10+ most famous food in Halong you need to try
Halong Bay is not only famous for its majestic and unique natural scenery but also for its many distinctive dishes and incredibly diverse cuisine.
Fresh seafood is always the top choice for diners here. Let’s take a look at the food in Halong that you need to try when visiting this magnificent bay.
1. Fresh Seafood
Thanks to its unique location, food in Halong is renowned for its superior quality, enriched by high-salinity seawater and strict aquaculture standards.
Beyond freshness, its culinary offerings captivate with diverse preparations, blending regional flavors into a distinctive identity. Halong is also home to rare specialties like Dry Peanut Worm, Geoduck Clam, and Squid Roll Cake.
Famous Seafood Restaurants in Halong
Halong Seaport Restaurant
- Address: Quarter 5, Bai Chay, Halong
- Phone number: (+84) 969 277 766
Thien Anh Restaurant
- Address: 11 Phan Boi Chau Street, Bai Chay, Halong
- Phone number: (+84) 968 512 768
iSEAFOOD Buffet Restaurant
- Address: Dai Duong Park, Tropical Garden tourist area, Bai Chay, Halong
- Phone number: (+84) 961 295 858
2. Sticky rice with squid sausage
The unique combination of traditional Vietnamese sticky rice with the distinctive flavor of the sea.
Squid sticky rice is a quite popular breakfast dish among the locals in Halong, packed with nutrients and an irresistible flavor.
Squid sausage has a chewy, soft, and crispy texture, and when eaten, it blends the natural sweetness of fresh squid with the distinctive aroma of spices.
The flavor of squid paste is rich, both sweet and salty, creating an appealing, pleasant, and unforgettable sensation.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Minh Hòa Squid Sausage Sticky Rice Shop
- Address: 18 Thuong Mai, Halong
- Price: 10.000 VND – 35.000 VND
Ba Yen Squid Sausage Sticky Rice Shop
- Address: 36 Doan Thi Diem, Bach Dang, Halong
- Price: 35.000 VND
3. Razor clam porridge
Talk about food in Halong, can’t skip Razor Clam Porridge. This is a dish that many diners love.
The subtle sweetness of clam meat combined with hot porridge, a bit of seasoning, and a touch of onion, pepper, ginger, and herbs creates an irresistible dish, ensuring a nutritious meal.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Cay Gao
- Address: Gate 6 Cai Dam, Bai Chay, Halong
- Price: 30.000 VND – 50.000 VND
Miss Hang
- Address: 42 Tran Hung Dao, Halong
- Price: 30.000 VND– 50.000 VND
4. Mugwort and balut egg soup
This is a local Vietnamese dish with a unique and unmistakable flavor. The slight bitterness from mugwort blends with the rich creaminess of the duck embryo, which has been simmered for many hours.
Combined with various spices such as onions, garlic, and ginger to enhance the flavor and create a burst of taste. This is considered a dish with a very high nutritional value.
You can enjoy the food at the following location:
Miss Xuyen Store
- Address: Cot 3 Market, Nguyen Van Cu Street, Halong
- Price: 10.000 VND – 20.000 VND
5. Stir-fried snails
The dish of snails, rich in flavor with chewy and crunchy snail meat, will create a natural delicious taste and stimulate appetite.
Add a touch of spiciness and a bit of butter, and this dish will leave diners enchanted every time they taste it. This tasty food in Halong will take your heart in the first bite.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Talata Restaurant
- Address: Hai Dong, Hong Ha, Halong
- Phone number: (+84) 90 448 58 04
Tho Restaurant
- Address: Cienco 5, Yet Kieu District, Halong
- Phone number: (+84) 915 771 229
6. Nodding cake
A quite unique specialty cake from the Quang Ninh region. The name of the dish can be understood in the sense that everyone has to nod and praise it as delicious every time they eat it.
Nodding cake is often eaten with squid paste and a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, chicken fat, and minced meat, creating a rich and delicious combination.
Add a bit of spiciness from chili, this dish makes anyone who eats it nod in approval and praise its deliciousness.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Miss Cuc
- Address: 73, Tien Yen Downtown, Halong
- Price: around 20.000VND
Cuong Thia
- Address: 30A, Hoa Binh, Halong
- Price: around 20.000VND
7. Halong tapioca yogurt
Tapioca yogurt is a very popular sweet dessert here in Halong, especially in the summer.
