When it comes to the cuisine of the Western region, people often think of the image of a warm and cozy family dinner, where the whole family gathers together after a hard day's work. This meal may seem ordinary, but it's perhaps challenging to find anywhere else. Or, to put it more accurately, there's no place that can fully and completely convey all the distinctive flavors of a culinary culture rooted in the rivers and waters.
The cuisine of the Western region is not only about rustic dishes made from pure natural ingredients but also about special recipes. This is what makes people fall in love with the rivers and waters of this region. Depending on the season, there are unique ingredients and dishes that define the local cuisine. During the flood season, snakehead fish, water lilies, or water hyacinth become essential ingredients for family meals. When it’s harvest time, people enjoy snakehead fish, field crabs, or bitter vegetables for soup.
While people in the Northern region appreciate bold flavors and those in the Central region enjoy spiciness, those in the Southern region prefer sweetness. Sugar becomes an essential seasoning in cooking, but it’s essential that each dish has its distinct taste. For example, caramelized dishes may be savory but have a subtle sweetness that complements the meal. Or dishes like caramelized snakehead fish, with its firm, sweet, and slightly spicy taste, leave a lasting impression.
Speaking of Southern culinary culture, one remembers the distinctive and famous dishes. “Hủ tiếu Nam Vang” with its clear broth made from pork bones, vegetables, dried squid, and dried shrimp, all harmoniously combined with chewy rice noodles. Or the specialty of “lẩu cá linh,” using natural ingredients from the rivers, offering a rustic flavor with the natural sweetness of linh fish and the freshness of accompanying greens. There’s also “cá lóc nướng trui,” where the fish is caught from the fields, buried in hot ashes to remove its burnt skin, and enjoyed with noodles and fish sauce.
To fully experience the richness and uniqueness of the culinary culture of the Mekong Delta, SomoFarm Cửu Long is undoubtedly an unmissable destination. Here, we prepare dishes with love and a desire to preserve cultural values, using organic ingredients cultivated and produced on our own farm, driven by the passion of proud natives of Vĩnh Long who are eager to share the culinary beauty of their homeland. We eagerly await your visit and are ready to accompany you on a journey to explore and savor the culinary culture of the West!
