Nam Dinh is a province located in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam, known for its rich history and culture. Besides that, Nam Dinh also has a unique cuisine waiting for tourists to explore. Letβs find out the 12 best Nam Dinh local foods in the article below.
Pho Nam Dinh – Famous Nam Dinh local food
If you are wondering what to eat in Nam Dinh, then Nam Dinh beef pho would be a great choice for you. While Hanoi pho attracts people with its bowl filled with toppings, Nam Dinh’s beef pho catches people’s attention with its broth and seasoned beef.
There is no universal recipe for making Nam Dinh beef pho, as each family has its own recipe. However, visitors are drawn to the dish due to its small, soft pho in a slightly greasy and rich broth. The broth plays a significant role in giving Nam Dinh beef pho its reputation, along with the soft and sweet pieces of beef. Once you try it, you’ll definitely want to have more.
You can try this delicious dish at various places in Nam Dinh, such as Pho Xuyen on Van Nhan Lane, Pho Cu Tang on Hang Tien Street, or Pho Dan on Hai Ba Trung Street, and experience how it differs from Hanoi’s beef pho. This is considered the most iconic Nam Dinh local food.
Giao Thuy fermented pork (Nem nắm Giao Thủy)
Giao Thuy fermented pork is a Nam Dinh local food that every visitor must try and buy as a gift. This dish has been a part of the locals’ lives for a long time.
When you peel off the first layers of the fermented pork, you’ll see attractive, round rolls that resemble the ones found on Ta Hien Street. Making these spring rolls is not an easy task, as they are made from pork skin that needs to be cleaned, shaved, sliced manually, and mingled with spices.
The tiny pieces of fermented pork are usually wrapped in fig leaves, making them look incredibly appealing. All you need to do is add some herbs, especially ming aralia leaves, and dip them in a small bowl of fish sauce. Just a small bite, and you can experience the fatty and greasy taste of the fermented pork, along with the slightly acrid taste of the ming aralia leaves.
Once you remove the layer of fig leaves, the characteristic aroma of Nam Dinh’s specialty fermented pork will captivate you. The rich aroma will remain in your memory forever. Don’t forget to buy it as a gift or bring it home to enjoy with family and friends during meals.
Thanh Nam vermicelli (BΓΊn ΔΕ©a ThΓ nh Nam)
When tourists think of vermicelli dishes, they might think of Crab Vermicelli Soup (BΓΊn riΓͺu cua), Hue Beef Vermicelli Soup (bΓΊn bΓ² HuαΊΏ), or Nam Dinh Fish Vermicelli Soup. However, if you are in Nam Dinh, you should try Thanh Nam Noodles, which is a unique and unfamiliar name for a vermicelli dish.
This dish is only available in Nam Dinh, and it features big vermicelli noodles that resemble chopsticks. The vermicelli are soft and strong, not mushy, and they are served in a bowl with a flavorful broth. The broth is filled with crab fat, raw vegetables, and a sprinkle of dried chili.
At only 25,000 VND – 45,000 VND per bowl, this dish is affordable for tourists and definitely worth trying. The aroma and taste of this unique Nam Dinh local food will surely captivate visitors and make them want to come back for more.
Nam Dinh sticky rice with char siu (XΓ΄i xΓu Nam Δα»nh)
Nam Dinh sticky rice with char siu is a famous dish in Nam Dinh cuisine. Similar to the well-known Nam Dinh ramie leaves rice cake (bΓ‘nh Gai), sticky rice is made of white, glutinous rice combined with hot, tender char siu meat, sausages, and a delectable viscous sauce that sets it apart from other sticky rice dishes. Once eating, visitors won’t be able to resist the flavorful taste, a combination of the rice aroma of sticky rice, the sweetness of char siu meat, and the spiciness of the sauce.
For only 15,000 VND, you can indulge in this delicious sticky rice and remember its unique taste forever. You can try this dish at Hang Sat Street or Hoang Van Thu Street.
Kenh Village steamed rolled rice pancake (BΓ‘nh cuα»n LΓ ng KΓͺnh)
Another popular Nam Dinh local food is Kenh Village steamed rolled rice pancake, a traditional delicacy that attracts visitors with its mouth-watering aroma and age-old preparation method. The cake is visually appealing with its smooth and thin white pieces. After sprinkling some meat and fried onion on each piece, the chef rolls it up and places it on a plate. Visitors must try it with the sweet and sour, spicy chili sauce to fully experience the traditional Kenh village steamed rolled rice pancake.
At only about 10,000 VND/rolled rice pancake, visitors can savor this dish’s delicious taste and traditional preparation.
