Mu Cang Chai is a wonderful land in Vietnam, containing countless interesting things waiting for tourists to explore. And one of the things tourists will definitely be interested in when preparing a trip to Mu Cang Chai will definitely be the cuisine. So what is interesting about the cuisine in Mu Cang Cang Chai? Let’s explore together.

Characteristics of Mu Cang Chai cuisine

Mu Cang Chai cuisine has its own unique features in both the use of ingredients and the way of preparation, thanks to which it has created a flavor that cannot be confused with culinary flavors elsewhere.

Processing ingredients

Processing ingredients

Mu Cang Chai cuisine prioritizes the use of ingredients from nature, because this is a highland area of Vietnam, the supermarket and convenience store system is extremely limited, so in order to access the source of ingredients, it is necessary to People believe that being self-sufficient is the most feasible and reasonable option. Therefore, most of the ingredients used to prepare dishes are grown or raised by people themselves and go to the forest to find them, this is what makes the dish special as well as creating reliability and safe for visitors.

Processing method

Along with the special source of ingredients, the people of the highlands of Mu Cang Chai also have a very special way of preparing dishes, they often prioritize using wood fire over using gas or electric stoves. Because first, in the highlands there are not enough conditions to access gas stoves and are not yet proficient in using gas cylinders as well as being quite expensive, some people’s houses still do not have electricity to be able to use them. Using an electric stove, secondly, in their opinion, using a wood stove and preparing dishes with fire from forest wood will make the food smell better and have a more attractive flavor.

Thanks to his unique and somewhat different path, they have created dishes that captivate people’s hearts, as well as creating a heritage that any tourist wants to visit to observe and experience.

Unique features of Mu Cang Chai’s culinary culture

Because Mu Cang Chai is the land inhabited mainly by two ethnic groups, which are the Thai and the Mong ethnic groups, the culinary color of Mu Cang Chai also becomes extremely diverse and unique. An impromptu but also very reasonable blend of the cooking methods of two compatriots. It is this beauty that has created the richness of Mu Cang Chai’s culinary treasure.

Colors of Thai ethnic cuisine

Colors of Thai ethnic cuisine

For the Thai people, we will be impressed with the delicate and extremely skillful cooking style, more specifically, spices are the factors that Thai people are most interested in when creating a dish. In their opinion, spices are the soul of the dish and are what will make visitors and experiencers feel impressed every time they taste it. So when preparing a dish, they will pay close attention to the seasoning stage.

Some famous dishes of the Thai ethnic people in Mu Cang Chai include bamboo tube cooked rice, steamed pork, grilled fish, grilled chicken and bamboo shoots. All of these dishes are meticulously prepared and bring an extremely delicious feeling to visitors.

Colors of Mong ethnic cuisine

Colors of Mong ethnic cuisine

Next is a neighbor of the Thai people in the land of Mu Cang Chai, as a close brother of the Thai people in the highlands, but the Mong people still retain their extremely culinary culture. The most special and unique thing is the ability to transform ordinary corn into extremely extraordinary dishes. And the unique and typical dish of the Mong people that can be mentioned is “men men", this dish represents the strength and ability to overcome difficulties of the Mong people, because of this special meaning for the Mong people, so this is always the dish that tourists choose to experience every time they come to Mu Cang Chai.

In addition to the typical dish “men men", the Mong people also have many wonderful dishes that can contribute to the unique cuisine of the highland land of Mu Cang Chai. Some of the “quintessence" that can be mentioned are black pork, grilled black chicken,… All of these are precious gifts that Mong people will treat to tourists every time they come to explore this place.

Specialties that you should try in Mu Cang Chai

Below are some specialties in Mu Cang Chai that you will hardly find their flavors in other places. Please bookmark and experience if you have the opportunity to come here.

Mu Cang Chai grilled pork

Mu Cang Chai grilled pork

This is a dish that you should experience every time you come to Mu Cang Chai. At first hearing the name of the dish seems very ordinary, however, what makes this dish special comes from the ingredients, black pigs are raised freely in the garden and eat wild plants and food derived from nature, the meat is extremely firm, has a moderate amount of fat, and the marinated ingredients are mostly herbs found by the people themselves in the forest, so it is extremely natural.

Black pork is fully marinated and blends perfectly with other ingredients, giving you an interesting moist experience. The skin is crispy and firm, and the meat under the skin is lightly sweet and chewy, making your taste buds explode. Please try it out if you have the chance

Mu Cang Chai grilled chicken

Mu Cang Chai grilled chicken

This is also an extremely famous dish in Mu Cang Chai land, grilled chicken. Similar to grilled pork, because the chicken in Mu Cang Chai is mostly free-range, the toughness and crunchiness of the meat is excellent. The special points that create the highlight of this dish are the mac mat leaves and the “cham diagonal" sauce, these two factors create the absolute deliciousness of this dish.

