Kiên Giang is a province located in the Southwest of Vietnam, with many advantages in aquaculture and agriculture. Therefore, the cuisine here is quite developed with richness and diversity in processing methods and ingredients. Let’s explore Kiên Giang specialties with Kamereo in the following article!
Kiên Giang specialties that tourists should try once
Kiên Giang is a province located in the Southwest of Vietnam, with an abundance of raw materials. Therefore, the province has many delicious specialties, with rich flavors that delight diners from near and far.
Sour soup with rich turmeric and dill flavor
Sour soup with rich turmeric and dill flavor is no longer unfamiliar to those who love to explore Kiên Giang specialties. The characteristic flavor of this dish has “addicted” tourists from near and far. Therefore, when you have the opportunity to visit Kiên Giang, you should not miss the chance to enjoy sour soup with rich turmeric and dill flavor.
After being carefully prepared, sour soup with rich turmeric and dill flavor emits a special aroma that is attractive. In addition, the firm and delicious fish, when combined with sour broth, create a harmonious and captivating dish.
Especially when enjoying sour soup with rich turmeric and dill flavor, it should be served with fresh vermicelli, water spinach, and meat dipped in fish sauce. The characteristic flavor of turmeric and dill combined with sweet and sour fish sauce will leave an unforgettable impression on you.
Price reference: about 140,000 – 280,000 VND/kg.
Address reference:
- Mui Nai tourist area, block 3, Phao Dai ward, Ha Tien town.
- Nui Den street, block 3, Phao Dai ward, Ha Tien town.
Phu Quoc snakehead fish rice
Phu Quoc snakehead fish rice is one of the attractive specialties of Kiên Giang, the pearl island. The dish is a perfect combination of the flavors of land, sea, and rustic essence.
The dish carries the rich flavor of the sea with fragrant white rice combined with delicious snakehead fish, chicken eggs, soy sauce, and the spicy taste of chili. This combination creates a rich and attractive dish, reminiscent of the culinary culture of the pearl island Phu Quoc.
In addition, the colors of the snakehead fish fried rice are very eye-catching, from the yellow of the eggs to the pink of the snakehead fish meat, and the red color of the chili, plus a bit of green from the vegetables, creating a colorful and attractive culinary picture.
Price reference: About 40,000 – 200,000 VND/portion.
Address reference:
- Song Xanh restaurant: No. 217 30 Thang 4, Duong Dong ward, Phu Quoc city.
- Viet Phu Quoc snakehead fish fried rice restaurant: No. 61 Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong ward, Phu Quoc city.
- Trung Duong Marina Restaurant: No. 136 30/4, block 1, Duong Dong ward, Phu Quoc city.
Ha Tien steamed noodles
Ha Tien steamed noodles is one of the unique specialties of Kiên Giang, attracting diners with its characteristic delicious taste and the simplicity of Southwest street food culture.
Different from noodles in other places, this dish is known for its soft and chewy noodles. Instead of boiling in water, the noodles are steamed through steam, then immersed directly into boiling water. In addition, the broth for steamed noodles is made from winning coconut core, bringing a distinctive, rich, and creamy flavor.
To enjoy Ha Tien steamed noodles with a complete flavor, you need ingredients such as: lean pork, fried spring rolls, mixed pork skin,… This combination creates a rich, sweet, and harmonious flavor of many attractive spices.
Price reference: About 15,000 – 35,000 VND/bowl.
Address reference:
- Various eateries along Mac Cong Dung Intersection, Lam Son, Ha Tien town, Kiên Giang province.
- Roadside steamed noodle stall: No. 3 Lam Son, Dong Ho, Ha Tien town.
- Ha Tien steamed noodles – Fried spring roll noodle soup: No. 56 Mac Thien Tich, Binh San, Ha Tien town.
Pickled snakehead fish salad
Pickled snakehead fish salad is a popular specialty of Kiên Giang in coastal areas, with a unique and distinctive flavor. Accordingly, snakehead fish from this region often has sweet and rich meat. Locals are meticulous in processing to make pickled snakehead fish salad more attractive. In addition, after being cleaned and thinly sliced, the fish is dipped in vinegar to maintain its crispness.
The pickled snakehead fish salad is often enjoyed with rice paper. You can dip a piece of rice paper with raw vegetables, lettuce, snakehead fish, coconut, and peanuts. Then, roll it up and enjoy it with sweet and sour fish sauce. The flavor of pickled snakehead fish salad is a harmonious combination of fresh ingredients, creating a special culinary experience.
Although it is a raw seafood dish, Kiên Giang pickled snakehead fish salad brings a special and unique flavor without causing an unpleasant fishy smell. However, you should eat in moderation because raw food can cause stomach pain, especially for those with weak digestion.
Price reference: About 100,000 – 200,000 VND/plate.
Address reference:
- Ngoc Hoa restaurant: No. 415 Lam Quang Ky, Vinh Lac ward, Rach Gia town.
- Xin Chao restaurant: No. 66 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
- Song Xanh restaurant: No. 217 30 Thang 4, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
- Viet Phu Quoc restaurant: No. 261 Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
Phu Quoc stir-fried rice noodles
If you have the opportunity to travel to Kiên Giang, you cannot miss Phu Quoc stir-fried rice noodles – a famous specialty of the pearl island. Although named Phu Quoc stir-fried rice noodles, this dish actually originates from Binh Dinh province. Accordingly, Phu Quoc stir-fried rice noodles are a variation of shrimp rice noodles when fishermen here bring it to Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc stir-fried rice noodles mesmerize diners not only because of its delicious taste but also because of its unique serving style. Local people said the name “stir-fried noodles” comes from the need to stir the self-mixed dipping sauce, including: soup powder, sugar, kumquat, ground chili, and a little broth to create a rich and characteristic mixture.
