taste Renowned Far and Wide
Xa Doai oranges, a specialty fruit of Nghe An, have long been famous and dubbed the “king of oranges.” Not only for their uniquely delicious taste but also for their rarity and high economic value, Xa Doai oranges have become a meaningful gift that every visitor wants to buy when coming to Nghe An. The origin of Xa Doai oranges stems from the Valencia orange variety of France, introduced to Vietnam from the early 20th century and successfully grown in Xa Doai (now Nghi Dien commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An). The reason Xa Doai oranges have a special and different taste from other oranges is due to the unique soil and climate of this land. Xa Doai soil is rich in minerals, combined with the year-round warm and sunny climate, creating oranges with a mild sweetness, juiciness, and distinctive delicate aroma. Xa Doai oranges have a thin, smooth, golden skin, plump segments, no fiber, and are especially juicy. When tasted, the mild, refreshing sweetness spreads, without any harsh sourness, leaving a lingering sweet aftertaste. Not only delicious, Xa Doai oranges also contain many vitamins and minerals that are good for health. To grow quality Xa Doai oranges, farmers must adhere to a meticulous care process, from selecting seedlings and applying organic fertilizers to preventing pests and diseases. Notably, Xa Doai oranges are very “picky” about the soil; when grown in other regions, the flavor and quality are often not as good as when grown in Xa Doai. Addresses to buy delicious Xa Doai oranges:– Vinh Market: Hong Son, Vinh City.
- Xa Doai Orange Garden: Nghi Dien Commune, Nghi Loc District.
Reference Price: Approximately 80,000 – 120,000 VND/orange (depending on weight and season). 
Xa Doai oranges, a specialty of Nghe An, with thin, smooth, golden skin
2. Nhut Thanh Chuong – Unique Flavor from Young Jackfruit
Nhut Thanh Chuong, a rustic dish imbued with the homeland flavor of Nghe land, is a unique specialty of Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An. This dish originated in difficult years when people had to utilize local products to create preserved and economical dishes. Nhut Thanh Chuong is made from young jackfruit or jackfruit fiber, undergoing a sophisticated processing and pickling process, becoming a familiar and beloved dish in the family meals of Nghe An people. To make delicious Nhut Thanh Chuong, people choose young, green jackfruits or mature jackfruit fiber. Young jackfruit, after peeling and removing the core, is shredded thinly, while jackfruit fiber is torn into small pieces. Then, the jackfruit is mixed well with salt, garlic, chili, and other special spices, and then tightly compressed in jars or pots. The natural fermentation process takes place for about 5-7 days, creating the characteristic sour taste of nhut. Nhut Thanh Chuong has a mild sour, salty, and spicy taste, with a crunchy texture that is very appealing. This dish can be processed into many delicious dishes, such as nhut stir-fried with pork belly, nhut mixed salad, nhut soup cooked with fish… In particular, Nhut Thanh Chuong is often served with hot rice, raw vegetables, or as a snack in family meals. Today, Nhut Thanh Chuong is not only a familiar dish of local people but has also become a Nghe An specialty known and sought after by many tourists as a gift. The unique, rich flavor of Nhut Thanh Chuong has contributed to enriching the culinary scene of Nghe land. Addresses to buy delicious Nhut Thanh Chuong:– Con Market: National Highway 46A, Thanh Duong, Thanh Chuong.
- Other rural markets in Thanh Chuong district.
Reference Price: 50,000 – 70,000 VND/kg. 
Nhut Thanh Chuong, a Nghe An specialty made from pickled young jackfruit
3. Tuong Nam Dan – Rich Dipping Sauce with the Essence of Nghe Land
Speaking of Nghe An specialties, one cannot miss Tuong Nam Dan, a famous dipping sauce, carrying the distinct flavor of this land. Tuong Nam Dan is not only a familiar seasoning in the daily meals of Nghe An people but also a specialty gift loved by many tourists. Tuong Nam Dan is made from simple, familiar ingredients such as sticky rice, soybeans, salt, and clean water. However, to create the special flavor of Tuong Nam Dan, the sauce maker must have experience and family secrets. The process of making Tuong Nam Dan is very elaborate and meticulous, going through many stages such as selecting ingredients, incubating mold, sun-drying, and fermenting the sauce. Tuong Nam Dan has a rich golden color, a mild, rich, and distinctively fragrant taste. Nghe An people often use Tuong Nam Dan to dip boiled vegetables, boiled meat, tofu, or as a seasoning for other dishes. The special flavor of Tuong Nam Dan has contributed to creating the uniqueness of Nghe cuisine. In Nam Dan today, the traditional sauce-making village still exists, where visitors can visit, learn about the sauce-making process, and buy genuine Tuong Nam Dan bottles as gifts. Address to buy delicious Tuong Nam Dan:– Nam Dan Sauce-Making Village: Phan Boi Chau Village, Nam Dan town, Nam Dan district.
Reference Price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND/450ml bottle. 
