What to Eat at Ha Long Seafood Market? Insider Tips for the Best Buys at the Night Market

Ha Long seafood market, also known as Bai Chay night market, is one of the largest and most famous seafood markets in Ha Long, offering a wide variety of fresh seafood such as shrimp, crabs, swimming crabs, squid, shellfish, and many different kinds of sea fish. Coming here, visitors not only get to enjoy fresh seafood from the sea but also explore the local culinary culture.

From a small market with just a few stalls, the Ha Long seafood night market has become one of the most attractive tourist spots in the city after being renovated and upgraded in 2015. Covering a total area of up to 5,000 square meters with 335 booths, Ha Long seafood market resembles a miniature food paradise right in the center of Ha Long City. Especially with modern infrastructure, ensured security, and spacious parking, Ha Long seafood night market is not only a fascinating shopping and dining destination but also contributes to promoting Bai Chay Ha Long tourism to both domestic and international visitors.

• Location: Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Hung Thang Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.
• Opening hours: 17:00 – 23:00 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

See more: Travel Tips for a DIY Trip to Ha Long, Quang Ninh

Ha Long City is about 155km from Hanoi. From Hanoi, travelers can choose from a variety of transportation options:

• Motorbike: Ideal for those who enjoy the freedom of exploring beautiful routes. For a time-saving route, you can go via Sai Dong junction, Bac Ninh, then follow National Highway 18 to Pha Lai, continue to Chi Linh, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, and finally arrive in Ha Long.
• Coach bus: Many bus companies operate routes from Hanoi to Ha Long with various departure times. Ticket prices range from 100,000 – 150,000 VND depending on whether it’s a seated or sleeper bus.
• Limousine: With spacious seating, optimal interiors, and quality customer service, limousines are suitable for groups of 7 – 9 people. Fares start at around 240,000 VND/person.

There are multiple transport options for tourists traveling from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Long.

Located right in the city center, Ha Long seafood market is a convenient destination for visitors. To get to the seafood market, you can use Google Maps for easy navigation.

If you plan to drive yourself, from the city center, take Cai Lan Road, then turn left at the intersection and drive about 3 more kilometers to reach the market. Alternatively, you can book a taxi or use ride-hailing apps if you prefer not to drive.

To answer the question of what to eat at Ha Long seafood night market, here are some suggested must-try options:

If you’re visiting Quang Ninh, don’t forget to enjoy seafood in Ha Long. Take a stroll through Ha Long seafood market and you’ll be amazed by the abundance of fresh seafood such as shrimp, squid, crabs, swimming crabs, geoduck clams, horseshoe crabs, and more. Each type of seafood has its own distinct flavor that’s hard to resist.

• Geoduck clams (Ngan): A rare delicacy, geoducks can be cooked into many delicious dishes like sweet and savory geoduck porridge or steamed geoduck with ginger fish sauce.
• Horseshoe crab (Sam bien): Known for its firm, sweet meat, horseshoe crab is often prepared as tangy horseshoe crab salad or crispy horseshoe crab cakes.
• Fresh squid: Squid is versatile and can be grilled to fragrant perfection or stir-fried with colorful vegetables for a tasty meal.

If you visit Ha Long seafood market, don’t forget to enjoy the fresh seafood.

Steamed rice rolls with squid sausage are not only a delicious dish but also a quintessential part of Ha Long cuisine. Each thin, translucent layer of rice roll is handmade and filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, combined with a golden squid sausage made from freshly pounded squid, seasoned to perfection. Everything is blended with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, spicy chili, and fresh herbs to create an unforgettable flavor.

