8 Ethnic Food secrets in Northern Vietnam by Ethnic Voyage

1. Ấu tẩu Soup: "Cháo ấu tẩu"
If you decide to trek in Ha Giang in winter, you will be able to find places to try the Ấu tẩu soup. This is the perfect combination between sticky and classic rice, water chestnuts, ham soup and few spices added to the meat. Another great meal to experiment in Ha Giang’ region!

All these 8 dishes are among most interesting foods of Vietnam that can be tried only further the mountainous region. You will find them far away from the mass tourism, but close and deep in the traditional Vietnamese culture.

2. Dry pork meat: "Khang gai"
The Khang Gai is a specialty of the Black Tays. It is prepared with muscles of buffaloes. The recipe is transmitted from father to son and therefore stays a family secret. Life in the mountain is poor and difficult and meat is rare but important for local people. Dry pork can be conserved 1 year long and it permits the Black Tays to keep stock for the winter time. You can try it in Ha Giang market after an astonishing trek in the mountains.

3. Grilled Moss : "Rêu nướng"
The Grilled moss is a specialty of Xuan Giang village in Ha Giang Province; The Tays pick up the fresh eatable lichen moss on the banks of little rivers. They torn the moss in small wires and mixed with different spices like lemongrass, spring onion leafs, salt and monosodium glutamate. This mixture is covered by leafs and grilled on the barbecue. This dish can also be used to fight against certain diseases: fever, blood pressure…

4. Rice cake stuffed with beans  "Thắng dền"
This dish is very much appreciated by ethnic groups in Ha Giang Province, particularly in winter time: they gather around the fire, laugh and talk while eating those delicious cakes. This dish tastes even better when served with sweet sauce, coconut and ginger; people often add sesame and peanuts. It can be seen as a desert as well.  In your adventure to famous Meo Vac village, you will have opportunities to try this lovely sweet desert.

5. River Fishes
The North ethnic groups use their natural environment to eat. The mountains can offer them something very precious: The fishes, swimming down rivers and watercourses. Those fishes are living in pristine environment, away from any kind of pollution. They are small, fresh, deep-fried and smell excellent.

6. The Black Pork
The black pork is another famous dish of Sapa. Local people don’t feed the pigs, they are free to run and to eat whatever they can find in the natural mountains. Therefore those pigs are particularly small and do not get very fat. This makes the meet very tasty, you can find this grilled pork in Sapa’s market.

7. Apple liqueur: "Rượu Táo Mèo"
Rượu Táo Mèo is one of the most popular drinks in Northern Vietnam. It can also be used as a medicine to fight against bacteria, to protect your liver, and help your digestion. A delicious and original liqueur that you will surely appreciate after dinner

8. The "su su"
Sapa is famous for its fresh ingredients such as the Su Su. This kind of turnip is boiled and often served with a mix of sesame, peanut and salt. The sweet taste of this vegetable is natural and contrasts with the savory and crispy feature of the peanut. It's also very good for your heath as it contains a lot of vitamins!

Ethn Ấu tẩu Soup: "Cháo ấu tẩu"