Tuong Nam Dan, a famous dipping sauce specialty of Nghe An
4. Nghe An Eel Porridge – Harmonious Blend of Warm Porridge and Flavorful Eel
Nghe An eel porridge is a famous breakfast specialty of Nghe land, loved by many for its delicious, nutritious, and especially local culinary imprint. If you have the opportunity to visit Nghe An, don’t miss the chance to enjoy this hot, fragrant eel porridge. The eel used for cooking porridge is field eel, with firm, sweet, and fragrant meat. To remove the fishy smell of eel, people often use kitchen ash, salt, or lemon juice to clean it. After preliminary processing, the eel is boiled, the meat is removed and stir-fried with fragrant onions, garlic, chili, and special spices. Nghe An eel porridge is cooked from ordinary rice, simmered until smooth and thick. When eating, people scoop porridge into a bowl, add stir-fried eel meat, fried shallots, Vietnamese coriander, scallions, and a little ground pepper. Nghe An eel porridge has a rich sweet taste of eel meat, a spicy taste of chili, a fragrant aroma of onions and Vietnamese coriander, harmonizing with the mild sweetness of the porridge, creating an irresistibly attractive flavor. Not only delicious, Nghe An eel porridge is also a nutritious dish, providing plenty of protein and vitamins. This dish is often chosen by locals for breakfast or a light meal during the day. Addresses for delicious eel porridge in Nghe An:– Ba Huong Spicy Eel Porridge: 77 Tran Hung Dao, Vinh City.
- Cho Hoa Eel Porridge: End of Thai Phien Street – Hong Son, Vinh City.
- Ba Ngai Eel Porridge: Alley 4 Doc Thiet, Hung Binh, Vinh City.
Reference Price: 30,000 – 50,000 VND/bowl. 
Nghe An eel porridge, a famous breakfast specialty
5. Keo Cu Do – Nghe An Specialty, a Meaningful Gift
Keo cu do, a rustic country gift with a rich flavor, is a Nghe An specialty chosen by many tourists to buy as gifts for relatives and friends. Keo cu do is not only delicious but also carries the traditional cultural values of Nghe An land. Keo cu do is made from simple ingredients such as molasses, malt, roasted peanuts, and sesame rice paper. The process of making keo cu do is quite elaborate, requiring the skill and meticulousness of the craftsman. Molasses and malt are cooked together in a large pan until thickened, then roasted peanuts are added and stirred evenly. After cooking, the candy is poured onto sesame rice paper, flattened, and left to cool. Keo cu do has a rich sweet taste of molasses, a nutty and fatty taste of roasted peanuts, and a fragrant taste of malt and sesame rice paper. When eating, people often enjoy keo cu do with hot green tea, creating a harmonious and interesting combination. Today, keo cu do is not only sold in Nghe An but is also widely distributed throughout the country. However, to enjoy the authentic, richest flavor of keo cu do, you should buy it in Nghe An. Addresses to buy delicious keo cu do in Nghe An:– Luc Thanh Cakes and Candies: Xuan Bac, Dien Hong, Dien Chau.
- Ba Nghi Keo Cu Do: 35 Dinh Cong Trang, Vinh City.
Reference Price: Approximately 35,000 – 50,000 VND/240 grams. 
Keo cu do, a Nghe An specialty, a meaningful country gift
6. Banh Gai Xu Dua – Sweet Fragrance of a Unique Flavor
Banh gai xu dua, a famous specialty of Anh Son district, Nghe An, is a delicate combination of the aroma of gai leaves, the sweetness of coconut, and the richness of green beans. This rustic cake brings a unique flavor, unmistakably from the countryside of Nghe. Banh gai xu dua is made from sticky rice flour, gai leaves, green beans, fresh coconut, and cane sugar. Gai leaves, after being harvested, are thoroughly boiled, pureed, and mixed with sticky rice flour to create the characteristic black color for the cake. Green beans are steamed until cooked, mashed, and stir-fried with sugar and shredded fresh coconut to make the cake filling. Banh gai xu dua has a square shape, glossy black color, with a sweet and fatty green bean and coconut filling inside. When eaten, banh gai xu dua has a chewy aroma of sticky rice flour, a mild sweetness of sugar, a rich and fatty taste of green beans and fresh coconut, creating an unforgettable, attractive flavor. Banh gai xu dua can be preserved for quite a long time, so it is often bought by tourists as gifts. You can easily buy banh gai xu dua along National Highway 7A, passing through Xu Dua, Tuong Son commune, Anh Son district. Address to buy delicious banh gai xu dua:– Shops along National Highway 7A passing through Xu Dua, Tuong Son commune, Anh Son district.
Reference Price: 5,000 – 7,000 VND/cake. 
Banh gai xu dua, a Nghe An specialty, with a sweet and fragrant flavor
7. Cua Lo Mackerel – Fresh and Delicious Sea Flavor
If you come to Nghe An for beach tourism and to enjoy cuisine, then Cua Lo mackerel is a delicious dish that you cannot miss. Cua Lo is famous for many kinds of fresh seafood, but Cua Lo mackerel is always a special name, attracting tourists with its delicious taste and sophisticated preparation. Cua Lo mackerel is caught from Cua Lo sea, famous for its firm, delicious, and less fishy meat. Cua Lo mackerel can be processed into many delicious dishes such as grilled mackerel, fried mackerel, mackerel in tomato sauce, mackerel salad… In particular, grilled Cua Lo mackerel is loved by many people for its distinctive delicious flavor. Cua Lo mackerel is often grilled on the spot when sold so that diners can feel the aroma and freshness of the dish. In Cua Lo today, there is still a craft village specializing in making seafood dishes, where you can enjoy delicious dishes from mackerel and other seafood. Address to enjoy delicious Cua Lo mackerel:– Nghi Thuy fishing village, Cua Lo town.
Reference Price: Approximately 180,000 – 250,000 VND/kg (depending on time and type of fish). 
Cua Lo mackerel, a fresh and delicious Nghe An specialty
Exploring Nghe An cuisine is an exciting journey, bringing you unique and unforgettable culinary experiences. The top 7 Nghe An specialty dishes above are just a small part of the rich culinary treasure of this land. Hopefully, this article will be a useful handbook, helping you have more great suggestions for your upcoming culinary trip to Nghe land.