Back Eat & Drink » Food Culture » 7 Of Vietnam’s Most Expensive Traditional Dishes

7 Of Vietnam’s Most Expensive Traditional Dishes

As Vietnam’s cities develop, there are plenty of restaurants that offer up dishes at international (read: expensive) prices. While Vietnamese food is generally considered cheap, there are a few notable exceptions:

Đông Tảo Chicken

Famous for its tasty meat and giant legs, Đông Tảo chicken can reach up to VND1 million per kilogram. However, buyers should be aware that these are not a special, magical breed, but rather old farm-raised chickens.

 

9-Spur Chicken

The 9-spur chicken is famous for its appearance in the legend of Sơn Tinh-Thủy Tinh. Few realize that it is a common name for the multi-spur chicken species which is usually born with at least 3 “spurs” on each leg. This chicken will set you back VND600,000 to VND1 million per kilogram.

 

Anh Vũ Fish

The anh vũ fish is a kind of carp that is believed to transform into a dragon according to some Asian legends. Their mouths, which some say resemble those of a dragon, are oddly shaped due to its diet of seaweed and moss which requires it to hold tightly onto rocks as it feeds. Once respected for their legendary reputation, the species is now on the brink of extinction. A 2kg fish can be priced at least VND1.6 million.

 

Chìa Vôi Fish

Only found in the Nhà Bè River, chìa vôi can be cost anywhere from VND1 -1.3 million.

 

Sá Sùng

Sá sùngs, also known as peanut worms, are usually 15cm in length. Sá sùng are not only good for your health, often used in traditional medicines, but are also believed to act as a natural Viagra.

 

Ngán

Ngán is similar to a clam, but can cost 10 times more. Apart from the many delicious dishes made from ngán, people also use them to make wine, which is super hardcore as they open the live sea creature, scramble and blend it with Vietnamese rice wine. The blood of ngán turns the wine pink.

 

Sâm Cầm

Known for it’s high nutritional value, a 500g sâm cầm bird (or the Eurasian coot in English) can go for VND900,000. The species used to make Hanoi’s West Lake their home during winter migrations before being over exploited.

Have you tried any of these deliciously pricey dishes?

[Yan]

Related Articles

in Food Culture

'Trendy' Elephant Poop Coffee Taking off in Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its cafe chồn, coffee beans that are ingested, pooped out by weasels and sold at prices far higher than the normal variety. Now, a Vietnamese breeder is adopting a similar techniq...

in Food Culture

10 of Hue's Most Delicious Dishes

You probably just finished lunch but this list of 10 iconic dishes from Hue should get you appetite going again. Food Republic’s Laurie Woolever recently visited Vietnam’s imperial capital on the look...

in Food Culture

2 Vietnamese Restaurants in Saigon, Hanoi Named Among Asia's 100 Best

Vietnam’s culinary prowess is no secret, with its traditional dishes helping to draw tourists from all over the globe. 

in Food Culture

20 Vietnamese Foods You Need to Try Now

Uyen Luu, author of My Vietnamese Kitchen and contributor to Jamie Oliver’s FoodTube, shares her favorite Vietnamese dishes and how to cook them.

in Food Culture

5 Of Saigon’s Best Markets

When people think of Saigon, the iconic Bến Thành Market usually comes to mind. But while it’s rich in history, for locals, it’s little more than a tourist attraction. Vietnam Coracle recently took to...

in Food Culture

5 Unique Markets In The Mekong Delta

While the cities of Vietnam become hooked into the global supply chain, their culinary tastes are becoming more homogenous. From pizza to shopping in supermarkets, our diets are slowly moving in line ...

Partner Content