This is the combination of refreshing, mildly sweet yogurt with chewy bubbles, creating an interesting blend of both flavor and texture.
It is often served with toppings such as fruit syrup, mung beans, or jelly, adding richness and appeal. This is an ideal dish to refresh and enjoy in the cool atmosphere of the sea.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Miss Nghi
- Address: 10 Van Lang Street, Hong Gai, Halong
- Price: around 30.000VND
Miss Cuong
- Address: 29 Minh Khai, Ha Lam, Halong
- Price: 20.000VND-40.000VND
8. Sweet rice soup (Banh troi tau)
Sweet rice soup is a traditional sweet dish, characterized by its warm and delicious flavor, especially popular in winter.
The cake balls are made from smooth, sticky glutinous rice flour, encasing a rich mung bean or black sesame filling inside.
The dish is often served with rich coconut milk, sprinkled with some roasted sesame seeds or grated coconut, enhancing its appeal.
You can enjoy the food at the following locations:
Fat Girl Snack Shop
- Address: Cao Thang, Hong Hai District, Halong
- Price: around 20.000VND-30.000VND
Mono Store
- Address: 169 Le Thanh Tong, Hong Gai, Halong
- Price: 20.000VND-40.000VND
Where to eat in Halong Bay
Floating restaurants
The floating restaurant is an experience not to be missed when visiting this beautiful bay. With the spacious atmosphere on the cruise ship, guests can enjoy their meals with delicious food in Halong while admiring the vast and stunning scenery at dusk and at night. Some notable floating restaurants include:
- Bao Ngoc Restaurant
- Tuan Chau Restaurant
- Ha Long Legend
- Lang Chai Restaurant
Local markets and street food stalls
For travelers who love exploring local cuisine and the lifestyle of fishermen in Halong Bay, local markets and street food stalls are a top recommendation. With the distinctive local culinary experience, fresh ingredients, and unique cooking methods, this will be an unforgettable experience on the trip.
Upscale restaurants
If you choose Halong Bay for the vacation, try visiting an upscale restaurant once. With an elegant and luxurious restaurant space, carefully selected high-quality ingredients ensuring top-notch quality and flavor, guests will enjoy dishes prepared by the most professional chefs.
Meals with a view – Dining while cruising Halong Bay
Enjoying a meal on a cruise ship in Halong Bay is a unique experience, where cuisine and scenery blend perfectly. In the vast space of a UNESCO World Heritage natural site, lavish feasts are served amidst the emerald waters and majestic limestone mountains. Tourists can enjoy fresh seafood – a specialty of Vietnam’s coastal region, along with traditional dishes or the exquisite fusion of Asian and European cuisine.
Tips for eating in Halong Bay
Best time to visit for fresh seafood
Different types of seafood in Halong Bay will have different optimal harvesting times.
- Squid, crabs, and blue crabs: spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).
- Oysters and various types of snails: autumn is the most suitable time.
- Lobsters and sea fish: summer (June-August) is the season when these types of seafood are freshest.
Dietary options and food choices for overnight cruising in Halong Bay
One of the things that makes the experience of tourists special is dining on a cruise ship. Not only does it provide a comfortable dining space with the majestic scenery of the bay, but the dinner on the cruise also stands out for the following reasons:
- Variety of dishes.
- The menu will be tailored to personal preferences.
- The ingredients are completely fresh, ensuring safety and delicious flavor.
Bargaining tips at local markets
To be able to bargain successfully when buying food in Halong’s local market, refer to the following tips:
- Survey the general prices at the market: this will help customers easily know the average price of the item, thereby deciding whether to bargain or not.
- Start a friendly conversation: talking amicably with the seller will help reduce the risk of a dispute over the price.
- Calm and patient: this will make it easier for customers to persuade the seller to lower the price.
- Don’t ask for too much of a discount right at the beginning: this will make the seller refuse the discount request.
Final Thoughts
Halong Bay’s culinary scene is a paradise for food lovers, blending fresh seafood, unique local dishes, and delightful treats.
From juicy prawns to squid cakes, and the charm of floating restaurants to bustling markets, every meal reflects the region’s natural bounty and cultural richness.
Whether enjoying upscale dining or street food, Halong offers an unforgettable gastronomic journey to complement its stunning landscapes.
