Must - try food in Ha Giang
If you visit Hà Giang, there are many local specialties that you should try. Some of the most popular dishes include:
1. Thắng cố
This is a famous traditional dish of the H’Mông people. It is similar to a hot pot or stew cooked with various mountain spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise. Traditionally, it is made from horse meat and organs, but nowadays it is also commonly cooked with beef, buffalo, or pork to make it easier for visitors to eat.
2. Cháo ấu tẩu (Au Tau porridge)
This is one of the most unique dishes in Hà Giang. It is made from ấu tẩu root, sticky rice, and pork trotters. The porridge tastes slightly bitter at first but becomes rich and sweet afterward. Local people believe it helps warm the body and prevent colds.
3. Đồng Văn steamed rice rolls (Bánh cuốn Đồng Văn)
This dish is different from steamed rice rolls in other regions. Instead of fish sauce, it is served with a hot pork bone broth, making it a popular breakfast dish in the Đồng Văn Old Quarter.
4. Thắng dền
This is a popular street snack similar to sweet rice balls. It is made from glutinous rice flour with mung bean or sesame filling and served in warm ginger syrup, which is perfect for the cold weather in the mountains.
5. Mèn mén
A traditional dish of the H’Mông people made from steamed ground corn. It is a simple and rustic food that is usually eaten with soup or meat.
6. Smoked buffalo meat (Thịt trâu gác bếp)
Buffalo meat is marinated with spices and then smoked above the kitchen fire for several days. When eaten, the meat is shredded into strips and often dipped in chẩm chéo (a local dipping sauce).
7. Grilled moss (Rêu nướng)
This is a unique local dish made from moss collected from mountain streams. The moss is mixed with spices, wrapped in leaves, and grilled over charcoal, giving it a distinctive flavor of the mountains.
If it is your first time visiting Hà Giang, you can try these dishes in this order because they are easier for visitors to enjoy