Vĩnh Phúc is a must-visit destination when exploring the northern region of Vietnam, and here we suggest some specialties to try and buy as gifts for your loved ones.
1 Introduction to Vĩnh Phúc Tourism
Vĩnh Phúc boasts both scenic landscapes and historical and cultural heritage, including UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage. It is an ideal destination for a short break away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Located in a tropical monsoon climate zone, Vĩnh Phúc has an average annual temperature of 23 – 25 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit is during summer or autumn to enjoy the cool and pleasant weather. The wild sunflower season usually falls between late November and early December.
Vĩnh Phúc is just over 60 km from Hanoi, and you can easily get there by car, bus, coach, taxi, or even motorbike.
About Vĩnh Phúc
2 Top 15 Vĩnh Phúc Specialties to Try and Buy
Specialties to Try in Vĩnh Phúc
Cá thính Lập Thạch (Lập Thạch Fermented Fish)
This specialty, created by the people of Văn Quán, is a must-try when in Vĩnh Phúc. The ingredients include fresh fish, roasted rice, galangal, chili, and star fruit leaves. Commonly used fish are snakehead, carp, and catfish. The dish has a rich, sour, and spicy flavor that lingers on the palate.
Price: Around 150,000 – 250,000 VND per kg
Suggested place to try: Đán Tuyết Restaurant: QL2C, Thái hoà, Lập Thạch, Vĩnh Phúc
Cá thính Lập Thạch
Chè kho Tứ Yên (Tứ Yên Stewed Sweet Porridge)
Dating back to the time of Emperor Lý Nam Đế, this sweet porridge has become a specialty of Vĩnh Phúc. It has a unique flavor, blending the aroma of mung beans and grapefruit with the spiciness of ginger.
Price: About 15,000 – 20,000 VND per bowl
Suggested place to try: Tứ Yên Market: Làng Tứ Yên, Tứ Yên, Sông Lô
Chè kho Tứ Yên
Bánh trùng mật mía Vĩnh Tường (Vĩnh Tường Sweet Potato and Cassava Cake)
This cake, a specialty of Vĩnh Tường, looks similar to the popular Vietnamese dish bánh trôi nước. The cake has a reddish color and a mild aroma. The roasted cassava and sweet potato give it a nutty flavor.
Price: Approximately 20,000 – 30,000 VND per serving
Suggested place to try: Vĩnh Trường Market: Đại Đồng, Vĩnh Tường, Vĩnh Phúc
Bánh trùng mật mía Vĩnh Tường
Bò tái kiến đốt (Beef with Stir-fried Ants)
This dish is prepared in a unique way, with the beef placed on large ant nests in trees. The ants are then provoked to come out and bite the meat, infusing it with their distinct flavors. Different types of ants contribute different aromas and tastes, from sour to spicy-sweet. This dish is not only a delicacy but also believed to have medicinal properties for nerve and joint pain.
After the ants have bitten the meat, it is washed with diluted salt water and grilled over charcoal until cooked. It is typically served with a secret sauce and fresh herbs, making it a mouthwatering delicacy.
Price: Around 350,000 VND per kg
Suggested place to buy: Tam Đảo Market: Dốc Tam Đảo, Tam Đảo
Bò tái kiến đốt
Su su Tam Đảo (Tam Đảo Chayote)
Tam Đảo is known for its chayote cultivation. This vegetable has a crisp and sweet taste and can be prepared in various dishes, such as stir-fried shoots, boiled shoots, or stir-fried fruits.
Price: About 10,000 – 20,000 VND per bunch
Suggested place to buy: Tam Đảo Market: Dốc thị trấn, Tam Đảo
Su su Tam Đảo
Bánh gio Tây Đình (Tây Đình Sticky Rice Cakes)
These sticky rice cakes have a captivating golden-brown color and a fragrant aroma. They are easy to eat and have a refreshing taste, with a honey-like transparency. The cakes are typically dipped in molasses to enhance their flavor.
