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Ethnic food guide

Ethnic foods

Our heritage is hunting so meat features highly in our diet. Black pig is the most popular of the meat selection, especially if it is smoked and later fried. The oil left over is used to fry wasabi spinach and the combination is delicious. Second up on the meat popularity is boiled chicken with herbs. This is traditionally picked apart rather than chopped up to serve.

On the vegetable front we have bamboo shoots which are boiled first and then fried with garlic. The king of vegetables the wasabi spinach though we also love green beans. Fried eggs are also popular but not how you might imagine. We fry them like a huge thin pancake and then add some spring onion and roll it all up. You can see them in Dong Van town as they are everywhere in local restaurants.

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There are plenty of markets to get fresh local produce if you run out of something at home.

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Buffalo are seen as working animals, costing up to $2500 each, therefor we don't eat them!

We cant of course forget to mention rice. Sticky rice and multi coloured rice are a staple. The multi coloured rice is often made in to cakes. When eating rice, it is common to also add a lot of water - a local taste for sure. No dish is complete without some spices and we love adding chillies to many of our meals. Obviously all this is home grown.

Cooking traditionally was done at home in an fire pit in the centre of the house, but carbon monoxide is a thing, so its moved to a room on the side or outside in a separate area. Cooking with fire is still popular because bamboo is free and fires are hotter than other types. Gas (from a bottle usually under the sink) is also gaining popularity as it is hotter than electric.

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This meal is from the Red Dao tribe, they like it slightly spicier than traditional Hmong.

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Everything here is Hmong style, expect for the spring rolls which are a Vietnamese addition.

If you come on one of our tours but you are vegetarian, please let us know in advance and we will arrange for a different menu for you. I will add more to this guide when I get get time. If you have chosen to stay with a local family you will also get to see how all the food is prepared and cooked!