Step into Dong Van as the culinary heart of the Ha Giang Tour, where every flavor has a tale just as majestic as its terrains! Beyond the stunning stone plateaus and clouded valleys, Dong Van offers travelers the opportunity to unravel a rich tapestry of special local food you should try in Dong Van, cooked up by the hands of generations of H’mong, Tay, and Dao people. With Impress Travel, it’s all about discovering more of Northern Vietnam. Every dish you will try in Ha Giang Tours becomes a story of culture, history, and taste.
There’s no doubt the multi-ethnic soul of Dong Van creates the culinary magic. The local economy depends on trade that takes place by boat, carrying the tastes of this diverse land of the H’mong, Dao, Tay, and Lo Lo. For generations, they have harvested amazing food traditions, stemming from their harsh highland landscapes and northern climate. Here, smoking meats over open flames, fermenting wild herbs, and slow-steaming grains are not simply cooking methods; they are survival skills transformed into cultural art forms. Your Ha Giang Tours. Every single bite of special local food should try in Dong Van that you take means a brief window into a life of determination and soulful innovation.
Each dish is infused with the bounty of nature. Vibrant markets of Dong Van. The markets are replete with seasonal corn, solid buckwheat, aromatic forest herbs, and free-roaming meats. Nothing goes to waste, thanks to venerable preservation methods, and every meal turns into a living archive of the highlanders’ wisdom. From the deep-smoky flavor of Lap xuong gac bep to the earthy sweetness of Banh tam giac mach, when you travel with Ha Giang Tours, you aren’t just eating, you’re walking into a story that was honed over centuries. To enjoy such special local food should try in Dong Van is truly a journey to discover when appearing in the land of the northern highlands.
Special local food should try in Dong Van, the most delicious you can take is certainly Pho Trang Kim. Far from the Hanoi silky thin noodles, Pho Trang Kim uses hand-cut, thick, and just very slightly less than perfect noodles, which conveys a shabby chic touch. The broth is an ambrosial combination of free-range chicken stewed for hours, with a light but full-bodied flavour that will bring warmth through you on cloudy highland mornings.
The highlight? The noodles, which are tinted golden from a dab of turmeric, not only look pleasing to the eye but add to the flavor, too.
Best enjoyed at:
Pho Trang Kim (Sours: crystalbay)
And, on the list of special local food should try in Dong Van, there is the fragile but strong Banh cuon Chan. Banh cuon, elsewhere may be accompanied by sweetened fish sauce, but here at Dong Van, it comes with a deep, umami-rich pork bone broth.
The rice sheets are so fine and silky that they nearly dissolve on your tongue, but they maintain their structure around fillings of minced pork and wood ear mushrooms.
Where to try it:
Banh cuon Chan (Sours: hagiang.gov)
Any list of local hotpot and mountain food that declines to run the risk of eating Thang Co in Dong Van is simply inadequate! Originating in the H’mong community, it is made up of horse or buffalo organs boiled with cardamom, cinnamon, and a sprinkling of forest herbs.
Adventurous as it may sound, this is the dish to help one commune with the spirit of this highland repast. Thang Co used to be eaten with the sound of songs and laughter around the pot, and lots of rounds of homemade corn wine as well.
Where to experience:
Thang Co (Sours: crystalbay)
One of the most daring special local food should try in Dong Van would be Tiet canh Lon Man, raw wild boar blood pudding. It’s a dish that showcases the courage and generosity of the highland peeps! Usually treated with a great deal of care to ensure the safety of the ingredients, the blood is mixed with toasted peanuts, mint, and cilantro and a squeeze of lime for an unexpected texture and tartness.
Important: Those of you with delicate stomachs should proceed with caution. But, if you are feeling adventurous, being able to stomach Tiet canh is a rite of passage on any Ha Giang Tours trip.
Best spot:
Tiet canh Lon Man (Sours: Biển Nguyễn ngọc)
For the best comfort food, Thang Den stands out with its special local food should try in Dong Van. Imagine a highland variation on the southern dessert che troi nuoc: soft glutinous rice balls, stuffed with a sweet mung bean paste, bobbing gently in a warm ginger syrup slicked with coconut milk.
It’s great to eat as a snack after an exhausting day when you spend for trekking in the legendary land of Ha Giang Tours.
Where to savor it:
Thang Den (Sours: hagiang.gov)
One of the most intriguing special local food should try in Dong Van is colorful Xoi ngu sac. This vibrant sticky rice is more than a feast for the eyes, it is a symbolic celebration of the five natural elements: earth, water, fire, metal, and wood.
Handmade with care and the natural dyes of forest leaves and flowers, Xoi ngu sac delivers an inviting palate and a hearty, chewy consistency. With its significance attached to each color, a dish that everyone should try during the lively markets or the local communal celebration of Dong Van.
