When traveling to Tuyen Quang, not only should you admire the breathtaking scenery, but you must also indulge in the region’s captivating and unique local specialties. Join us as we explore the top 15 Tuyen Quang specialties that you can both enjoy and buy as souvenirs.
1 Introduction to Tuyen Quang Tourism
Known as a mountainous province in Northern Vietnam, Tuyen Quang boasts stunning natural landscapes with towering mountains, vast primary forests, and two major rivers – the Lo and Gam Rivers, as well as Na Hang Lake, Mo Waterfall, and My Lam Mineral Spring.
In addition, Tuyen Quang is an intriguing destination with over 300 historical and cultural relics and revolutionary sites, the most famous of which is the Tan Trao relic site and the local legend about “the land of beauty, Thai tea, and Tuyen girls.”
Tuyen Quang’s climate is mainly divided into two seasons: a cold and dry winter from September to April of the following year, and a hot and humid summer with heavy rainfall from May to August.
Winter in Tuyen Quang is usually coldest in the 11th and 12th lunar months, with frost and biting cold. However, despite the harsh weather, the attractions in Tuyen Quang always don their best seasonal attire, so you can visit at any time.
Nevertheless, spring in Tuyen Quang is still the most ideal time to visit and explore as this is when the trees sprout and bloom, the waterfalls are gentle and serene, and the air is fresh and breezy.
Introduction to Tuyen Quang Tourism
2 Top 15 Tuyen Quang Specialties to Try
Specialties to Try When Visiting Tuyen Quang
Goi Ca Bong (Raw Herring Salad) of Lo River
Goi Ca Bong (Raw Herring Salad) of Lo River
Goi Ca Bong is the first dish you must try after arriving in Tuyen Quang. Fresh green herring, caught from the Lo River, is cleaned and transformed into a delicious salad.
This dish is a harmonious blend of the sweetness of the fish, the nutty aroma of crushed bones, the tangy sourness of lime, and the tingling spiciness of fresh chili, guaranteeing an unforgettable culinary experience with its unique, refreshing, and easy-to-eat flavors.
Reference price: Approximately 100,000 – 250,000 VND/serving
Reference address:
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+ Trang An Restaurant: Pham Van Dong Street, To 4, Tuyen Quang City
Na Hang Black Pig
Na Hang Black Pig
Na Hang Black Pig is a specialty of the Na Hang mountain region. The black pigs are free-range and fed natural spring water, resulting in firm meat, a fragrant aroma, and crispy skin. The black pig can be prepared in a variety of mouthwatering dishes such as grilling, stir-frying with lemongrass, and sour pork… without causing any greasy feeling.
After slaughtering the pig, the locals also make “lap xuong” (sausage) from the intestines. The sausage is made from black pig meat, stuffed into casings, sun-dried, and then hung over the kitchen stove. This delicacy can be stored for up to a year without spoiling. It has a delightful taste and does not cause any greasy feeling.
Reference price: Approximately 70,000 – 150,000 VND/serving
Reference address:
+ Dau Bo Restaurant: 371 Pham Van Dong, Hung Thanh Ward, Tuyen Quang City
+ 3 Chu Long Restaurant: 18 Ngo Gia Kham, Minh Xuan Ward, Tuyen Quang City
Tay Ethnic Sticky Rice Cake with Ant Eggs
Tay Ethnic Sticky Rice Cake with Ant Eggs
Ant eggs, prepared by the Tay ethnic minority, are used as a filling for sticky rice cakes. Savor each small bite to appreciate the delicious taste of sticky rice, the creamy richness of ant eggs blended with the flavors of pepper and chili. However, some people may experience allergic reactions similar to those who are allergic to alcohol or seafood, while others may not.
Reference price: Approximately 10,000 – 15,000 VND/cake
Reference address: Purchase directly from Tay ethnic villages in Tuyen Quang
Chiêm Hóa Field Fish Sauce
Chiêm Hóa Field Fish Sauce
Field fish is a common food source in many places. However, in Chiêm Hóa, it is turned into a special fish sauce loved by many. This is both a traditional dish and a unique medicine of the Tay ethnic minority.
To create the perfect jar of fish sauce, the Tay people invest a significant amount of time, including raising the fish in the fields for 3 months and then fermenting the fish to make the sauce for 10 months before it is ready for consumption. The distinctive flavor of this specialty ensures that anyone who tries it will remember it fondly.