Price reference: About 55,000 VND/bowl.
Address reference:
- Kiến X Y Stir-Fried Noodles: 28 Bach Dang, Duong Dong ward, Phu Quoc city.
- Thanh Hung stir-fried noodle stall: No. 77 Ba Muoi Tu, Duong Dong ward, Phu Quoc city.
- Phu Quoc United Center “non-sleep” food street: Ganh Dau Cape, Phu Quoc city.
Kiên Giang specialties as gifts for loved ones and friends
Phu Quoc fish sauce
Phu Quoc fish sauce is one of the famous specialties of Kiên Giang, known not only domestically but also worldwide for its distinctive and impressive flavor. Through meticulous production processes, using fresh Phu Quoc anchovies and traditional distillation techniques.
Phu Quoc fish sauce carries the rich flavor of the national identity, bringing a sweet and rich taste in every drop. Because of this, Phu Quoc fish sauce is a meaningful gift that cannot be missed when you visit Kiên Giang and want to bring back to give to your loved ones.
Price reference: Approximately 150,000 – 200,000 VND/liter.
Address reference:
- Khải Hoàn Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: No. 11 Hùng Vương, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
- Phu Quoc Phụng Hưng Fish Sauce: No. 471 Nguyen Van Cu, Ward 4, An Thoi ward, Phu Quoc city.
- Phu Quoc Thinh Phat Fish Sauce: No. 30, ward 1, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
- Phu Quoc Hung Thinh Fish Sauce: No. 219 30/4, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
- Nam Ngư Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: Group 1, Suoi Da hamlet, Duong To commune, Phu Quoc city.
Mushroom
When it comes to Kiên Giang specialties, one cannot overlook mushrooms – a popular specialty in Phu Quoc. However, there is not always an opportunity to enjoy this type of mushroom; you need to come during the rainy season when the leaves and bark of the truffle trees fall and decompose to create nutrients for mushroom growth. Mushrooms can be processed into many attractive dishes, suitable as gifts for your loved ones and family.
Price reference: Approximately 100,000 – 150,000 VND/kg.
Address reference: Night Market Bach Dang: Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc city.
Xiêm sticky rice
Xiêm sticky rice is a Kiên Giang specialty that you should enjoy and buy as a gift when you have the opportunity to visit. This dish is made from premium Thai sticky rice, steamed to preserve the delicious aroma of rice. The filling includes steamed chicken eggs with coconut water, palm sugar, and Thai white sugar, creating a special sweet and fatty taste.
Price reference: Approximately 10,000 – 15,000 VND/pack.
Address reference: Ha Tien Night Market – Street No. 6, Phao Dai ward, Ha Tien.
Pandan leaf tube cake
Pandan leaf tube cake is a snack originating from the Khmer people and has been imported into Kiên Giang for a long time. This cake is made from glutinous rice, grated coconut, pandan leaves, and sesame seeds. All ingredients are kneaded into cylindrical shapes, so the finished product is called pandan leaf tube cake.
With the characteristic flavor of pandan leaves, the cake has a distinctive aroma, combined with the fatty taste of grated coconut and the pleasant sweetness of sesame seeds. If you have the opportunity to visit Kiên Giang, bring this dish back because your loved ones will surely enjoy it.
Price reference: Approximately 5,000 VND/piece.
Address reference: Night markets and specialty shops in Kiên Giang.
Squilla
Squilla is a type of seafood living in coastal areas, estuaries, and brackish waters. With its unique appearance, long and thick whiskers, squilla attracts everyone’s attention. This is a Kiên Giang specialty rich in nutrients and beneficial for health, especially for men.
Usually, people salt squilla to preserve it longer and easier to process into various dishes. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to visit Kiên Giang, you can buy this item as a gift for your loved ones.
Price reference: Approximately 250,000 VND/kg.
Address reference: Squilla Salt Ha Tien TRANG – Fish Market, Ha Tien town.
Palm sugar tube cake
Palm sugar tube cake is a “exclusive” specialty of Phu Quoc Island district. The special feature of this cake is that it is wrapped in palm sugar leaves instead of banana leaves or dong leaves as usual.
When enjoying the cake, you will feel the characteristic aroma of pandan leaves blending with the fatty taste of green beans and fat meat, creating an attractive and unforgettable taste. Therefore, this is a type of specialty that you should bring back for your family to enjoy.
Price reference: Approximately 10,000 VND/piece.
Address reference: Various markets and specialty shops in Kiên Giang.
Dried seafood
When visiting Kiên Giang, you should not miss the experience of the typical seafood of this region. In addition to enjoying fresh seafood on the spot, you can also buy various dried seafood as gifts or for gradual consumption. Some types of dried seafood that you can consider are: dried shrimp, dried squid, dried tuna, etc.
Price reference: Approximately 150,000 – 300,000 VND/kg depending on the type.
Address reference: Rach Gia Market – Hai Ba Trung, Vinh Thanh ward, Rach Gia city.
Above is a summary of Kiên Giang specialties that you should try and buy as gifts. I hope the article provides useful information for you. Don’t forget to follow the Regional specialties section to update many delicious dishes across Vietnam!
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