Ha Long seafood night market is not only famous for fresh seafood but also known as a paradise of street food. Besides steamed rice rolls with squid sausage, visitors can enjoy countless other tasty snacks, ranging from traditional to modern dishes such as:

• Sweet glutinous rice balls (Banh troi tau): Soft, round balls filled with sweet mung bean paste, served with fragrant ginger syrup—an iconic Vietnamese dessert.
• Banh gat gu: A specialty from the North with a crispy outer layer and sweet mung bean filling.
• Clam porridge (Chao trai): A simple yet attractive dish, combining the sweetness of sea clams and the fragrance of ginger.
• Pearl yogurt: A refreshing dessert made with yogurt and a variety of toppings like pearls, jelly, and fruits.
• Vietnamese pancakes (Banh xeo): Crispy pancakes filled with shrimp and pork, served with sweet and sour fish sauce.
• Grilled pork skewers (Nem lui): Skewers of minced pork grilled over charcoal, dipped in sweet and sour sauce.

Sandworms, also known as sa trung, are a unique seafood delicacy from Ha Long that were once offered to the king. With high nutritional value and many health benefits, sandworms have become a precious gift often sought after by tourists. They can be prepared in various ways, such as stir-fried with garlic, braised with sugar, or cooked into porridge.

When visiting Ha Long seafood market, you should not miss spicy and sour mantis shrimp. This dish is a specialty of the Quang Ninh coastal region, especially Ha Long. The main ingredient is fresh mantis shrimp—a unique local seafood—combined with guava leaves, lemongrass, chili, and tamarind for a signature flavor. The shrimp are cleaned, boiled, and then simmered with spices until fully infused.

The dish is perfectly balanced with sourness and spiciness, the fragrance of lemongrass and guava leaves. The shrimp meat is crunchy, naturally sweet, and pairs well with the sourness of tamarind and the heat of chili. It’s often served with hot rice or fresh vermicelli, and dipped in chili fish sauce. With its bold flavor, this dish has won the hearts of countless diners at the Ha Long seafood night market.

Mantis shrimp noodle soup is a must-try dish at the Ha Long seafood night market. Fresh mantis shrimp with firm, sweet meat are carefully selected, paired with chewy fresh noodles and a flavorful broth simmered from pork bones. When enjoying, you’ll taste the natural sweetness of mantis shrimp, the freshness of herbs (such as basil, bean sprouts, lettuce...) blended with the aroma of the broth. For extra flavor, you can enjoy it with crispy fried dough sticks or fish cakes.

After enjoying seafood in Ha Long, visitors can also shop for fresh seafood to bring home as gifts. To select the best-quality seafood, Vietjet shares some simple yet effective tips for buying seafood at Ha Long market:

Ha Long seafood market usually operates from early morning until late evening, but the best time to visit is early in the morning, from around 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, as this is when the freshest catches from the sea are brought in. You'll have more choices and better price comparisons during this time.

It’s best to buy seafood in the early morning when it’s freshly caught and still full of natural flavor.

However, you can adjust your visit according to your schedule and preferences. If you want to experience the lively night market and enjoy freshly cooked seafood on the spot, then the Ha Long seafood night market is a great choice.

Fresh seafood is essential for delicious coastal dishes. When shopping at Ha Long seafood market, follow these tips to ensure you get the best quality:

• Shrimp: Choose ones with transparent, slightly green or pale pink shells. Cloudy shells may indicate older or less fresh shrimp. Pick live shrimp that jump actively, with heads firmly attached and intact legs.
• Squid: Look for bright, glossy skin, intact bodies, firm and elastic flesh, tight tentacles, no foul smell, and clear eyes.
• Crabs and swimming crabs: According to locals, the best time to buy is at the beginning or end of the lunar month. Avoid full moon days, as crabs may have less meat. For firm and sweet crab meat, choose male crabs with smaller aprons. For rich crab roe, go for females.

When it comes to buying seafood at Ha Long market, don’t overlook these pricing tips:

• Bargaining: Bargaining is common at seafood markets. Don’t hesitate to negotiate for a fair price.
• Price comparison: Check prices at multiple stalls before deciding to ensure the best deal.
• Weight-based pricing: Most seafood is sold by weight. Ask vendors to weigh accurately to avoid overcharging.
• Ask how to cook: If you’re unfamiliar with a certain seafood item, feel free to ask the vendor for cooking suggestions.

We hope the useful information in this article helps you answer the question: "What to eat at Ha Long seafood market?"

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