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Top 08 Unmissable Delicious Dishes To Try In Can Tho, Vietnam

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 Food & drink Tina

When you start a journey to discover a new place, besides enjoying the beautiful natural scenes and sights, trying out the tasty local dishes is something every traveler wants to do. In Can Tho, a region blessed with charming river views and plenty of sweet fruits and fresh seafood, you'll find delicious and inviting specialties that attract visitors with their simple and tasty flavors.

If you're planning to visit the Western region and explore Can Tho, don't forget to taste street food in Can Tho. It's a great way to learn about the local food and culture. Join Autour Asia and let's begin the journey to explore the unique cuisine of Can Tho!

1. Bánh Cống (Vietnamese Fried Shrimp Cake)
2. Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake)
3. Lẩu mắm Cần Thơ (Fermented Fish Hotpot)
4. Pizza hủ tiếu
5. Bánh tét lá cẩm
6. Vịt nấu chao (Stewed duck with fermented tofu)
7. Chuối nếp nướng (Grilled glutinous bananas)
8. Nem nướng Cái Răng (Grilled pork rolls)

1. Bánh Cống (Vietnamese Fried Shrimp Cake)

Bánh Cống (Vietnamese Fried Shrimp Cake)

Banh Cong is a delightful treat created by combining rice flour and wheat flour to achieve a perfect balance of tenderness and crispiness. Crafting Banh Cong involves a choice between using rice flour directly or preparing it by soaking and grinding rice. Opting for freshly ground rice flour is preferable to purchasing pre-made rice flour from the market, as it retains the delightful aroma. Selecting the right rice flour from the market is crucial, as choosing poorly might lead to using old or moldy flour, resulting in a cake that tastes sour and bitter.

Banh Cong is traditionally accompanied by a sweet-sour fish sauce, served alongside lime and minced chili. The fish sauce is enhanced with shredded cucumber, carrot, and radish, while aromatic herbs such as fish mint, lettuce, basil, and mint further elevate the flavors.

Some recommended addresses:

Tiệm Bánh Cống Cô Út - 28 Ly Tu Trong Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 292 221 0758 - https://goo.gl/maps/z1emaJr28ErgcayA7
Bánh cống Cần Thơ - Hung Loi, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/rhechb4v7jMDnktp6
Quán Bánh Xèo, Bánh Cống Huê Viên - 22 De Tham Street, An Cu, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 946 173 262 - https://goo.gl/maps/E5BiY6UV4e6cVARQ7

2. Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake)

Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake)

Banh Xeo, a yummy Vietnamese pancake made from rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric powder, is a special food in Can Tho. It's filled with tasty stuff like pork, prawn, and green beans. People in the Mekong Delta, especially Can Tho, really love this dish. The name 'Banh Xeo' means 'sizzling cake' because of the sound it makes when the batter hits the hot pan. Long ago, it started in Central Vietnam and got bigger when it reached the South.

To eat Banh Xeo, you use fresh veggies and coriander. You wrap the pancake in the veggies and dip it in fish sauce. The crispy pancake mixes with the sweet and sour sauce, making your taste buds super happy.

Some recommended addresses:

Quán Bánh xèo 7 Tới - 45 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, An Binh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 947 699 743 - https://goo.gl/maps/rbJZFS15jWwSonNX6
Bánh Xèo Ngọc Ngân - 74 Le Loi, Cai Khe, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 292 381 1613 - https://goo.gl/maps/DjKHPzsw1T8j8w8p9
Bánh xèo Mai Vàng - C6B Tran Khanh Du Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 917 777 729 - https://goo.gl/maps/1ws7k2Hx4Y1JsWkB7

3. Lẩu mắm Cần Thơ (Fermented Fish Hotpot)

Lẩu mắm (Fermented Fish Hotpot)

When it comes to the Western region, you definitely can't miss out on the familiar dish of fermented fish hotpot. It carries a rich aroma and flavor from the linh fish sauce, combined with a mix of fish, shrimp, squid, fresh vegetables, and an array of lush greens. This delightful specialty of Can Tho is a must-try, allowing you to savor the renowned hotpot of the Western region.

This fermented fish hotpot is a fusion of signature ingredients from the typical Western region, such as various types of fermented fish sauces, linh fish, seafood, and greens like water morning glory, water spinach, pennywort, sesbania flower, eggplant, and more. Initially, you might notice a strong smell from the hotpot, but once you give it a taste, you might just become hooked.

Some recommended addresses:

Lẩu mắm Cần Thơ - Tran Ngoc Que Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 906 737 974 - https://goo.gl/maps/hR8HFo2X2hDijNKv8
Lẩu Mắm Kiều Trinh - 26 Tran Khanh Du Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 828 373 880 - https://goo.gl/maps/dSe1kqF7f8VmjULd7
Lẩu Mắm Quê Mi - C102A Tran Khanh Du Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 911 500 002 - https://goo.gl/maps/Z5YQRPmm8mx9XKoV8

4. Pizza hủ tiếu

Pizza Hủ Tiếu

Hủ tiếu is a distinctive dish of Can Tho and renowned throughout the Western region, so what exactly is pizza hủ tiếu? Despite its somewhat Western-sounding name, pizza hủ tiếu is actually a quite familiar dish for the people of the Can Tho region, known locally as 'hủ tiếu chiên giòn' or crispy fried hủ tiếu. The origin of this unique dish, pizza hủ tiếu, can be traced back to the Sau Hoai noodle shop. With its special recipe that uses hủ tiếu noodles as the main ingredient, it delivers a flavorful and rich taste. Anyone who tries it once can't help but shower praise on this inventive creation. Pizza hủ tiếu is among the must-try dishes when visiting Can Tho. Each strand of hủ tiếu is fried in small clusters, immersed in oil, and once it turns golden, it's ready to be savored. Each cluster, blending with fresh greens, shredded meat, and peanuts, is both fragrant and crispy, creating an immensely satisfying food to eat in Can Tho.