Nam Dinh ramie leaves rice cake (BΓ‘nh Gai Nam Δα»nh)
When you hear about Gai Cake, you think of its place of origin, the land of Thanh Nam, Nam Dinh. This Nam Dinh local food is a must-try for anyone visiting this area. The cakeβs filling includes green beans, peanuts, lotus seeds, coconut, and fatty meat. This unique combination creates a sweet and aromatic taste.
To make Gai Cake delicious and preserve its flavor, the traditional Nam Dinh Gai Cake is made with glutinous rice and wrapped in ramie leaves. Every bite will leave you with a delightful taste that you won’t forget.
The price for Nam Dinh Gai Cake ranges from 6,000 VND to 11,000 VND, depending on the type. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Ba Thi Gai Cake and bring some of these beautiful cakes home as gifts.
Grilled fish (CΓ‘ nΖ°α»ng ΓΊp chαΊu)
Grilled fish is a traditional dish that every family in Nam Dinh serves during the Tet holiday. This specialty dish is unique because of the way it’s prepared.
To make this dish, first the fish is cleaned and marinated with spices. Then it is placed in an aluminum pot covered with straw and banana leaves. The locals also arranged bricks around the pot. The pot is then heated around the edges continuously for 30 minutes, then covered with a thick layer of rice hull and burned for an additional 4.5 hours.
Grilling fish requires careful attention to ensure even cooking and avoid burning. The dish requires a lot of patience and skillful hands, but the result is well worth the wait. The golden, crispy skin and tender meat will make you want to keep eating.
Xiu Pao Cake – Interesting Nam Dinh local food for snack
Xiu Pao Cake is a traditional dish from Nam Dinh. The cake is small and round, similar in appearance to a cream puff. The crust is thin, like a baked mooncake, but softer and more fragrant, carefully made with flour. The filling consists of char siu meat, eggs, flour, a bit of pork fat, and typical Nam Dinh spices.
The pork is seasoned with garlic, five-spice powder, oil, and honey before being grilled to golden perfection. The aroma of the meat and the baked crust combined is hard to resist.
Because of its taste and convenience, Xiu Pao cake has become a familiar dish for the people of Nam Dinh, especially children. You can buy this small cake for only 5,000 VND, making it an affordable and enjoyable snack.
Longan cake
Longan cake is a Nam Dinh local foods that’s loved by generations. Although the name “longan cakeβ may suggest that it is made from longan, this cake is actually made from yellow flower sticky rice. This cake is made with simple ingredients including glutinous rice, chicken eggs, sugar, and pork fat. And the result is round, golden cakes that are small and beautiful, resembling longans.
Longan cake is widely available in Vietnamβs market, and visitors can buy it as a gift for family and friends for only 70,000 VND – 100,000 VND per package.
Siu Chau candy (Kẹo Sìu ChÒu)
Siu Chau Candy is another specialty of Nam Dinh that many visitors may not know about. This candy is made from peanuts, sesame, malt, and sugar. The candy-making process requires subtle temperature and ingredient balances to create a unique taste that is not too sweet and easy to chew.
Eating a piece of Siu Chau candy and then sipping a cup of tea while chatting is a great way to enjoy your day. Visitors can purchase a pack of Siu Chau candy for only 45,000 VND – 100,000 VND, making it a great gift for family and friends.
Doi candy (KαΊΉo dα»i)
Doi candied is a popular snack among children and adults in Nam Dinh. Visitors might wonder why it’s called “Doi Candy.” Perhaps it’s because it looks similar to a dish that people in the northern region love so much – blood sausage (dα»i means blood sausage in Vietnamese).
The ingredients for making this candy include peanuts, sugar, malt, and vanilla. However, making delicious candy is not an easy task. It requires the candy maker’s ingenuity and meticulousness. The candy has an opaque white color with a fragrant peanut inside.
Vietnamese mung bean pudding (Chè kho)
Mung bean pudding is another specialty dish of Nam Dinh that is easy to make with only a few ingredients. Just the name of this dish evokes a dessert that the people of Nam Dinh enjoy.
The dish is made from mung beans that are skillfully cooked until they are turned into a dessert that is not too sweet and is mouth-watering. Trying a piece of this soft, delicious, and cool pudding will let visitors experience the bold, characteristic flavor of Nam Dinh cuisine.
The taste of this dish is unforgettable. On summer days or holidays, enjoying a piece of mung bean pudding and sipping hot tea will give you wonderful moments.
Hopefully, these great suggestions will help you decide what to eat in Nam Dinh and have a fulfilling trip in this beautiful province.
Read more Nam Dinh travel guides:
- Top 10 Most Beautiful and Famous Nam Dinh Tourist Attractions
- 14 Affordable Nam Dinh Restaurants to Explore The Local Flavors
- The Best Nam Dinh Travel Guide 2023
