What to eat in Hue? Famous delicious dishes in Hue

Hue is a dreamy city, nestled along the poetic Perfume River. With picturesque scenery and a history spanning centuries, Hue always captivates visitors with its unique beauty. This allure doesn't just come from the romantic landscape and warm-hearted people, but also from the culinary essence deeply rooted in the local culture. What makes Hue cuisine so unique and enchanting? Let's "go shopping in Hue" with Vietjet and explore the famous dishes in Hue through the following article!

1. Overview of Hue cuisine

Hue is the former imperial capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty, bearing a rich historical beauty and long-standing culture. Therefore, Hue cuisine contains both traditional elements and a blend of contemporary spirit.

When in Hue, you will experience exquisite flavors, a perfect combination of sweetness, sourness, spiciness, and a hint of fragrance from various spices, creating a distinct and unforgettable taste in the unique culinary scene of this city.

Hue is a land of sentimentality, deeply marked by time.

See more: When is the best and most attractive time to travel to Hue?

2. Famous delicious dishes in Hue

2.1 Hue beef noodle soup

The first on the list of delicious dishes in Hue is undoubtedly Hue beef noodle soup. This is truly a culinary masterpiece of Vietnam, a famous dish in Hue that you must try when visiting this sentimental land.

Authentic Hue beef noodle soup has a distinctive flavor compared to the version found in other regions.

When savoring a bowl of authentic Hue beef noodle soup, you will be surprised by the noticeable difference. The noodles used are larger in size, the broth has a dominant spicy flavor simmered from beef bones, fragrant with lemongrass and Hue shrimp paste. The accompanying ingredients include thinly sliced beef, crab cake, boiled pork knuckles, and especially impressive pork hock. Together, they create an irresistible combination of flavors, captivating everyone after just one taste. Additionally, the red broth from peanut oil, served with banana blossoms, shredded morning glory, bean sprouts,... also adds an appealing visual appeal to the bowl of Hue beef noodle soup.

2.2 Clam Rice

Just hearing the name clam rice, travelers can immediately guess the main ingredients of this rustic dish, including rice and clams. After being sautéed with various spices, the clams are mixed with cold rice, because at this point the rice grains separate, which is the true essence of Hue.

A delicious bowl of Hue rice cannot be without ingredients and accompanying toppings, including roasted peanuts, boiled clams, a bit of fish sauce, crushed rice paper, and a handful of fresh vegetables. These ingredients harmonize to create a distinctive flavor, both sour, salty, slightly sweet, and nutty, creating a rich taste for the clam rice bowl.

2.3 Clams Stir-fried with Rice Paper

Continuing with a specialty dish with clams as the main ingredient. Clams stir-fried with rice paper is a famous dish in Hue with a very rustic way of enjoying. After the clams are cleaned, they are cooked on the stove with spices such as garlic, chili, lemongrass, and vegetables.

When diners eat this dish, they take a piece of rice paper, scoop up the stir-fried clam meat, and eat it with vegetables. The journey to enjoy this delicious dish will go through various taste sensations, from the sweetness of the clam meat, the slight spiciness of the chili, the fragrant aroma of garlic and lemongrass to the richness of the grilled rice paper. Therefore, when diners taste it once, they will always want to "feel" this unique dish many more times.

2.4 Water Fern Cake

When asking "what to eat in Hue?", you will surely receive an answer with the name water fern cake. Although water fern cakes are sold in many places, when enjoying them in their original Hue origin, you will be amazed by the vastly different taste.

Hue water fern cakes are steamed in porcelain cups, at just the right heat. When eating, they are accompanied by ground shrimp, pork fat, fried shallots, and a little fish sauce for richness.

Water fern cakes are usually eaten directly in porcelain cups.

2.5 Salted Pork Rice Flour Cake Dessert

The unrelated combination of sweet dessert and roasted pork creates the uniqueness of this famous dish in Hue. Salted pork rice flour cake dessert has a peculiar flavor profile with the salty, fatty taste of roasted pork, along with the sweet and slightly gritty texture of the sugar syrup. Travelers visiting Hue must definitely try this special dessert at least once.

