When visiting Kon Tum, don’t miss out on the 15 delicious specialties that are perfect for enjoying on the spot and buying as souvenirs, such as Mang Den’s sweet black elderberry wine, Cao Nguyen red vermicelli, and Ghe wine. Join us to explore these delights!
1 Introduction to Kon Tum Tourism
Located in the north of the Central Highlands, Kon Tum holds a significant geo-political and economic position at the tri-border area of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Most of the province lies west of the Annamite Range and boasts abundant natural resources and diverse ethnic groups.
Kon Tum captivates visitors with its natural beauty, including Ya Ly Lake, Dak To hot springs, Mang Den pine forest, and Dak Nung Waterfall. These attractions have the potential to become scenic tourist destinations. The province also boasts revolutionary historical relics such as the Kon Tum Prison, Dak To – Tan Canh Victory Relic, and Dak Glei Prison. Additionally, Kon Tum is home to indigenous traditional villages that showcase the unique cultural heritage of the region.
Introduction to Kon Tum Tourism
2 Top 15 Kon Tum Specialties to Try and Buy as Souvenirs
Specialties to Try in Kon Tum
Cao Nguyen Red Vermicelli
A bowl of Cao Nguyen red vermicelli is a delightful mix of colors: the red of the broth, the brown of the fish cakes, the orange of the crab dumplings, and the white of the quail eggs. This dish has a unique and mouthwatering flavor, and it is a characteristic food of the region. Be sure to try it when visiting Kon Tum, especially for breakfast, paired with a cup of coffee.
- Address: Duy Tan Market – 267 Tran Khanh Du, Duy Tan, Kon Tum City
- Price: 15,000 – 30,000 VND (~$0.63 – $1.27)
Cao Nguyen Red Vermicelli
Goi La (Herb Salad)
Goi La is a distinctive dish that combines the flavors of various herbs with a dipping sauce that balances sour, bitter, spicy, and pungent tastes. There are up to 30 types of herbs used in this dish, some of which are unique to Kon Tum, such as dai bi leaves, tram leaves, mat gau leaves, buea leaves, and red ngang nghanh leaves. Other more commonly found herbs include five-flavor bishop’s weed, chum ruot, mango leaves, sour leaves, sung leaves, ding gling leaves, guava leaves, cabbage, crab claws, and perilla leaves.
- Address: Ut Cung Restaurant – 45 Tran Cao Van, Kon Tum City
- Price: 20,000 – 50,000 VND (~$0.84 – $2.11)
Goi La (Herb Salad)
Ghe Wine
Ghe wine has a very distinct flavor due to the type of yeast used in its fermentation, which is made from various roots and leaves found in the deep forest by the local ethnic people. This gives the wine a unique taste of the wilderness. To make a proper jar of Ghe wine, over 20 types of leaves and roots from the forest are required, making it a laborious process.
- Address: Kon Jơ Ri Village, Dak Rơ Wa Commune, Kon Tum City
- Price: 300,000 – 500,000 VND/jar (~$12.66 – $21.10)
Ghe Wine
Roasted Mang Den Pig
The Mang Den pig, a native breed raised by the local ethnic people, is allowed to roam and forage freely. This results in thin-skinned pigs with little fat, sweet and tender meat. Typically, these pigs weigh around 20 kg. After slaughtering, the offal is marinated with various spices and prepared in unique ways, while the whole pig is roasted over red-hot charcoal. The taste of this pork is distinct from regular pork, so be sure to give it a try.
- Address: Mang Den Tourist Area, Kon Plong District
- Price: Around 200,000 VND/kg (~$8.44)
Roasted Mang Den Pig
Ca Chua (Sour Fish)
Ca Chua is a unique, rustic dish that becomes more flavorful the longer it is preserved. It is a specialty of the Jẻ Chiêng ethnic group. In the past, due to food scarcity, the locals would preserve any food they caught, such as by hanging it over the fireplace, drying it, or smoking it. Ca Chua fish is no exception to this preservation method.