Some recommended addresses:

Pizza hủ tiếu Sáu Hoài - 14 Alley 476, An Binh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/q4hMebkBsDahX8SE6

5. Bánh tét lá cẩm

Bánh tét lá cẩm

Your trip to Can Tho will be even more complete if you can find a special Can Tho gift that suits your taste. And 'Banh tet la cam' (purple sticky rice cake) is a perfect choice for sending the flavors of the Mekong Delta to your friends.

Similar to the traditional 'bánh tét' cakes often enjoyed during Tet holidays, 'bánh tét lá cẩm' lives up to its name with a purple outer layer achieved by mixing glutinous rice with 'lá cẩm' leaves and coconut water. The filling is a combination of mung beans, meat, and salted eggs, creating a chewy and aromatic interior that blends with the softness of the cake's outer layer, resulting in an indescribable flavor.

Some recommended addresses:

Cai Rang Floating Market - Lo Vong Cung, Le Binh, Cai Rang, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/NLt7PAcqxWCUnSeq5
Binh Thuy Market - 60 Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy, Binh Thuy, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/yn4QhMDpqAVqADdy8

6. Vịt nấu chao (Stewed duck with fermented tofu)

Stewed duck with fermented tofu

Stewed duck with fermented tofu, one of the most outstanding representative dishes in the top 100 of Vietnam's distinctive foods as announced by the Vietnam Record Organization, is among the best food in Can Tho Vietnam. This is the very reason why tourists visiting Can Tho always want to try this dish whenever they come to the Western land. Stewed duck with fermented tofu is one of Can Tho's special delicacies with an incredibly unique flavor that appeals to all diners. The primary ingredient that makes this dish is 'xiem' duck, which is characterized by lean meat and less fat, reducing the greasiness.

To achieve the most authentic and delicious taste, the chef ensures that each piece of meat is properly marinated, deeply infused with spices, tender, and free from any unpleasant odor. Combined with fermented tofu, the dish exudes a fragrant aroma, being rich and savory without becoming overly heavy."

Some recommended addresses:

Quán Vịt Nấu Chao Thành Giao - Vịt nấu chao ngon chất lượng tại Cần Thơ - Alley 1 Ly Tu Trong Street, An Phu, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 939 933 949 - https://goo.gl/maps/8kWeMdkGe9tDqriq7
Quán Vịt Nấu Chao Cẩm Tú - 01 Ly Tu Trong Street, An Phu, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 292 373 3013 - https://goo.gl/maps/GzYez34fUFBztESu5

7. Chuối nếp nướng (Grilled glutinous bananas)

Grilled Glutinous bananas

A well-known delicacy from the Can Tho region, with the enticing aroma of glutinous bananas when grilled over a charcoal stove, blending harmoniously with the rich coconut milk. On cool and slightly chilly days, there's nothing quite like savoring a warm grilled glutinous banana to enjoy.

The petite bananas are enveloped in a layer of chewy glutinous rice, and when grilled, the outer layer turns crispy while the inside remains tender and aromatic. A sprinkle of sesame seeds and peanuts, along with the fragrant coconut milk sauce, complete the treat. After tasting the delightful sweetness of the grilled glutinous bananas, you'll undoubtedly be impressed by this Can Tho delicacy.

Some recommended addresses:

Cai Rang Floating Market - Lo Vong Cung, Le Binh, Cai Rang, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/NLt7PAcqxWCUnSeq5
Binh Thuy Market - 60 Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy, Binh Thuy, Can Tho, Vietnam - https://goo.gl/maps/yn4QhMDpqAVqADdy8

8. Nem nướng Cái Răng (Grilled pork rolls)

Nem nướng Cái Răng (Grilled Pork Rolls)

Another Can Tho specialty that you should add to your list of delicious things to try when you visit Can Tho. You'll be amazed by a dish that's quite simple but has a strange charm that keeps you intrigued.

With minced pork as the main ingredient, marinated using a special recipe and shaped into long skewers, grilled over glowing charcoal, creating a mouthwatering aroma. Grilled pork rolls are usually eaten with fresh vermicelli noodles and various kinds of crisp, sweet and sour vegetables, along with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, chili, and garlic. This renowned delicacy enriches the culinary landscape of the Cai Rang region.

Some recommended addresses:

Nem nướng BÀ SÁU - Nguyen Trai, Le Binh, Cai Rang, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 292 391 1265 - https://goo.gl/maps/ZMU8eFYdyJGCmhFA6
Nem Nướng Anh Mập - No. 18 Nguyen An Ninh Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 292 373 4135 - https://goo.gl/maps/mp2tn4TmuSV3UWGL6
Nem nướng Hai Vân - 98 De Tham Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam - +84 918 190 190 - https://goo.gl/maps/46DppfQeRP2n9F3R8

Can Tho, a land of white rice and clear waters, serves as the capital of the Western region. Here, you will witness Can Tho growing into a major city while still preserving its tranquil, rustic charm and the distinctiveness of a riverine area. Pay a visit to enjoy the scenic landscapes and indulge in Can Tho's delicious local specialties, including Can Tho food specialties, and listen to Don ca tai tu on the river. This will help you truly feel the beauty of the southern land embraced by the nurturing mother delta.