Where to taste it:
Xoi ngu sac (Sours: vietnamplus)
Second on our delicious trip to special local food should try in Dong Van is the famous Chao au tau. Made from the poisonous au tau root, this dish has to be boiled for hours to break down its toxins. This hidden exquisiteness showcases how much the highlanders know about cooking.
Upon first sip, the porridge is bitter, but this is soon replaced with a smooth warmth which is truly delightful! Riding locals, or anyone who has experienced it, trust in its health benefits: strong bones, better sleep, an energizing boost, just what you need after a day exploring the steep escarpments of Ha Giang Tours.
Where to find it:
Chao au tau (Sours: top10hagiang)
One of the popular special local food should try in Dong Van is Men men, the rustic steamed corn with the love of the H’mong people. Ground to a fine powder, double-steamed and fluffed to a soft, grainlike consistency, Men men is a testament to the resilience and innovation of Highland communities.
Simple but satisfying, Men men is often served alongside sour soup (to chua) or savory stews, giving a warm, comforting flavor that helps keep locals warm in the long winters.
Best place to enjoy it:
Men men (Sours: suckhoedoisong)
Have just one bite of Lon cap nach, and you’ll know why it’s such a gem among the special local food should try in Dong Van. These little black pigs, raised free-range in the mountains, forage freely on natural herbs and roots, and their meat is lean, aromatic, and gamey.
Grilled with spices or steamed atop leaves from the forest, or slow-smoked inside traditional kitchens, the food made from Lon cap nach leaves not just a lasting smoky sweetness that is the hallmark of highland cuisine.
Best places to try:
Lon cap nach (Sours: crystalbay)
Nobody should have to hit up a bottle of Ruou ngo men la without toasting with some new friends! It is made from golden corn from a rocky field, and is handmade through a time-consuming natural fermentation with forest leaf yeast to give a soft, yet potent flavor that warms you from the inside.
Ruou ngo men la isn’t simply a drink; it’s a key part of local hospitality. Every market day, harvest, or when guests come to the village, there is no party.
Best to enjoy at:
Ruou ngo men la (Sours: ruoungo)
Another special local food should try in Dong Van is Lap xuong gac bep, which is the pride of highland kitchens. Made with a combination of seasoned pork and spices like mac khen and hat doi, these sausages are then slowly smoked over household fires for several months. The result? Golden brown vegetables and a dark, smoky flavor, with a bit of virtuous, slightly chewy chew on the end.
Lap xuong gac bep is more than food; it’s a taste of mountain life, toughness, comfort, and waiting that goes down with every bite. This is an ideal souvenir if you want to take a piece of Dong Van back home with you!
Where to buy it:
Lap xuong gac bep (Sours: mia)
No list of special local food should try in Dong Van would ever make sense without mentioning Banh tam giac mach, the iconic delicacy constituted of Ha Giang’s emblematic buckwheat flower. After the flowers of fall cover the hills in pink and purple, locals harvest the seeds, grinding them into flour to produce these soft, fragrant cakes.
A little nutty, a little sweet and a lot earthy, the best way to eat Banh tam giac mach really is fresh, and what better time than the dazzling Buckwheat Flower Festival. The mountains themselves are neatly wrapped up in each bite, fragile and resilient.
Best places to enjoy it:
Banh tam giac mach (Sours: pystravel)
Getting to know the amazing, special local food should try in Dong Van is the best way to feel the beat of life in the northern highland. From smoky sausages to perfumed with flowers buckwheat cake, every mouthful on your Ha Giang Tours has a living history of generations of tradition and passion. Immerse yourself in an ecstasy of the senses with Impress Travel!
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We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
The imposing mountains, hills, lure valleys, and scattered Karst Parks have all made Ha Giang one of the most appealing destinations in Vietnam for travelers around the world. Additionally, the culture, tradition, and diversity of ethnic minority people such as the H’mong make Ha Giang more immersive for people to come to explore this land at the intersection of earth and heaven more and more.
You will take an experience of stunning scenery, to obtain the active venture for trekking and driving on the winding paths to discover the authentic hill tribe of Hmong Village in Ha Giang.
To discover the most appealing landscapes such as Meo Vac, Lung Cu, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and further hidden tracks and the culture and traditions of Ha Giang ethnic minority people such as H'mong, Red Dzao, and try to specialty local foods.
This tour bring you to explore Ba Be lake and Giang Giang loop adventure tour for 5 days/4 nights. Real experience combines Ha Giang & charming part of North East. This is private for small group tour who is interested North East West Vietnam.
Adventurous package tour combine the discovery along the north west of Vietnam. Additionally to explore the northern pole of Vietnam - Ha Giang with breathtaking scenery of Meo Vac & Lung Cu.
