Don’t hesitate to do some research on what to eat in Dong Thap when you are due to have a Mekong Delta tour to this region. There is no doubt that the delicacies here will blow your mind and help you absorb the rural cuisine so far.
Rice Steamed in Lotus Leaves (Com goi la sen)
Rice Steamed in Lotus Leaves
When it comes to what to eat in Dong Thap, the locals will immediately advise you to try Rice Steamed in Lotus Leaves – a stunning delicacy which will definitely leave the unforgettable taste in your heart. The rice used to make the food is a special kind with slightly pink, and the filling includes the white of lotus seeds, green of beans, black of sesame seeds, and other local ingredients; all create a colorful eye-catching image of the food on the background of green lotus leaves. Plus, its fragrance wafting in the air right after you open the leaves will get you more and more excited. It is so fantastic that you can not find any reason to resist tasting it.
Hotpot with Paddy Crab Paste (Lau rieu cua dong)
Hotpot with Paddy Crab Paste
The best time to enjoy the hotpot with paddy crab paste is when the weather is cold because it seemingly enhances the dish’s flavor. For those who are planning to go on the Dong Thap exploration at its culture and cuisine, it will be with great regret to miss the hotpot. It is supposed that the food is a perfect balance of different flavors, ranging from sourness, sweetness, to spiciness. The most significant thing to have such a brilliant hotpot is that the chef must carefully choose fresh ingredients, such as paddy crabs, tomatoes, fish sauce, shrimp sauce, vegetables, and different species. It is a rural dish but deserves to be tasted for certain.
Sa Dec Rice Noodle Soup (hu tieu Sa Dec)
Sa Dec Rice Noodle Soup is the best try if you don’t know what to eat in Dong Thap
Placed in the list of what to eat in Dong Thap for a Mekong Delta day trip, Sa Dec Noodle Soup will not disappoint you at any cost. Surely, it will not be as widespread as My Tho and Nam Vang rice noodle soups, but its flavor is amazing enough to draw any visitor to the Mekong Delta. Rice noodle is tender and so great to go with the stock of pig bones. It is easy to realize that it is topped with other ingredients, including chopped pork, steamed pork paste, pig’s organs, scallions, herbs, and vegetables from the Chinese community. A new experience regarding this specialty is trying it without the stock.
Snakehead Fish smoked in rice straw (ca loc nuong trui)
Snakehead Fish smoked in rice straw
Snakehead fish smoked in rice straw is found in many different places of the Mekong Delta, but it in Dong Thap is more special since there is one more step in the preparation. Snakehead fish is rinsed and wrapped in a lotus leaf before being put inside the rice straw to burn. The fish is slightly sweet and chewy while the lotus leaf will enhance its tang. Just within a few moments of burning the straw, you will perceive the wonderful aroma of the fish spreading over the air, stimulating you to enjoy it. It will go perfectly with fresh vegetables and sour and sweet fish sauce. It is fantastic to choose it as what to eat in Dong Thap!
Hotpot with Linh Fish and Cork Flower (Lau ca linh bong dien dien)
Hotpot with Linh Fish and Cork Flower
In the floating season, there are dozens of flocks of linh fish from the upper reaches of the Mekong River to the water area of Dong Thap; it is also the bleeding season of linh fish. It is possible to say that the fish is the greatest ingredient to make the famous hotpot of Dong Thap since its meat is not only sweet, but also tender to enjoy. The fish is cleaned and then added to the broth of pig bones. Put some necessary spices into the pot and savor it with cork flowers and a variety of fresh local vegetables. Taste it, and you will bring back an unforgettable memory from this Mekong Delta day trip.