Price: About 10,000 – 15,000 VND per cake.
Suggested place to buy: Nội Tam Hợp Market: Tam Hợp, Bình Xuyên, Vĩnh Phúc
Bánh gio Tây Đình
Bánh nẳng Lập Thạch (Lập Thạch Leaf-wrapped Cakes)
These cakes are made from glutinous rice soaked overnight in water mixed with ash from parasitic plants, xoan leaves, or sycamore leaves. They are wrapped in chít leaves and can be found at Tràng Market.
Price: About 15,000 VND per cake
Suggested place to buy: Nhân Đạo Market: Nhân Đạo, Sông Lô, Vĩnh Phúc
Bánh nẳng Lập Thạch
Bánh quấn Tam Đảo (Tam Đảo Rolled Cakes)
Similar to bánh cuốn, these rolled cakes are served with pork, fried eggs, or chicken wings. A special way to enjoy them is with grilled chicken from the local hills, dipped in a sweet and sour fish sauce.
Price: About 20,000 – 35,000 VND per plate
Suggested place to buy: Tam Đảo Market: Dốc thị trấn, Tam Đảo
Bánh quấn Tam Đảo
Specialties to Buy as Gifts from Vĩnh Phúc
Dứa Tam Dương (Tam Dương Pineapples)
When it comes to Vĩnh Phúc, one of its famous products is the pineapples from Tam Dương, the district with the largest pineapple cultivation in the province. Each variety has its unique characteristics, such as the mild yellow Mỡ Gà, the small and thin-skinned Hướng Đạo, and the sweet and juicy Mật.
Price: About 10,000-20,000 VND per kg
Suggested place to buy: Thanh Vân Market: Thanh Vân, Tam Dương, Vĩnh Phúc
Dứa Tam Dương
Tiên Tửu Ngọc Hoa (Ngọc Hoa Fairy Wine)
A distinctive drink from Yên Lạc, Vĩnh Phúc, is the beautifully named Tiên Tửu Ngọc Hoa. This wine is made from coconut mixed with glutinous rice and yeast, then sealed and left to ferment. It has a strong yet sweet taste and doesn’t cause dizziness or headaches like other alcoholic drinks.
Price: About 100,000 – 200,000 VND per coconut
Suggested place to buy: Ngọc Hoa Agricultural Product Purchasing and Processing Facility: Đông Mẫu Village, Yên Đồng, Yên Lạc, Vĩnh Phúc
Tiên Tửu Ngọc Hoa
Bánh ngõa Lũng Ngoại (Lũng Ngoại Sweet Potato and Cassava Cakes)
These cakes are a delightful combination of sweet potato, cassava, and molasses, resulting in a delicious and visually appealing treat. They have a mild sweetness and a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Price: About 25,000 – 30,000 VND per box of 10 cakes
Suggested place to buy: Lũng Ngoại Market: Lũng Hòa, Vĩnh Tường
Bánh ngõa Lũng Ngoại
Tép Dầu Đầm Vạc (Đầm Vạc Oil Shrimp)
A famous specialty of northern Vietnam, these shrimp from Đầm Vạc are a delicacy. They are commonly used in sour soup or cooked with vegetables.
Price: About 200,000 – 250,000 VND per kg.
Suggested place to buy: Đầm Vạc Market: Đống Đa, Vĩnh Yên
Tép Dầu Đầm Vạc
Giò lụa Phúc Đức (Phúc Đức Pork Roll)
The attention to detail in selecting ingredients and using specific tools in the preparation process has made Phúc Đức pork roll a renowned specialty and a popular choice for souvenirs from Vĩnh Phúc.
Price: About 200,000-250,000 VND per kg
Suggested place to buy: Vĩnh Yên Market: Đống Đa, Vĩnh Yên, Vĩnh Phúc
Giò lụa Phúc Đức
Bánh Gạo Lập Thạch (Lập Thạch Rice Cakes)
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