2.6 Salt Coffee

The renowned salt coffee originates from Hue. When drinking salt coffee in the city of Hue, you will fully experience the original taste from the bitterness of the coffee, the creamy sweetness of the milk, and the salty flavor of the salt lingering on the palate. It's even more fascinating when you come to Hue, listening to romantic melodies in a serene ambiance while enjoying a drink with complex and delightful flavors.

2.7 Pressed Cake Hue

Pressed cake Hue is made from rice flour, pressed with eggs, shrimp, or various other toppings. The cakes are slightly larger than the palm of a hand and are pressed onto a piece of iron. Diners enjoying this dish will roll it together with vegetables, shredded papaya, cucumber, roll it up, and dip it in either fermented fish sauce or spicy vinegar.

Moreover, pressed cake Hue also has a dry version, packaged with shrimp flavor as the main taste. You can bring it back as a gift for your loved ones after a trip to the ancient capital.

3. Places to Enjoy Delicious Food in Hue

3.1 Dong Ba Market Food Area (Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Hoa Ward)

When visiting the ancient capital of Hue and wanting to indulge in Hue's delicious cuisine, you cannot miss the Dong Ba Market food area. From signature dishes like beef noodle soup, water fern cake, clam rice, to 36-dish sweet soup, everything is available here. The distinct colors and flavors of Hue cuisine at this market area will surely delight the taste buds of diners.

Located right next to the romantic Perfume River, Dong Ba Market is also a place to buy fresh and high-quality seafood. You can also find dried specialties and souvenirs for your loved ones at Dong Ba Market after your trip to Hue.

3.2 An Cuu Market Food Area (Hung Vuong Street, Phu Nhuan Ward)

For travelers who want to find a place to enjoy famous dishes in Hue, An Cuu Market is the place to be. It's a bustling market area located in the city center. When you come here, you'll find it hard to leave because there are so many food stalls offering a wide variety of dishes.

Especially in the evening, An Cuu Market becomes a gathering place for many young people and locals. At this time, snack stalls light up with various enticing dishes, including sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, all at very affordable prices.

3.3 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street (Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Phu Hoi Ward)

Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street stretches 380 meters along the peaceful Perfume River. Here, you can stroll to admire the scenery and visit unique food stalls. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street opens from 4 PM to 10 PM, so as the night falls, this area becomes lively with colorful dessert stalls and food stalls selling local specialties for diners to enjoy on the spot.

It's not uncommon to see Western tourists on the walking street in Hue.

3.4 Gia Hoi Ancient Town (Chi Lang Street, Gia Hoi Ward)

Passing through Chi Lang Street, you'll reach Gia Hoi Ancient Town, where you'll be amazed by the rows of houses with ancient architecture. Here, you can both enjoy famous dishes in Hue and immerse yourself in the historical atmosphere through the antique colors of this ancient street.

3.5 Hen Islet (Huong Luu Commune, Vy Da Ward)

True to its name, Hen Islet is known for many dishes made from clams. Most of the locals here make a living by catching and processing clams. Therefore, it would be wonderful if travelers have the opportunity to "survey" various specialty dishes made from authentic clams at Hen Islet. Famous dishes include clam rice, clam noodle soup, or clam with rice paper.

Moreover, there are also various delicious desserts for those with a sweet tooth. Hen Islet is renowned for its corn sweet soup, made from corn grown right in the fertile land amidst the Perfume River.

With its traditional and distinctive culinary culture, coupled with its poetic and romantic scenery, Hue has become a popular destination for many travelers. Through this article, Vietjet hopes to provide you with useful information for your dream trip to Hue.

Learn more: Phu Bai Airport, Hue: Address, Images, and Notes

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Discover Hue

Hue is a famous heritage city of Vietnam, with ancient beauty and a long-standing culture. As the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty, Hue preserves great historical monuments such as the Imperial City of Hue, the tombs of the Nguyen kings, and sacred temples. This city bears the mark of a glorious era, making it an ideal destination for those who love exploring history and culture.