Ha Nam is located in the southwestern part of the Red River Delta, in the key economic region of the North. It serves as the southern gateway to the capital city of Hanoi. Just like anywhere else, the locals here have their own unique specialties to welcome visitors, and there are also special gifts from Ha Nam province to offer to people from all over.
Let’s join us to discover the top 15 must-try specialties of Ha Nam when visiting this alluvial land!
1 Introduction to Ha Nam Tourism
Ha Nam is located at the southern gateway of Hanoi, about 65 km from the capital city. This is a suitable destination for spiritual, cultural, and culinary tourism, with historical relics, scenic spots, and famous traditional craft villages.
Ha Nam has a similar climate to other provinces in the Red River Delta region, with hot and humid summers and cold winters. You can visit all year round, but if you can’t stand the heat, it is recommended to visit during autumn or winter. The festival season is from January to March every year, and there is also a Buddha’s Birthday celebration on the full moon of April, which is a great time to visit the temples.
Introduction to Ha Nam Tourism
2 Top 15 Ha Nam Specialties to Try and Buy as Gifts
Specialties to Try in Ha Nam
Phu Ly Rice Rolls
Phu Ly Rice Rolls
Phu Ly, the provincial capital of Ha Nam, is famous for its rice rolls. Phu Ly rice rolls are served with grilled meat patties shaped like cauliflower, which are grilled by hand over charcoal. The thin rice rolls are accompanied by grilled meat patties, shredded banana flowers, a few green sung fruits, and dipped in a sweet and sour sauce, topped with some fried shallots, creating an irresistible flavor.
The rice used for the rolls must be carefully selected; only the best quality “tam xoan” rice will do. The rice is ground into a powder and soaked in water for about 2-3 hours before being thinly spread on a cloth to create a white and eye-catching roll. Just before the rice roll is done cooking, the chef sprinkles it with ground pepper and a few drops of pork fat to enhance the flavor.
Reference price: Approximately 25,000 – 50,000 VND/serving
Reference address: 188 Bien Hoa, Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province.
Check out the recipe for soft and fragrant sticky rice rolls (banh te) that’s easy to make at home, just like the ones sold on the streets.
Vu Dai Fish Hot Pot
Vu Dai Fish Hot Pot
Vu Dai village of the past, a familiar setting in Nam Cao’s literary works with the well-known characters of Chi Pheo and Thi No, has left an indelible mark on Vietnamese literature. Today, Vu Dai or Nhan Hau village is still famous for its delicious fish hot pot that leaves a lasting impression on food enthusiasts.
The Vu Dai fish hot pot is elaborately prepared with black carp, snakehead fish, and fresh climbing perch. The cooking process takes up to 16-20 hours, using over 10 different types of spices and only firewood from pear or guava trees. The fish meat becomes tender, absorbing all the flavors, and the bones become so soft that they can be chewed. The taste of the fish here is unique and distinct from any other type of fish hot pot.
Reference price:
– Black carp hot pot: Approximately 400,000 – 500,000 VND/kg
– Climbing perch or loach hot pot: Approximately 500,000 – 600,000 VND/kg
– Climbing perch hot pot: Approximately 350,000 – 400,000 VND/kg
Reference address: Nhan Hau village, Hoa Hau commune, Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province
Bún Cá Rô Đồng (Rice Noodles with Freshwater Fish)
Bún Cá Rô Đồng
Bún Cá Rô Đồng is a Ha Nam specialty that is elaborately prepared and captivates diners with the golden-brown fish meat mixed with the green color of mustard greens, along with the sweet and fragrant broth that exudes the flavors of the homeland.
Reference address: 68 Restaurant: Phu Ly intersection, Ha Nam
Bún Tái Kênh (Rice Noodles with Canal Meat)
Bún Tái Kênh
Ha Nam is famous for its traditional bun-making craft village, so you must try the Bún Tái Kênh, which features white, chewy, and firm noodles harmonized with a flavorful broth.
Reference address: Tai Kenh village, Dinh Xa commune, Binh Luc district, Ha Nam province, or Cho Bau in Phu Ly.
