Travel to Ninh Binh - Enjoy the Ninh Binh Specialties

Ninh Binh, the ancient capital nestled in Northern Vietnam, is renowned not only for its breathtaking landscapes like Trang An, Tam Coc, and Mua Cave, but also for its distinctive and diverse culinary heritage.

The local cuisine here carries deep cultural significance, crafted from fresh ingredients unique to this limestone mountain region. Let's embark on an unforgettable culinary journey through Vietnam's ancient capital!

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1. Crispy rice (Cơm cháy) - The iconic dish

Crispy rice is the first must-try dish for any visitor to Ninh Binh. Unlike crispy rice from other regions, Ninh Binh's version is made from a blend of sticky rice and regular rice, sun-dried through multiple stages, then deep-fried to golden perfection. The result? Crispy, aromatic pieces that crackle with flavor.

Crispy rice in Ninh Binh

How to enjoy: Crispy rice is typically served with pork floss (ruốc), or even better, dipped in rich goat meat sauce. The combination of the rice's crunchiness with the savory, aromatic sauce creates an unforgettable culinary experience.
Price range: 35,000 - 45,000 VND/serving (approximately $1.5 - $2 USD)

Recommended locations:
•    Cơm Cháy Đại Long: 325A Le Thai To Street, Ninh Khanh, Ninh Binh
•    Various restaurants near Trang An and major tourist sites

2. Mountain goat meat - Legendary specialty

Goats in Ninh Binh roam freely on limestone mountains, grazing on natural grasses and leaves, resulting in firm, delicious meat without any gamey smell. Locals prepare goat meat in numerous ways, each dish offering its own unique flavor profile.
Popular dishes:
•    Rare goat with lime (Dê tái chanh): Thinly sliced goat meat, lightly cooked, served with lime juice, galangal, garlic, and lime leaves
•    Steamed goat with perilla leaves (Dê hấp lá tía tô): Goat steamed with aromatic perilla leaves
•    Tile-grilled goat (Dê nướng ngói): Goat grilled on clay tiles
•    Goat hotpot with vinegar (Lẩu dê nhúng dấm): A communal dish perfect for groups
•    Rice husk-smoked goat (Dê ủ trấu): A unique traditional preparation method
Price range: 200,000 - 400,000 VND/kg (approximately $8 - $17 USD)

Goat meat Ninh Binh

Recommended locations:
•    Đức Dê Restaurant: Nguyen Hue Street, Ninh Binh City
•    Phú Dê Mã Yên Quán Restaurant: Dong Thanh, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
•    Dê Chính Thư Restaurant: Khe Thuong, Ninh Xuan, Hoa Lu

3. Mountain snails (Ốc núi) - Cave delicacy

Mountain snails are a special species found only in the limestone cave systems of Tam Diep region. What makes them unique is their seasonal availability - they only appear from April to August each year, making them a rare treat.

Characteristics: The snail meat is chewy, crispy, naturally sweet with a subtle herbal aroma from their unique habitat.

Ninh Binh mountain snails dish

Popular preparations:
•    Steamed snails with ginger
•    Stir-fried snails with lemongrass and chili
•    Snail salad
•    Stir-fried snails with tamarind

Note: Only try this dish from April to August for the freshest snails.

4. Eel vermicelli (Miến lươn) - Local favorite

Eel vermicelli is a popular breakfast dish in Ninh Binh. The broth is simmered from eel bones and pork bones, creating a naturally sweet and deeply flavorful base.

Ingredients:
•    Soft dong vermicelli noodles
•    Tender, fatty, firm eel meat
•    Shredded banana flower
•    Fresh herbs

Price range: 120,000 VND/bowl (approximately $5 USD)

Fried eel vermicelli Ninh Binh

Recommended locations:
•    Miến Lươn Thảo Linh: 16-18 Trang An Street, Tan Thanh
•    Bà Phấn Traditional Eel Vermicelli: 995 Tran Hung Dao, Van Giang

5. Nhech fish salad (Gỏi cá nhệch) - Refined delicacy

Nhech fish is a special species from Kim Son region, resembling eel but with lighter skin and a larger body. Preparing nhech fish requires meticulous effort to completely eliminate any fishy smell.

