For those who have ever tasted bánh canh or bánh mì chả cá Nha Trang, you know that the topping has an incredibly delicious and naturally chewy texture. Did you know that the process of making chả cá Nha Trang usually starts with pressing the fish to separate the meat from the bones? After that, it’s time to add the spices, including sugar, MSG, salt, pepper, and garlic, before finishing with the crucial step of pounding and shaping the fish paste. Finally, it is vacuum-sealed to ensure freshness so that tourists can buy it as a gift to take home.
Chả cá Nha Trang is typically sold in various forms, including fried fish cakes, fish balls, or fish paste coated with young rice flakes, depending on your preferences and needs.
Nha Trang Bird’s Nest
One of the must-try specialties in Nha Trang is bird’s nest. Khanh Hoa is the cradle of this delicacy. Bird’s nest is a unique gift from nature to the people of this region. During the feudal era, bird’s nest was exclusively served to the king. However, nowadays, you can easily buy bird’s nest products at affordable prices.
Bird’s nest, also known as swiftlet nest, is highly nutritious and beneficial to health. It can promote better sleep, act as a sedative, and aid digestion.
Swiftlets, the birds that produce these nests, typically live in caves or high cliffs above the sea, making their nest harvesting a challenging and arduous task. Once harvested, the nests undergo preliminary processing and are then packaged or processed into various products such as bird’s nest drink, bird’s nest porridge, bird’s nest with blood, and raw bird’s nest. The price of each bird’s nest typically ranges from 3,500,000 to 4,500,000 VND per gram.
Dried Seafood
Dried seafood products like fish, squid, and jellyfish are popular choices for souvenirs among tourists visiting Nha Trang. Depending on the type of seafood, the prices can vary, but they typically range from 50,000 to 500,000 VND. You can easily find these products in the local markets or supermarkets, and they will gladly pack them for you.
One of the biggest advantages of choosing dried seafood as souvenirs is the ease of preservation and transportation.
Additionally, preparing dried seafood for consumption is quick and convenient. You can either dip it directly into a sauce or fry it with oil until it turns golden and crispy. Enjoy your dried seafood with a few glasses of fresh beer to beat the summer heat!
Dried Sea Horse
Sea horses are known for their medicinal properties and are often used to treat and prevent various physiological diseases in both men and women. You can buy dried sea horses as gifts for those who have recently recovered from an illness or as a way to boost your health.
Dried sea horses from Nha Trang are commonly consumed by soaking them in alcohol.
In the market, sea horses are categorized into different types, with prices ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of VND per kilogram. Depending on your budget, you can choose the size and quantity that suit your needs. Typically, tourists buy sea horses in pairs, and the price depends on the size, with larger sea horses commanding a higher price.
Mango Cake
The mango cake’s chewy texture and sweet fragrance make it irresistible.
If you love mangoes or are looking for a unique Nha Trang specialty, mango cake is worth trying. It resembles a soft rice cracker and has a distinctive orange color and a fragrant mango aroma. When eaten, it has a sweet and sour taste and is usually accompanied by a warm cup of tea.
Salt, Chili, and Lemon Dip
This dip is famous in Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa and is made from simple ingredients such as garlic, chili, lemon, salt, and sugar. It is typically sold in plastic bottles of various sizes. You can find it at reputable locations like Cho Xom Moi and Cho Dam markets.
The salt has a savory taste, combined with the aroma of garlic and chili, the sourness of lemon, and the pungency of mustard, creating a harmonious blend perfect for dipping seafood.
A bottle of this delicious dip typically costs less than 30,000 VND.
Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is an indispensable condiment in most Vietnamese meals, and when in Nha Trang, you should consider buying their specialty fish sauce as a souvenir. The local fish sauce is made from fresh anchovies and aged for years to extract the purest essence.
What sets Nha Trang’s fish sauce apart from others is its high nitrogen content, ranging from 20-35. This makes it taste better and distinct from industrially produced fish sauce.
Say Rim
If you’re a fan of snacks, then Say Rim, a Nha Trang specialty, is a must-try. Say (or Nhung) is a small fruit with a dark or dark brown velvety shell and a soft, yellow flesh. When eaten, it initially has a sour taste but leaves a sweet aftertaste. Say Rim offers a range of flavors, from sweet and sour when eaten with sugar to spicy and salty when enjoyed with salted chili.
Say Rim is sold everywhere in Nha Trang, typically priced at 120,000 VND per jar.
If you enjoy snacking on sour, sweet, salty, and spicy treats like various types of sour plums, Say Rim is the perfect choice for you.
Fish Intestine Sauce
Another must-buy specialty in Nha Trang is the fish intestine sauce. This delicacy is made from the intestines of cowfish, tuna, or mackerel and is commonly consumed by the locals in their daily meals.
The process of making fish intestine sauce is quite complex. The intestines are cleaned, salted, and then sun-dried for 2-3 days before they are ready for consumption.
You can purchase this unique sauce at supermarkets or famous markets in Nha Trang, such as Cho Dam and Cho Moi. Don’t forget to ask the sellers to pack it carefully for your convenience during transportation!
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