Mountain Goat Meat
Mountain Goat Meat
Mountain goat meat is a famous delicacy in Ha Nam, known for its delicious taste and nutritional value. It is often chosen by tourists visiting the province.
Reference address: Lam Thu Goat Meat Restaurant: 55 Nguyen Khuyen, Que town, Kim Bang, Ha Nam.
Che Ba Phong (Mrs. Phong’s Sweet Porridge)
Che Ba Phong
If you want to enjoy the authentic taste of sweet porridge, don’t miss out on Che Ba Phong. This place offers a variety of sweet porridge with different flavors, and the shop has been around for almost 20 years.
Reference address: No. 1 Chan Cau street, Ha Nam city.
Duy Tien Chicken with Fish Sauce
Duy Tien Chicken with Fish Sauce
Duy Tien chicken with fish sauce has become a famous dish in Ha Nam, mentioned whenever someone visits the province. The chickens in Duy Tien are free-range and have tougher, sweeter meat with a unique flavor.
Reference address: La VN Restaurant: Ho Van Son, Phu Ly, Ha Nam
Ha Nam Specialties to Buy as Gifts
Binh Luc Crab Paste
Crab Paste
Binh Luc province is famous for its traditional crab paste, and the craft has been developing strongly. The process of making a jar of crab paste is intricate, starting from removing the crab’s apron, peeling it, and grinding the small crabs (red swamp crabs) until they are smooth, then mixing them with spices and sealing them tightly in a jar. After that, the paste is sun-dried for a day and then buried underground to age until it becomes soft and ready to eat.
Good-quality crab paste will have an attractive color and a combination of flavors, from the saltiness of the salt, the richness of the ginger, the warmth of the glutinous rice, and more. Crab paste is typically enjoyed with boiled sweet potato stems, pickled mustard greens, and shallots, creating a flavorful and delicious side dish for rice.
Reference price: Approximately 100,000 VND/liter
Reference address: Binh Luc Crab Paste Village, Binh Luc district, Ha Nam province.
Lang Voc Rice Wine
Lang Voc Rice Wine
Lang Voc village, Vu Ban commune, Binh Luc district, Ha Nam province, has a long tradition of making rice wine, passed down from generation to generation. The rice wine from this village was once used as an offering to the king, made with a secret recipe that includes glutinous rice soaked in a mixture of 36 traditional medicinal herbs.
The rice used for making the wine is either newly harvested glutinous rice or jasmine rice, still with its husk. However, the crucial factor that gives Lang Voc rice wine its distinctive flavor is the sweet and cool water from the village’s well. Just a small sip is enough to savor the exquisite taste and delicate fragrance of the wine, leaving a lasting impression.
Reference price: Approximately 400,000 VND/liter.
Reference address: Lang Voc village, Vu Ban commune, Binh Luc district, Ha Nam province
Ly Nhan Mandarins
Ly Nhan Mandarins
Ly Nhan district is located along the Red River and is naturally endowed with fertile land, making it ideal for growing mandarins, a specialty that was once offered to the king. Ly Nhan mandarins have thin, crisp skin and a flat, golden-orange color, packed with vitamins. The flesh is sweet and fragrant, and the scent of the mandarin fills the air when you peel it by hand. Every year, during the rươi worm season (September-October in the lunar calendar), the mandarins are also in season and readily available.
Reference price: Approximately 40,000- 60,000 VND/kg
Reference address: Ly Nhan mandarin orchards, Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province.
Dai Hoang Royal Bananas
Dai Hoang Royal Bananas
When it comes to royal specialties offered to the king, in addition to Vu Dai fish hot pot and Ly Nhan mandarins, we must mention the Dai Hoang royal bananas. Unlike the larger, less sweet royal bananas, the Dai Hoang royal bananas are characterized by their small bunches but beautiful, round, golden fruit with green stems and three curved whiskers at the tip. When eaten, the bananas have a sweet taste and a pleasant fragrance, making them irresistible.
Reference price: Approximately 100,000 – 300,000 VND/bunch
Reference address: Dai Hoang village, Hoa Hau commune, Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam.
Kien Khe Banh Da (Kien Khe Crackers)