Reference price: Approximately 100,000 – 200,000 VND/jar, depending on the volume
Reference address: Purchase directly from souvenir shops in Chiêm Hóa District, Tuyen Quang
Chiêm Hóa Gai Cake
Chiêm Hóa Gai Cake
Gai cake is a familiar delicacy in many regions, but it is a traditional cake of the Tay ethnic minority, usually made during the seventh lunar month in Tuyen Quang. The cake is wrapped in dry banana leaves, and when unwrapped, you will admire the beautiful black color of the gai leaves on the outside and the distinctive yellow color of the cake’s filling.
To achieve the beautiful black color, the Tay people meticulously grind the gai leaves into a fine powder and mix it with cassava or another type of flour. The filling inside consists of green beans, pork, and fat, resulting in a buttery and sweet taste. The gai cake can be stored for 2-3 days after being made, so many people choose to buy it as a souvenir.
Reference price: Approximately 10,000 – 15,000 VND/pair of cakes
Reference address: Purchase directly from cake-making households in Phuc Huong 1, Vinh Loc Town, Chiêm Hóa District, or from stalls in Tam Co Market, Tuyen Quang City
Soi Lam Sweet Corn
Soi Lam Sweet Corn
Soi Lam sweet corn is preferred over other varieties due to its sweet and tender kernels. Although the corncobs are small, the kernels are round and plump. In the past, this Tuyen Quang specialty was offered to the king.
Sweet corn is typically prepared in various dishes, such as boiling, grilling, making sticky rice or porridge, all of which release a distinctive aroma. When you eat Soi Lam sweet corn, you will undoubtedly enjoy it immensely.
Reference price: 5,000 VND/boiled corncob
Reference address: Purchase directly from corn-growing households in Soi hamlet, Hung Thanh Ward, Tuyen Quang City, or from restaurants selling processed corn in the area
Lang Can Black Pork
Lang Can Black Pork
Lang Can black pork is famous among tourists and locals for its delicious meat. The pigs are allowed to roam freely and are fed a diet of corn, cassava, yam, and wild vegetables… When you taste it, you will notice the firm texture, thick skin, and crispiness, without any greasy feeling. Lang Can black pork can be prepared in various mouthwatering dishes such as ginger and sour pork, stir-fried with lemongrass, grilled with five spices, or roasted pork…
Reference price: Approximately 100,000 – 200,000 VND/kg
Reference location: Lang Can Market, Na Hang; Tam Co Market – P. Tan Quang; or some restaurants in Lang Can specializing in black pork.
Sour Pork
Sour Pork
Sour pork is a specialty of the Dao Tien ethnic group. The dish offers a combination of crispy fat, chewy skin, and a distinctive salty and sour taste. Sour pork tastes even better when served with sticky rice and green perilla leaves. This dish has a unique flavor that is hard to find elsewhere.
Reference price: Approximately 180,000 VND/kg
Reference location: Sour pork production facility, Group 5, Na Hang Town
Five-Color Sticky Rice
Five-Color Sticky Rice
Five-color sticky rice is an indispensable dish for the Tay ethnic group during the Lunar New Year. With wishes for prosperity and abundance, the five-color sticky rice is cooked to be soft and sticky. The colors of the rice are derived from natural dyes such as purple and red leaves and turmeric… Each leaf imparts a unique and beautiful color.
Reference price: Approximately 40,000 – 50,000 VND/serving
Reference location: Bread and sticky rice stall (No. 28 National Highway 37, Son Duong Town); Piccolo Coffee Shop (No. 40 National Highway 37, Son Duong Town)
Chiêm Hóa Gai Cake
Chiêm Hóa Gai Cake
Chiêm Hóa Gai Cake is a delicacy that combines culture with traditional recipes of the local people. The cake is made from glutinous rice, gai leaves, pork, mung beans, etc., and wrapped in dry banana leaves using a traditional method.
Reference price: Approximately 10,000 – 15,000 VND/pair
Reference location: The cake is widely sold at stalls in the central market of Chiêm Hóa District (Vinh Loc Town, Chiêm Hóa District, Tuyen Quang Province)
Tuyen Quang Specialties to Buy as Souvenirs
Ham Yen Sành Cam (Sweet Orange)
