1. Banh Phu The (Married couple cake)
As the homeland of the Ly dynasty, Dinh Bang (in Tu Son, Bac Ninh province) is often considered the source of the dynasty. This is also where such a specialty comes from. Banh mi phu later followed the royal family into the new capital Hue. As the name suggests, they come not as individuals but in pairs. Wrapped in dried banana leaves, the cakes are iridescent yellow in contrast to the brown color of the leaves. The rice, in turn, surrounds a filling that is a mixture of finely ground chickpeas, sugar, and sometimes shredded coconut. Its sweet taste symbolizes the love of the couple.
Peng Phu The – Photo: @visithuevietnam
2. West Co To Lake
The Eurasian hoe was once a main dish on the menus of Vietnamese royalty, and was named in the old Hanoi folk song “Dumpling melon, Lang basil, cilantro from Dam, Dam Set perch, robot. West”. lake.” Folklore has it that while these birds are migrating to their wintering places, they stop at high mountain peaks in China and Korea, digging and eating precious ginseng, hence the name It is called “sam orange”, which literally translates to “ginseng bird.” For that reason, these pickaxes are said to be an extremely healthy food. Germany Rumor has it that the village of Nghi Tam, located next to the famous lake where birds winter, must pay an annual tribute of 40-50 dong to the Emperor, or else they will be severely punished. was heavily hunted in Vietnam and it is difficult to find one today.
West Co To Lake
3. Anh Vu Carp
If the hoe is the pride of the residents of West Lake, then Anh Vu carp is the trademark of the Bach Hac junction (in Viet Tri, Phu Tho province). The flesh is firm, white and delicious. The fish’s most notable feature is the lips, adjacent to the mutant antennae. Both its flesh and especially its lips are prized and the fish is said to taste better than any other freshwater fish. Like the ill-fated hoe, it is unlikely that in today’s Vietnam people will be able to eat emperor carp.
Anh Vu Carp
4. Lotus seed longan
One would wonder which dessert is worthy of royalty. Among the king’s personal choices will be the lotus seed label. Longan used to promote the king, especially from Hien street, Hung Yen province, has a characteristic ethereal aroma, thick pulp, succulent and firm, usually sweeter than any other type of longan elsewhere. Today, longan is still highly sought after and has a high price.
Longan and lotus seeds – Photo: @longnhanbaominh
5. Dong Gao Chicken
Hung Yen also has another specialty besides longan. Dong Cao chicken is an endemic species, for some reason, purebred only resides in Khoai Chau district. It’s been called an “elephant-footed” bird, perhaps unsurprisingly, having a pair of giant walkers. The bird is tough, strong, and heavy, often reaching the turkey’s 15 lbs limit. It is quite difficult to raise, requiring thorough care from knowledgeable farmers. Contrary to other birds, the meat tastes better as the chicken ages and has a very unique and nutty flavor. The menu is very typical, except for the proudly titled “herb slow-cooked dragon”, with “dragon meat” actually walking giants. This bird has been bred everywhere to improve others, and purebreds are rare today. Owners often refuse to sell them and some are rumored to have built underground coops for their beloved chickens to keep them in when the flu hits.
Dong Tao Chicken – Photo: @lancungnini
6. Banana King
During the Tran Dynasty, which many historians consider to be the most glorious period in Vietnamese history, many high-ranking mandarins and royalty came from Nam Định. To pay tribute to the wise and benevolent king, the people of Nam Dinh have devised a unique gift that is bananas. Still today, the fruit is quite small, with a shiny golden skin, a pleasant aroma and a seductive sweetness. The ability to adapt turned out to be useless, because a certain banana only succumbed to the love of the homeland of the Tran kings.
Ngu Banana – Photo: @traicayntn
7. Com Vong
Com early or Com Vong is another specialty of Thang Long that has been around for more than 1000 years. It was the first tribute to the Ly emperors. Nowadays, most people can come across a snack of nuggets in the street vendors in Hanoi’s Old Quarter every autumn. Locals can choose to eat nuggets alone, with bananas or make a kind of sticky rice. It is also the main ingredient of the famous Hang Than rice cake.
Com Vong – Photo: @alittlediary__
8. Ha Yen shrimp paste
Shrimp sauce is a delicacy of the lowlands and was often presented to the king as tribute. To make this rare premium sauce, local officials often have to send people to Gia Gia area of Co Dam village (present-day Bim Son) to catch a special small shrimp, with a light gray-green color. Chefs are handpicked among the best in the area. Once finished, the paste is light yellow and thick like fine honey. Food does not exist to this day.
Shrimp paste – Photo: cooky
9. Water spinach (Water spinach)
As the food of farmers, water spinach is hardly a candidate for the king’s menu. However, spinach in Linh Chieu (Phuc Tho, Hanoi) was once favored by royal diners because of its soft fibers and delicate taste. It is actually called king’s morning glory. In order to keep its famous character, this vegetable is grown with a lot of effort and care: farmers have to plant it near the banks of the Red River in alluvial soil to take advantage of the constant flow and let the plants take in alluvium. With so much effort to grow a vegetable that is often considered cheap, it is difficult to obtain this plant today.
water spinach
10. Bird’s Nest (Swallow’s Nest)
Created from the saliva of swallows, bird’s nest is a unique delicacy with delicious taste and high nutritional value. Bird’s nest is usually exploited from the offshore islands of Khanh Hoa province. This used to be reserved for absolute kings, as they are extremely difficult to harvest in large quantities and the job is very dangerous. Today, the delicacy has somehow come closer to the enjoyment of the masses, as the natives have learned to keep birds.
To Yen – Photo: @yensaokidi
Source: https://traveland.com.vn
