Sour Pho

A unique twist on the traditional Hanoi Pho, Cao Bang’s sour pho features a distinct mildly sour broth, coupled with fragrant rice noodles, roasted duck, and crispy pork belly. To enhance the flavor, a dash of vinegar, sugar, and fish sauce is added as a dipping sauce.

What sets this dish apart is the crispy, deep-fried pork belly and roasted duck marinated in a secret blend of spices, served with crispy taro and a variety of herbs such as basil, shredded water spinach, and coriander, with a squeeze of lime and a hint of chili to elevate the flavors.

Cao Bang’s sour pho is typically accompanied by a tangy dipping sauce.

Ant Egg Cake

A seasonal delicacy, the ant egg cake is made primarily from ant eggs collected during the late April to early May period when black forest ants are at their peak growth.

Beyond the ant eggs, the cake features a unique wrapper made from glutinous rice flour and young leaves of the banyan tree. Only the eggs of a specific type of ant with a brown body, black abdomen, pointed tail, and larger size are used. These eggs are carefully cleaned and stir-fried with minced pork to create a delicious filling. After preparing the wrapper and filling, the cakes are steamed for 45 minutes until cooked through.

Cao Bang-Style Bánh Cuốn

While bánh cuốn is a popular dish in many regions, the Cao Bang version offers a unique twist with a familiar taste. Unlike other places, the rice noodles for this dish are only prepared upon order, ensuring freshness. The thin rice noodles are not served with the typical sweet and sour fish sauce but instead accompanied by a bowl of hot bone broth, imparting a delicate and enticing sweetness.

Cao Bang’s bánh cuốn is served with a bone broth instead of the usual fish sauce.

Black Jelly

A refreshing dessert, black jelly is crafted from a local herb called the black jelly plant, predominantly grown in Cao Bang. When the plant bears flower buds, the stems and leaves are harvested, dried, and used to create the jelly. To ensure the jelly sets quickly and maintains a crisp texture, it is cooked with a small amount of wood ash water.

Free from artificial colors and preservatives, this dessert can be enjoyed on its own or paired with toppings such as tapioca pearls, fresh milk, or caramel for a more indulgent treat.

Black jelly is made from a local herb, the black jelly plant.

Ap Chao Cake

A beloved snack during the winter months, the Ap Chao cake is a crispy and fragrant treat. This savory cake features a crispy outer layer with a soft and aromatic interior, filled with flavorful roasted duck meat. It is typically served with a side of pickled vegetables and a sweet and sour fish sauce for dipping.

To create this delicacy, a combination of glutinous rice, regular rice, and soybeans are ground and left to ferment for 3 to 4 hours before frying, ensuring a consistent puffiness. The filling consists of boneless, marinated duck meat, deep-fried to a golden crisp in hot oil.

Frequently asked questions

There are several mouth-watering specialties in Cao Bang that travelers should not miss. First is the seasonal specialty, ‘Win Fruit’, which is a unique, fragrant fruit that grows in the limestone mountains. It is usually made into a delicious, sweet wine. Second, is the famous ‘Bitter Melon’, a vegetable with a unique bitter taste, often used in stir-fries and soups. Third, ‘Mountain Chicken’ is a local delicacy, a type of frog found in the mountains, prepared in a variety of ways, including grilling and stewing. Fourth, ‘Stream Fish’ are small, tasty fish caught in the region’s streams and cooked in a delicious tomato soup. Lastly, ‘Five Colors Rice’ is a traditional dish made from five types of rice, each with a different color and flavor, creating a beautiful and flavorful dish.

Win Fruit is a unique delicacy native to the limestone mountains of Cao Bang. This fragrant fruit has a distinct aroma and is often made into a sweet wine. It is a seasonal specialty, as the fruit is typically harvested between July and September, making it a rare treat for locals and travelers alike.

The Bitter Melon found in Cao Bang has a more intense bitter taste compared to other varieties. It is a key ingredient in many local dishes, adding a unique flavor to stir-fries and soups. The vegetable is also believed to have various health benefits, including improving blood sugar control and boosting the immune system.

Mountain Chicken is a delicacy unique to Cao Bang, as it is not actually chicken, but a specific type of frog found in the mountainous regions. It is considered a delicacy due to its tender meat and versatile preparation methods. Mountain Chicken can be grilled, stewed, or prepared in a variety of local dishes, offering a tasty and nutritious treat.

Stream Fish, caught fresh from the region’s streams, are prepared in a delicious tomato soup. The small, tasty fish are first cleaned and then cooked in a flavorful broth made with ripe tomatoes, creating a hearty and comforting dish.

Five Colors Rice is a traditional dish unique to Cao Bang, made from five different types of rice, each with its own distinct color and flavor. The dish is carefully prepared to create a beautiful presentation, with each color of rice representing a different flavor. It is a symbol of the region’s agricultural diversity and a tasty treat for both locals and visitors.

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