Grilled stream fish

Grilled stream fish

One extremely wonderful thing about Mu Cang Chai’s cuisine is that the ingredients are extremely natural and completely clean. Thanks to this, the grilled stream fish dish can be called a characteristic of the land of Mu Cang Chai. Due to the dense system of small rivers and streams, the amount of stream fish in Mu Cang Chai is extremely large and the people here have created an extremely delicious and natural grilled stream fish dish.

The smell of grilled fish mixed with the smoke of wood fire creates an endless scent that lingers with visitors, making it impossible not to experience it again every time they come to Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai sticky rice

Mu Cang Chai sticky rice

As a typical dish when the weather gets cold, there would be nothing better than having a handful of hot sticky rice, watching the cool clouds flying in the sky of Mu Cang Chai, it will be the most wonderful experience you will ever have. Mu Cang Chai’s sticky rice is special in that it has many flavors made from natural ingredients, so it is extremely safe for health.

Mu Cang Chai food always has its own unique features, those unique features have created Mu Cang Chai with diverse culinary colors. Thanks to that, the cuisine here is always highly appreciated and the dishes here deserve to be on the list of dishes you should try once in your life.

Notable restaurants in Mu Cang Chai

Is the wonderful cuisine in Mu Cang Chai enough to make you excited? To have a full and delicious stomach when coming to Mu Cang Chai, in addition to understanding culinary culture, you must also take note of famous and delicious restaurants to be able to have wonderful culinary experiences. Below are some restaurants that we recommend for you, please try them out.

Quyen Huong Restaurant

One of the restaurants that deserves the most attention as well as has the most positive reviews from customers who have traveled to Mu Cang Chai is definitely Quyen Huong restaurant. This is a restaurant with a capacity that can be called quite large, up to 1500 customers, specializing in serving rice and hot pot for retail customers, tour guests and guests in large groups. More specifically, you can experience the Authentic culinary dishes in the highlands of Mu Cang Chai thanks to the skillful cooking hands of the chefs here will bring extremely wonderful flavors to those who experience them.

Address: Group 3, Mu Cang Chai Town, Yen Bai

Tuan Thuy restaurant

Next is also a restaurant that is loved by many locals as well as tourists, which is Tuan Thuy restaurant. The restaurant specializes in serving specialty dishes along with popular rice, suitable for everyone’s budget. The special thing about the restaurant is that the space is designed in the style of stilt houses of highland ethnic people in Mu Cang Chai, so many visitors are curious and interested. If you want to experience enjoying food in the living space of highland people, this is the dish for you.

Address: Group 3, Mu Cang Chai Town, Yen Bai

Khau Pha Restaurant

If you are a lover of seafood, especially salmon, then Khau Pha restaurant is a favorite place that you must definitely experience. As one of the largest salmon farms in the North, Khau Pha restaurant will always ensure you experience the most delicious and freshest salmon dishes.

Besides being special for its salmon dish, Khau Pha restaurant is also famous for its sturgeon dish and many specialties from Mu Cang Chai. Coming here, you will experience the journey of discovering the extremely wonderful and attractive cuisine of the highlands of Mu Cang Chai. If you want to have a full stomach when coming to Mu Cang Chai, you definitely cannot miss this restaurant.

Address: Khau Pha commune, Mu Cang district

Pho Mountain Restaurant

This is the largest restaurant in Tu Le town, famous for its delicious chicken hot pot and goat hot pot dishes. Combining a restaurant and motel, you can both enjoy delicious food and rest after stressful trips. The mountain town restaurant has also been highly appreciated by tourists traveling to Mu Cang Chai in recent years.

Address: Tu Le town, Van Chan district, Yen Bai

Conclusion

The land of Mu Cang Chai has countless wonderful things waiting for you, and most of all, there are wonderful dishes being prepared by the people to explode your taste buds. Please arrange time to take a trip with your loved ones to this wonderful land.

Don’t forget to regularly follow our Facebook page and Website for more interesting information about traveling to Mu Cang Chai and to book Mu Cang Chai tours at the best prices.

Truly beautiful and breathtaking scenery from terraced rice fields, mountains, hills and streams, The suitable place for study ethnic people, Amazing experiences for trekking, taking photograph, joying homestay

All the latest breaking news & travel information on Mu Cang Chai travel. Browse The Independent’s complete collection of articles and commentary on Mu Cang Chai travel: Attractions, travel news, gallery, culture, history and tips.