Three Regions' Specialties & Country Gifts - Part 3: Southern Specialties

Ola88's cross-Vietnam specialty discovery journey has finally reached its destination. The final region we visit is the South; Saigon and the Southwestern provinces are not only ideal tourist destinations but also a hospitable land rich in flavorful regional specialties. Let's continue exploring together with Ola88!

Sa Giang Prawn Crackers - Lai Vung Fermented Pork Roll (Dong Thap)

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Folk wisdom often passes down the saying, Thap Muoi is most beautiful with lotus flowers. Coming to Dong Thap means returning to endless, breathtaking lotus fields. Visitors can freely explore historical relics, scenic landscapes, and immerse themselves in Dong Thap's folk festivals. After enjoying all the famous sights of Dong Thap, you can stroll around and pick up some wonderful gifts for family and friends, with Sa Giang prawn crackers and Lai Vung fermented pork rolls being essential specialties.
Phu Quoc Fish Sauce - Phu Quoc Pepper (Kien Giang)

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The pearl island of Phu Quoc, with its gorgeous, bountiful beaches, is an attractive destination loved by both domestic and international tourists. When visiting Phu Quoc, you certainly cannot leave without buying a few bottles of fish sauce and black pepper as gifts. You are guaranteed to score major points with the recipients of these practical gifts.
Palm Sugar - Dried Snakehead Fish (An Giang)

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Con Dao Sun-Dried Mackerel - Con Dao Almond Seed Jam (Ba Ria - Vung Tau)

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Vung Tau beach always attracts tourists with its dreamy coastal roads, famous ancient lighthouse, unique Christ the King statue with outstretched arms, and delicious, mouth-watering dishes. Leaving beautiful Vung Tau, don't forget to buy some dried seafood as drinking snacks for friends and family. In addition, Con Dao almond seed jam is also a specialty gift rich with the distinct identity of Con Dao.
Coconut Milk Puff Pastry - Ben Tre Coconut Candy

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Ben Tre is known as the land of coconuts; for generations, the coconut palm has been the symbol of Ben Tre province. And it is this very coconut tree that contributes to creating a sweet specialty deeply infused with the spirit of the local land and people. That is coconut candy—a specialty confection and traditional handicraft craft steeped in local culture.
Shrimp Salt

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When talking about Tay Ninh cuisine, one cannot overlook Tay Ninh shrimp salt—a specialty well known to friends across the globe. Enjoying shrimp salt is also incredibly diverse. The simplest way is dipping sour fruits like mangoes, guavas, and tamarind in shrimp salt. You can also dip dew-wetted rice paper in it or sprinkle salt inside and roll it up. Or mix it into rice paper salad to create an irresistible flavor.
Vinh Hung Sour Fermented Fish

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Freshwater fermented fish is available across most provinces in the Mekong Delta, most notably in Ca Mau. But visiting the ancient Vinh Hung Tower (Trung Hung 1 Hamlet, Vinh Hung Commune, Vinh Loi District, Bac Lieu Province), you will be introduced by locals to sour fermented fish (mam chua). Mam chua has a wonderfully fragrant aroma, a slightly greenish color (not red like regular fermented fish), and retains the whole shape of the fish, yet all the bones are completely softened. Mam chua served with sonneratia fruit, guavas, starfruit, green bananas, green tamarind, or a few slices of cucumber is exceptionally delicious. This is an unmissable specialty gift when visiting the land of Prince Bac Lieu.
Orchard Fruits

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Coming to the orchard country, the specialty that cannot go unmentioned is fruit. Many varieties are even renowned in international markets. When visiting the Mekong Delta, almost everyone brings back fresh orchard fruits as gifts upon returning home. It is both simple and practical.
Lo Ren Star Apple

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Star apples here are round, bright, thin-skinned, small-seeded, and thick-fleshed. When ripe, the fruit takes on a subtle pinkish-yellow blush, with a gentle fragrance, cool texture, and delicate sweetness... The reason behind its name is that Tien Giang province wished to commemorate the blacksmith (Lo Ren) who bred this delicious star apple variety for the region.
Chau Thanh Dragon Fruit (Tien Giang)
Dragon fruit is a specialty widely grown in this region, boasting both high nutritional and economic value. It not only attracts visitors with the scenic beauty of dragon fruit orchards climbing up support posts like green dragons holding succulent red fruit in their mouths, but it also scores points with its refreshing, sweet taste when savored.
Nhi Quy Longan (Tien Giang)

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Tien Giang is known as the Fruit Kingdom of the Mekong Delta and the whole country. Coming to this land, in any season, you can enjoy a wide variety of renowned fruits. One of the specialty fruit hubs of this kingdom is Nhi Quy in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province, famous for 4 distinct longan varieties, each with its own unique and unforgettable flavor. The longans here are all very large, with small seeds, thick flesh, and thin peels. Perhaps because of this, Nhi Quy longans earned their fame early on.
Nam Roi Pomelo

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This is a delicious specialty with a sweet and subtly tart taste, packed with nutrients beneficial to your health and immune system. This pomelo is grown abundantly in My Hoa Commune, Binh Minh District, Vinh Long Province.
Marian Plum (Thanh Tra)

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In Vinh Long, thanh tra is extensively grown and comes in two types: sour and sweet. The sour fruit has a firm peel and a crisp bite, while the sweet fruit has a softer peel. Before enjoying thanh tra, people gently squeeze and roll the fruit between their palms to soften it so the peel can be easily removed. Sour thanh tra is dipped in chili salt. If peeled and muddled with sugar and crushed ice, it becomes a superb sweet-and-sour refreshing drink for sweltering summer days.
Cam Xoan (Sweet Orange)

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Tra On also boasts a very famous specialty: cam xoan. The smaller the fruit, the more delicate and sweet the flavor, accompanied by a gentle fragrance and tighter segments compared to King oranges or honey oranges. Visitors can buy cam xoan along with other famous specialties like King oranges, Nam Roi pomelos, mangosteens, rambutans, and Cat Chu/Cat Hoa Loc mangoes at affordable prices at Tra On market or small roadside fruit stalls.
Pia Cake - Soc Trang

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To mention Soc Trang is to mention Pia cake, a pastry made of wheat flour, durian, and egg yolk. Sometimes Pia cake is also called flaky skin pastry. This makes a wonderful gift for travelers to bring home after a trip to Soc Trang.

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