How to enjoy: The fish is deboned, thinly sliced, mixed with toasted sticky rice powder (thính), and served with various leaves like apricot leaves, fig leaves, and garlic chives. The dish is dipped in a special "chẻo" fish sauce made with lemongrass, chili, and pepper.

Price range: 500,000 - 600,000 VND/kg of fish (approximately $21 - $25 USD)

Nhech fish salad

Recommended locations:
•    Gỏi Cá Nhệch Bà Xuyến: Phat Diem Town, Kim Son
•    Vũ Bảo Restaurant: 86 Luong Van Tuy Extended, Tan Thinh
•    Tính Gỏi Restaurant: 248 Ngo Gia Tu, Van Gia

6. Yen Mac fermented pork roll (Nem chua Yen Mac) - Traditional treat

Yen Mac fermented pork roll was created based on Hue royal nem chua but has developed its own distinctive flavor. It's made from thinly sliced pork loin (not ground), boiled pork skin, mixed with roasted rice powder, and wrapped in guava and banana leaves.

The proper way to eat: Serve with garlic chive leaves, fig leaves, or apricot leaves to fully experience the complete flavor profile.

Price range: 50,000 - 100,000 VND (approximately $2 - $4 USD)

Yen Mac fermented pork

Recommended locations:
•    Chợ Rồng: 71 Van Giang
•    Yen Mac Nem Chua Supermarket: 70 Street 11, Van Giang Ward
•    Nem Chua Anh Quân: Yen Mac, Yen Mo

7. Gia Vien shrimp paste (Mắm tép Gia Viễn) - Bold & flavorful

Gia Vien shrimp paste is made from tiny shrimp (tép) through a careful fermentation process. Winter is the ideal season for producing shrimp paste due to optimal temperatures.
Characteristics: Beautiful reddish-brown color, rich flavor, perfectly balanced saltiness, and aromatic shrimp fragrance

How to use: Served with boiled vegetables, boiled meat, or eaten with hot rice
Price range: 150,000 - 250,000 VND/jar (approximately $6 - $10 USD)

Recommended locations:
•    Mắm Tép Trang Quyết: 68 Me Street, Me Town, Gia Vien
•    Gia Sinh Shrimp Paste Production Facility: Gia Vien

8. Ninh Binh glutinous rice balls (Bánh trôi) - Traditional Dessert

Glutinous rice balls in Ninh Binh stand out from other regions with their special broth infused with wild chrysanthemum leaves and pomelo flowers, creating a distinctive aroma.

Components:
•    Outer shell made from sticky rice flour
•    Filling of palm sugar syrup and crushed roasted peanuts
•    Aromatic broth with wild chrysanthemum and pomelo flowers

Ninh Binh Glutinous rice ball

Price range: 25,000 - 50,000 VND/serving (approximately $1 - $2 USD)

Recommended location: No. 2, Van Giang, Ninh Binh City

9. Kim Son meatball noodle soup (Bún mọc) - Morning staple

Kim Son meatball noodle soup features crystal-clear, naturally sweet broth and chewy meatballs with a distinctive wood ear mushroom filling.

How to eat: Served with fresh vegetables, bean sprouts, sliced banana tree stem, mint, and Vietnamese balm
Price range: 20,000 - 30,000 VND/bowl (approximately $1 - $1.5 USD)

Kim Son meatball noodle soup Ninh Binh

Recommended locations:
•    Bún Mọc Tố Như: Quang Thien Street, Kim Son
•    Quân Oanh Restaurant: 2/38 Trang An, Tan Thanh

10. Fan-shaped grilled pork with vermicelli (Bún chả quạt) - Ninh Binh style

Unlike Hanoi's bun cha, Ninh Binh's version features meat grilled in large fan shapes rather than formed into small patties.

