The Tasty Treasures of Cam Ranh: A Foodie’s Guide to 15 Must-Try Delicacies

Cam Ranh is renowned for its delectable delights, offering a true taste of the region. When visiting this captivating destination, you're in for a treat with a myriad of specialties to indulge in and bring home as souvenirs. Uncover the 8 irresistible Cam Ranh specialties that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

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The Cam Ranh region in Khanh Hoa Province is famous for its stunning beaches and vibrant tourism industry. In addition, the area boasts a plethora of delicious specialties that you must not miss. Discover what they are in the article below!

1. An Introduction to Cam Ranh Tourism

Cam Ranh is a coastal city in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. It is known for its beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and rich cultural and historical heritage.

Visitors to Cam Ranh can also enjoy a range of fun activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, off-road racing, golf, and exploring cultural and historical sites like the Ponagar Tower and the Stone Church. Traditional local festivals are also a draw for tourists.

In addition, Cam Ranh offers a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops where visitors can enjoy local cuisine and purchase specialty products unique to the region.

An Introduction to Cam Ranh Tourism

2. Top 8 Cam Ranh Specialties to Try

Specialties to Try in Cam Ranh

Cam Ranh Sandworms

Sandworms have long been considered a delicacy fit for royalty due to their nutritional value and delicious flavor when prepared. This Cam Ranh specialty can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as:

Cam Ranh Sandworms

Recommended places to try:

Thuy Trieu Blood Cockles

When visiting Cam Ranh, don’t miss out on the blood cockles, especially those from Thuy Trieu. Thuy Trieu is a popular spot among locals and tourists alike for its fresh and diverse selection of seafood.

Blood cockles are incredibly versatile and offer outstanding nutritional value.

Thuy Trieu Blood Cockles

Recommended places to try:

Binh Ba Lobster

The lobsters in Binh Ba are highly regarded by locals and tourists alike for their freshness, taste, and sweet meat.

They can be prepared in a variety of ways, including beer steaming, cheese baking, soup, and hot pot.

Binh Ba Lobster

Recommended places to try:

Cam Ranh Quang Noodles

This specialty is easy to find and affordable. You can find it all over Cam Ranh. It’s a simple yet delicious dish.

The noodles are soft yet chewy, and the broth has a sweet and clear taste without being greasy. A typical bowl of Cam Ranh Quang noodles includes: , , , and . can be easily made at home.

Cam Ranh Quang Noodles

Recommended places to try:

Cam Ranh Banh Can Pancakes

Banh Can pancakes from Cam Ranh have a unique flavor, distinct from those made in Ninh Thuan or Nha Trang. The filling is made with fresh seafood, and the pancakes are thin and crispy.

Cam Ranh Banh Can pancakes are typically served with various vegetables, herbs, and a dip made from , , , or to cut through the richness of the dish.

Cam Ranh Banh Can Pancakes

Recommended place to try: Sidewalk stall in front of Cam Ranh Bookstore – 2216 Hung Vuong, Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa

Cam Ranh Chicken

In Cam Ranh, you’ll find not only delicious seafood but also mouthwatering chicken dishes that will delight foodies.

The name “chicken” refers to the way the dish is prepared. Diners can choose their chicken and request their preferred method of preparation. This unique offering has become a distinctive and appealing feature of Cam Ranh’s cuisine.

Cam Ranh Chicken

Recommended place to try: 7 Le Duan, Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa

Corn Sticky Rice

Corn sticky rice in Cam Ranh is unique. Visitors can find it sold by street vendors on the sidewalks, a very rustic and familiar sight.

The rice used for this dish is carefully selected for its sticky texture and fragrant aroma. When eating, you’ll enjoy the sticky rice’s softness and the corn’s buttery texture.

Corn Sticky Rice

Recommended place to try: 91 Huynh Thuc Khang, Cam Loc, Cam Ranh

Banh Xeo Pancakes

Banh Xeo pancakes from Cam Ranh will leave you with a memorable and unique dining experience.

The pancakes are cooked in an iron pan, resulting in a thin and crispy texture. The filling is generous and made with fresh seafood from Cam Ranh’s shores, including: , , , and naturally fermented fish sauce. The sweet and sour accompaniments enhance the flavor of the dish, and the crispy texture of the pancake is simply irresistible. Don’t miss out on this local delicacy when visiting Cam Ranh.

