1. Chả Mực (Squid Ball – Squid Cake)
Halong Squid Ball is well known not only for Vietnamese but also for international tourists. The main ingredient is, of course, squid. However, not any kind of squid can make the dish as wonderful as Halong Bay’s freshly caught squid. The dish, hence, will get the sharp and appealing tang. The crunchy yet chewy texture, juicy taste and attractive aroma of Squid Ball go well with boiled rice, sticky rice or Bánh Cuốn (a type of thin, steamed rice cake). This darling is sold at many stores and stalls around the city and especially at Halong I Market.
2. Snail
Visiting any random snail restaurant/street shop in Halong City, gourmets might be surprised with a very long list of different exotic snails there. Each species possesses distinctive appearance and a very distinctive flavour. All you can do is being adventurous, trying a random dish that catches your eyes or with a local, who can show you the difference among the snails. Good shops for snail can be found at Vuon Dao road, Bai Chay ward (but a bit pricey) or in Hon Gai area, where not only snail but various types of fresh and cheap seafoods are sold.
3. Ngán (A type of hard clam)
If you have a chance to have just one bite of Ngán, its deliciousness would stay in your mouth forever. Amongst all dishes made from Ngán, the most famous one is Ngán wine, which is made by opening the shells of Ngán then letting its blood flow directly into the strong liquor. Visiting Halong, you may have many Ngán dishes like grilled, steamed, sushi, salad, soup, deep-fried with vegetables, porridge, etc. You should not miss the chance to experience this unique seafood when you come to Halong Bay.
4. Prawn and Lobster
With good environment, Halong Bay is blessed with many kinds of prawn, lobster, white pearl shrimp, or tiger shrimp. However, the most valuable and most delicious are prawn and lobster. There are two popular methods of prawn/lobster processing, steaming and breaded frying. However, steaming with using additional ingredients like beer or tubers lemongrass to remove the fishy smell is more preferable because people love to enjoy the natural taste it provides.
5. Oyster
Another well-known seafood in Halong Bay is oyster. Oyster is a nutrition-rich food and provides a plethora of energy for your body. Inside its hard-shell is blood-like red bowel, which carry the most delicious and nutritious part of an oyster. It can be eaten raw with a lemon slice or grilled with cheese.
