Amid Hội An’s treat-filled culinary landscape, cao lầu emerges as something that’s both simple and one-of-a-kind. A bowl of cao lầu encapsulates a range of flavors including sour, hot, bitter, tannic and sweet; the savoriness of char siu; and the fragrance of Trà Quế herbs. Cao lầu strands are yellowish in color, with a bite…
Category: Food
Mạch nha – a sweet gift from the rice fields in Quang Ngai province
From the terraced fields winding around the Northwest hills to the vast, expansive plains where storks glide in the Southwest, the rice grains born here have been intertwined with the lives of the Vietnamese people for generations. These rice grains carry the essence of the land and sky into pots of steaming rice, into dishes…
In Tây Hồ, an Artisan Community Holds Fast to Their Lotus Tea Traditions
Every sip of lotus tea encapsulates all the essences of the natural landscapes of Tây Hồ. The arrival of lotus season in Quảng An Ward, Tây Hồ every year ushers in a flurry of activities for local tea dryers. Venerated by many as “the best tea of the ancient eras,” Tây Hồ’s lotus tea is…
Thổ Hà – a rustic village on the Cau riverside
Located in Van Ha commune, Viet Yen district, Thổ Hà village is approximately 45 kilometers away from the capital city of Hanoi. Thổ Hà preserves a typical Northern Vietnamese countryside atmosphere, still maintaining distinctive features such as the village gate, communal house, banyan trees, and wells. Despite being situated in the delta, the land of…
Hoi An memories in 70-year-old Thiểu’s black sesame sweet soup vendor
For 70 years now, Thiểu’s sweet soup stand has become an enduring part of Hoi An locals’ memories. Along Nguyen Truong To Street in Hoi An, where red leaves of the banyan trees dance in the chilly breeze, the aroma of Thi’s sweet soup stand wafts through the air. Modestly situated on the sidewalk, it…
Tra Que – a 300-year-old fragrant herbs village
In Hoi An, there exists a village called Tra Que, which for centuries has infused the traditional cuisine of Hoi with fragrant aromas and vibrant greens, bestowing a unique character upon the city’s culinary delights. Green vegetables are an indispensable component of Hoi An’s traditional dishes in Quang Nam province. Lettuce, basil, fish mint, blending…