Dak Nong is a rather new and intriguing destination for travelers. We will suggest some unique specialties from this region as gifts for your friends and family in the article below.
1 Introduction to Dak Nong Tourism
Dak Nong is one of the most attractive destinations in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Its tourism boasts a natural, pristine, and mysterious beauty, from majestic waterfalls to lush tea hills, vast rubber forests, and gentle, winding roads through pine forests.
The climate in Dak Nong is quite cool and not too hot, making it a year-round travel destination.
Introduction to Dak Nong Tourism
2 Top 15 Dak Nong Specialties to Try and Buy
Specialties to Try in Dak Nong
Sarepok River Catfish
Catfish is a species of catfish with a flat head resembling the walking catfish found in the lowlands. Sarepok River catfish is a specialty in Dak Nong. With the river flowing all year round, the catfish here has firmer meat and a higher weight compared to other regions.
Sarepok River catfish is best suited for grilling with salt and chili dip or hot pot with sour forest bamboo shoots. When grilled over charcoal, the fish emits a mouthwatering aroma, and the skin becomes golden and crispy. The head and tail can be used to make a delicious soup with sour bamboo shoots and fresh rice vermicelli.
Estimated price: 190,000 – 250,000 VND/portion
Suggested place to buy: Ca lang nuong than Lodge: Khu 7, Nghia Trung Ward, Gia Nghia Town.
Grilled Sarepok River Catfish
Sticky Rice in Bamboo Tubes
This is also considered a famous specialty of Dak Nong and is loved by many. Sticky rice is cooked from glutinous rice and packed inside bamboo tubes. When enjoying sticky rice, you can dip it in sesame salt or pair it with grilled chicken or beef.
Estimated price: 15,000 VND/bamboo tube
Suggested place to buy: Hoang Anh Restaurant: Mac Thi Buoi Street, Nghia Thanh Ward, Gia Nghia Town
Sticky Rice in Bamboo Tubes
Yellow Ant Sour Soup
This is an attractive culinary highlight in Dak Nong, originating from the Ede people. The flavor of the yellow ant sour soup is very distinctive and will leave a lasting impression. This sour soup includes shrimp, crab, and river fish, resulting in a sweet and fragrant broth. The addition of yellow ants enhances the sourness and stimulates the taste buds.
Estimated price: 75,000-120,000 VND/serving
Suggested place to buy: Ede ethnic minority villages: Nui, Buor, Trum, and Ea Po in Tam Thang Commune, Cu Jut District
Yellow Ant Sour Soup
Cloud Ear Fungus and Bamboo Shoot Soup
This soup is not only a specialty of Dak Nong but also considered a very beneficial medicine for the digestive and circulatory systems by the locals. The ingredients for this soup include cloud ear fungus, wild herbs, meat, termites, and mole crickets, all packed into fresh bamboo tubes and roasted over a charcoal fire.
Estimated price: 50,000-75,000 VND/serving
Suggested place to buy: Hoang Ngan Restaurant: Ngã 3 Hồ Vịt, QL 14, Gia Nghĩa Town, Dak Nong Province.
Cloud Ear Fungus and Bamboo Shoot Soup
Cloud Ear Fungus Stir-fried with Wild Betel Leaves
Cloud ear fungus is harder to find than bamboo shoots but is available all year round. One of the most famous dishes made from cloud ear fungus in Dak Nong is stir-fried cloud ear fungus with wild betel leaves.
This dish is a common feature in the daily meals of the locals and is also served during traditional festivals.
Estimated price: 80,000-110,000 VND/plate
Suggested place to buy: K’Jang Ta Dung Restaurant: Bon Pang So, Dak Som, Dak GLong, Dak Nong
Cloud Ear Fungus Stir-fried with Wild Betel Leaves
Pounded Meat of the Ma People
Pounded meat is a characteristic dish of the Ma people in Dak Nong. The meat used is usually chicken or pork. The preparation method is simple but time-consuming, involving grilling and pounding the meat. The pounded meat is then mixed with spices, creating a flavorful and distinctive taste.
This Dak Nong specialty of the Ma people can only be tasted when visiting Ma households in Dak Nia Commune, Gia Nghia City, Dak Nong Province.
Pounded Meat of the Ma People
Forest Herb Hot Pot
The forest herb hot pot seems to encapsulate the essence of the mountains and forests in each leaf, providing a unique “natural” dining experience. There are over ten types of forest herbs used in this hot pot, mostly discovered by locals during their forest excursions.
Initially, these forest herbs were used as vegetables to accompany meals in the fields and on the hills.
Estimated price: 120,000-160,000 VND/serving
Suggested place to buy: Lau la rung Hoang Ngan: Ngã 3 Hồ Vịt, QL 14, Gia Nghĩa Town, Dak Nong Province.
Forest Herb Hot Pot
Ethnic Pig
Ethnic pig is a Dak Nong specialty that you should try when visiting this region. The pigs are raised and allowed to roam freely by the locals, resulting in meat that is firmer and more delicious. The two popular dishes are ethnic pig grilled with salt and chili and ethnic pig grilled in the highland style.
The pig’s skin is thin, and the meat is firm and lean, making it extremely tender and sweet. The meat has a golden sheen due to a coating of a mixture of soda, lemon juice, and malt before grilling.
Estimated price: 100,000 – 200,000 VND/plate
Suggested place to buy: Hoa Mai Restaurant: QL 28, Quang Khe, Dak Glong, Dak Nong
Ethnic Pig
Specialties to Buy as Gifts from Dak Nong
Coffee
When it comes to coffee, people often think of Dak Lak, and this is also a specialty that you can buy as a gift when visiting Dak Nong. The locals have a unique method of harvesting and processing coffee, resulting in beans with a richer flavor and the distinctive character of the local terroir.
Although Dak Nong is not a major coffee-growing region, its coffee is still considered a specialty sought after by many tourists.
Estimated price: 40,000 – 55,000 VND/kg
Suggested place to buy: Duc Lap Coffee Company: Quoc Lo 14, H. Dak Mil, TT. Dak Mil, Dak Nong.
Coffee
Dak N’rung Peppercorns
Peppercorns bring significant economic value to the people of Dak Nong and have become a specialty that embodies the spirit of the mountains and forests. There are two common types of peppercorns: white and black.
Black peppercorns enhance the flavor of dishes, while white peppercorns are known for their medicinal properties, particularly in treating digestive issues.
Estimated price: 83,000 – 140,000 VND/kg
Suggested place to buy: Cho Dak Mil: Nguyen Tat Thanh, Dak Mil, Dak Nong
Dak N’rung Peppercorns
Gia Nghia Tea
Tea from the hills of Gia Nghia has a distinctive flavor characteristic of the Central Highlands. The tea has a fragrant aroma and a sweet aftertaste, making it an excellent gift for adults.
Estimated price: 150,000-250,000 VND/kg
Suggested place to buy: Gia Nghia Tea Hills: Nghia Tan Ward, Gia Nghia, Dak Nong
Gia Nghia Tea
Tuy Duc Sweet Potatoes
Tuy Duc is a border district in Dak Nong Province, renowned for its sweet and buttery sweet potatoes. Tuy Duc sweet potatoes are produced and exported to other regions, establishing themselves as a specialty brand of Dak Nong.
Estimated price: 20,000-35,000 VND/kg
Suggested place to buy: Tuy Duc Farmers’ Association: Thon 8, Dak Buk So Commune, Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong Province.
Tuy Duc Sweet Potatoes
Wax Gourd
Estimated price