- Address: Gia Bao Restaurant, Dak Choong, Dak Glei, Kon Tum
- Price: Around 90,000 VND (~$3.79)
Ca Chua (Sour Fish)
Ca Goi (Fish with Yellow Ants)
Ca Goi is a flavorful dish that combines the sweetness and freshness of river fish with the sourness of yellow ants and the unique aroma of forest herbs. The main ingredients include river fish, yellow ants and their eggs, and forest leaves. The fish is deboned, skinned, and minced, then placed in a large bowl. By shaking a tree branch, yellow ants fall into the bowl and start biting the fish, releasing an enzyme that “cooks” the fish. After half an hour, the ant eggs are added, and the ingredients are mixed and drained, resulting in a delicious dish.
- Address: 16 Tran Cao Van, Thong Nhat, Kon Tum
- Price: Around 150,000 VND (~$6.33)
Ca Goi (Fish with Yellow Ants)
Kon Tum Fried Crickets
Fried crickets are a unique local delicacy and a fun snack for those adventurous enough to try them. The dish offers a full experience of the crispiness and fattiness of crickets, with a distinct flavor. Additionally, restaurants often serve a variety of cricket dishes, including fried crickets, cricket porridge, and cricket hot pot, each with its own unique taste.
- Address: 146 Ba Trieu Street, Thang Loi, Kon Tum City,
- Price: Around 100,000 VND (~$4.22)
Kon Tum Fried Crickets
Bitter Eggplant
The size of a fingertip, this green eggplant is bitter yet refreshing, especially when paired with sweet fish, spicy chili peppers, and fragrant herbs. Locals often enjoy this dish after a hard day’s work, gathering together to share this simple yet flavorful meal. Be sure to try this unique dish when visiting Kon Tum.
- Address: Dak Long, Kon Plong, Kon Tum, Vietnam
- Price: 20,000 – 30,000 VND (~$0.84 – $1.27)
Bitter Eggplant
Field Mouse Meat
The Jẻ Triêng people of Dak Glei District consider field mouse meat a delicacy. The two most popular dishes are grilled field mouse and smoked field mouse. The best time to enjoy this specialty is during the rice harvest season when the mice are at their largest and most flavorful. The locals catch the mice in the fields and singe them over dry straw, preserving the sweet aroma and taste of the meat.
- Address: 38 Nguyen Van Troi, Plei Can, Ngoc Hoi, Kon Tum
- Price: Around 100,000 VND (~$4.22)
Field Mouse Meat
Hedgehog Meat
The Brao ethnic group is known for their delicious and unique hedgehog meat dishes. Hedgehog meat is lean and firm, with a thick layer of crispy skin. It is also highly nutritious, providing essential nutrients to the body. Hedgehog meat can be prepared in various ways, each with its own distinct flavor, depending on the region.
- Address: 73 Restaurant – 367 Hung Vuong, Thang Loi Ward, Kon Tum City
- Price: Around 200,000 VND (~$8.44)
Hedgehog Meat
Kon Tum Specialties to Buy as Souvenirs
Mang Den Sweet Black Elderberry Wine
During the black elderberry season, the Xê Đăng and Cơ Tu ethnic people harvest the ripe berries and sell them to wineries. These wineries use a special type of yeast from France to ferment the wine. The resulting beverage has a natural, wild flavor with a touch of elegance. This wine is an excellent choice for those looking for unique gifts for family, friends, and loved ones. Additionally, it has beauty and health benefits, including improving skin, heart, and digestive health and combating aging.
- Address: Mang Den Village, Dak Long Commune, Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province
- Price: 300,000 – 375,000 VND/375ml bottle (~$12.66 – $15.83)
Mang Den Sweet Black Elderberry Wine
Mang Le Bamboo Shoots
Kon Tum’s temperate climate is ideal for growing bamboo, resulting in the region’s famous Mang Le bamboo shoots. After harvesting, the bamboo shoots undergo a meticulous process of cleaning, preparation, and drying to create the final product. This specialty is a popular choice for those looking to bring home a taste of Kon Tum for their loved ones.
- Address: 34 Ly Thuong Kiet, Kon Tum City
- Price: 250,000 – 350,000 VND/kg (~$10.56 – $14.78)