Banh Xeo Pancakes

Recommended place to try: 22 Thang Tam, Cam Loc, Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa

Cam Ranh Specialties to Buy as Gifts

Cam Ranh Mango Cake

Mango cake is a popular specialty in Cam Ranh, and those who try it will be delighted by its sweet and sour flavors and captivating aroma.

This treat is an excellent choice to share with friends and family back home.

Cam Ranh Mango Cake

Where to buy:

  • Mango cake is widely available in Cam Ranh, so you can easily find it in shops, markets, or supermarkets.

Hon Noi Bird’s Nest

Bird’s nest, in general, and the bird’s nest from Hon Noi in particular, are highly valued for their health benefits. This delicacy has long been considered a precious gift.

Bird’s nest from Hon Noi is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a meaningful gift for your loved ones. It’s sure to impress.

Hon Noi Bird’s Nest

Recommended places to buy:

Cam Ranh Sweet and Sour Squid

Sweet and sour squid is a common dish in Vietnamese coastal cities, and Cam Ranh is no exception. This dish offers a burst of flavors, including spicy, sweet, and salty notes.

Most sweet and sour squid in Cam Ranh are packaged and stored in boxes, making them convenient to purchase and take home as gifts.

Cam Ranh Sweet and Sour Squid

Where to buy:

  • Sweet and sour squid is widely available in Cam Ranh, so you can easily find it in shops, markets, or supermarkets.

Cam Ranh Rice Paper

Cam Ranh rice paper is a popular snack among young people in the region and across Vietnam due to its delicious taste, affordability, and convenience.

Rice paper from Cam Ranh offers a variety of flavors and designs, and it has a relatively long shelf life. It’s an excellent choice for a tasty souvenir.

Cam Ranh Rice Paper

Where to buy:

  • Cam Ranh rice paper is widely available, so you can easily find it in shops, markets, or supermarkets in the area.

Cam Ranh Fish Sauce

A visit to Cam Ranh’s beaches wouldn’t be complete without trying the local fish sauce. Cam Ranh’s anchovy fish sauce is a well-known specialty that has attracted the interest of many tourists.

The fish sauce is produced using traditional methods and features anchovies and sea salt from the region, ensuring freshness and quality. It can be used as a dipping sauce or to marinate dishes, enhancing their flavor.

Frequently asked questions

Cam Ranh is a coastal city in southern Vietnam known for its delicious and diverse seafood offerings. The city’s seafood night market is a food lover’s paradise, with fresh catches of the day being grilled, steamed, or turned into delicious soups and noodles. Some must-try delicacies include: Banh Can – a crispy rice pancake with a soft, fluffy interior, often topped with shrimp or quail eggs; Grilled scallops or ‘so die’ as the locals call them, are a must-try with a squeeze of kumquat and a dash of salt; Banh Hoi – fine rice noodles served with a variety of toppings and dips, including grilled pork, shrimp, and fresh herbs; and finally, the unique and flavorful jellyfish salad, a local specialty made with fresh jellyfish, herbs, and a tangy dressing.

Banh Can is a local specialty in Cam Ranh, similar to a small, crispy rice pancake. It has a soft and fluffy interior, which provides a nice contrast in texture. Banh Can is often topped with shrimp or quail eggs, giving it a savory and slightly sweet flavor. This dish is typically enjoyed as a snack or light meal and is a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.

The name ‘so die’ given to grilled scallops in Cam Ranh is a playful term used by the locals. It is believed to be derived from the Vietnamese word ‘sò điệp’, which directly translates to ‘scallop’. The addition of ‘so’ may be a slang term added for emphasis, creating a catchy and memorable name for this delicious seafood delicacy.

Banh Hoi is a unique dish to the region, consisting of fine rice noodles. What sets it apart is the way it is served; Banh Hoi is typically presented with a variety of toppings and dips. Grilled pork, shrimp, and an array of fresh herbs are common accompaniments. The noodles are thin and delicate, providing a light and refreshing base for the flavorful toppings. Banh Hoi is a dish that showcases the balance of textures and flavors that Vietnamese cuisine is known for.

The jellyfish salad in Cam Ranh is a local specialty due to the fresh, high-quality jellyfish caught in the nearby waters. The jellyfish is carefully cleaned and prepared, then mixed with a variety of fresh herbs, such as mint and basil, and tossed in a tangy dressing. This dish has a unique texture and a refreshing flavor, and it is often enjoyed as a light and healthy option on hot days.