Characteristics: Ground meat is pressed in iron molds and grilled with charred edges while remaining tender and juicy inside

Price range: 30,000 VND/bowl (approximately $1.5 USD)

Ninh Binh grilled pork vermicelli

Recommended locations:
•    Tình Mai Restaurant: 7 Pham Hong Thai - No. 3 Van Giang
•    Bún Chả Quạt Tuấn Anh: 168a Nam Thanh Street
•    Bún Chả Vân Giang: 70 Trang An Street, Tan Thanh

11. Fish braised with gao fruit (Cá kho gáo) - Unique specialty

Gao fruit is a special fruit found only in Ninh Binh, growing in stream crevices and on hillsides. The fruit has a mild sweet-sour taste, cooling properties, and is often used as a substitute for tamarind or dracontomelon in cooking.

Characteristics: Gao fruit not only eliminates fishy smells but also creates a very special flavor, making the braised fish irresistibly delicious

Braised fish with Gao fruit in Ninh Binh

Price range: 100,000 VND/serving (approximately $4 USD)
Recommended location: Như Ý Restaurant - Tan Trung Residential Area, Tan Thanh Ward

12. Grilled snakehead fish (Cá chuối nướng) - Rustic delight

Snakehead fish has a round body, firm flesh, and natural sweetness. The special thing is that the fish is grilled immediately after catching without heavy seasoning.
How to eat: Served with fresh vermicelli, raw vegetables, and rich dipping sauce

Price range: 100,000 VND/serving (approximately $4 USD)

Grilled snakehead fish in Ninh Binh

Recommended location: Van Long Stilt House - Gia Van, Gia Vien District

13. Ant egg sticky rice (Xôi trứng kiến) - Unique experience

This is a special dish found only in Ninh Binh. Young ant eggs are harvested from the Nho Quan limestone mountains, then marinated and stir-fried.

Experience: When eating, you'll hear the crackling sound of ant eggs bursting in your mouth, creating a fascinating sensation

Ant eggs with sticky rice - Ninh Binh specialties

Price range: 40,000 VND/plate (approximately $2 USD)
Recommended location: Nho Quan Town, Nho Quan District

14. Field crab stir-fried with betel leaves (Cua đồng rang lá lốt) - Country comfort

Field crabs are hand-pounded to extract the meat and roe, then stir-fried with fragrant betel leaves. A simple dish but incredibly appetizing.
How to eat: Enjoy hot with white rice or vermicelli, can be dipped in lime pepper salt

Field crabs stir fried with betel leaves

Recommended locations:
•    Cơm Quê Restaurant: Ninh Binh City
•    Dũng Quê Restaurant: Near Tam Coc
•    Tam Gia Trang Restaurant: 35 Trang An 2, Tan Thanh

15. Kim Son rice wine (Rượu Kim Sơn) - Village craft excellence

Kim Son rice wine is a famous specialty throughout Northern Vietnam, produced using traditional methods with ancient well water and natural leaf yeast. This wine is fermented from sticky rice, creating an unforgettable distinctive flavor.

Kim Son rice wine in Ninh Binh

Characteristics:
•    Clear, clean color
•    Rich aromatic fragrance from sticky rice yeast
•    Smooth taste, easy to drink, sweet aftertaste
•    Moderate alcohol content, suitable for Asian palates

How to enjoy: Kim Son wine is best enjoyed at room temperature (no need to chill). Sip slowly to fully appreciate the sticky rice yeast aroma. Especially perfect when paired with goat meat dishes or at festive gatherings.

Price range: 200,000 - 600,000 VND/bottle (approximately $8 - $25 USD) depending on type and volume

Recommended locations:
•    Traditional distilleries in Lai Thanh Commune, Kim Son District
•    Specialty shops in Trang An tourist area

Ninh Binh cuisine is more than just food - it's a story of culture, people, and the nature of this ancient capital. With these 15 specialty dishes, each carries its own unique flavor, crafted from ingredients distinctive to the limestone mountain region. From crispy rice crackers, aromatic mountain goat meat, to rich Kim Son wine - all create a vibrant and enticing culinary portrait.

When visiting Ninh Binh, don't just admire the scenery - take time to savor these delicious dishes to truly understand Vietnam's rich cultural heritage.
Your culinary journey in Ninh Binh promises unforgettable experiences and is an essential part of exploring this beautiful ancient capital!