1. Learn about Tay Ninh's snack culture

1.1. The cultural story behind Tay Ninh's snacks

For locals, Tay Ninh snacks are not just a culinary pleasure but also a familiar way of life deeply connected to community life. From students after school, workers after their shifts, to pilgrim tourists, everyone can find a small corner to enjoy delicious food on the sidewalk filled with laughter and rustic flavors.

Dishes like rice paper, pomelo spring rolls, and shrimp salt… all originate from rural ingredients, becoming special through the skillful hands of the people from this sacred land. Along streets like Nguyen Van Rop, at the foot of Ba Den Mountain, or in the central night market, the aroma spreads, telling stories of human connection, culture, and hometown pride.

1.2. The fusion in Tay Ninh's street food

Over time, Tay Ninh snacks have become a symbol of creativity and the fusion of tradition and modernity. Familiar dishes such as steamed rice paper, shrimp salt, and pomelo spring rolls are transformed into many new versions, catering to the tastes of the youth while retaining their distinctive rustic "soul."

Tay Ninh snack culture is an intersection of tradition and modernity. (Source: Collected)

In 2025, Tay Ninh street food becomes more vibrant with the appearance of a mini food truck area by Dau Tieng Lake. Here, visitors can enjoy delicious food and take souvenir photos amidst the picturesque river and mountain scenery. Not only a gathering place for food enthusiasts, this dining area also contributes to introducing and spreading the characteristic flavors of Tay Ninh snacks to more visitors.

2. Top Tay Ninh snacks you must try once

2.1. Tay Ninh Rice Paper

When talking about Tay Ninh snacks, we cannot fail to mention rice paper, the dish that has made the culinary brand of this holy land. From mixed rice paper, chewy spicy rice paper, dew-kissed rice paper to tamarind rice paper, each type has its own flavor but shares the common point of a spicy and salty taste mixed with the aroma of shrimp salt, chili sauce, and dried beef. This simple dish has a special appeal, making diners remember it after just one taste.

Suggested reputable addresses:

• Banh Trang Nhu Binh: famous for its soft and chewy dew-kissed rice paper with a rich flavor.
• Banh Trang Ut Yen: diverse variations, clean and beautiful packaging, easy to carry.
• Banh Trang Tan Nhien: suitable as a luxurious gift.

2.2. Tay Ninh Shrimp Salt

Tay Ninh shrimp salt is famous for its recipe combining rock salt, dried shrimp, and fresh chili, roasted until the salt grains are golden, fragrant, and crispy in the mouth, creating a distinct sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavor of Tay Ninh snacks. This seasoning is both a familiar dipping sauce for fruits or rice paper, and is used to marinate meat and fish.

Tay Ninh shrimp salt is a famous specialty of the holy land. (Source: Collected)

Suggestions for delicious, authentic Tay Ninh shrimp salt brands:

• Quoc Thang Shrimp Salt: production workshop at Xom Moi 1 Hamlet, Go Dau Ward, Tay Ninh.
• Tan Nhien Shrimp Salt: long-standing brand, address for online and in-store purchase.
• DH Foods: familiar brand, with an official website announcing product ingredients meet standards and convenient packaging.

2.3. Tay Ninh Tamarind Candy

In the world of Tay Ninh snacks, tamarind candy is a sweet yet distinctive gift, possessing both a rustic flavor and the essence of Southern Vietnamese cuisine. Tamarind fruits are carefully selected, washed, soaked in sugar, and simmered over low heat until chewy, evenly infused with a sour, sweet, and slightly spicy taste. When enjoyed, each piece of chewy candy is aromatic, with a refreshing sourness and a slight tingle on the tongue, both novel and addictive.

When buying online, you should choose products with clear origins, vacuum-sealed packaging, a long shelf life, and a natural orange-red color, not too dark. Prices range from 60,000 – 120,000 VND/500g box.

• Chinh Goc Specialty: produced according to a traditional family recipe, chewy candy, authentic Tay Ninh flavor.
• OCOP Tay Ninh Store: famous for its gently sweet and sour tamarind candy, beautifully packaged.

2.4. Tay Ninh Pomelo Sausage

Unlike regular meat sausage, Tay Ninh pomelo sausage is a unique vegetarian dish with its own flavor from the holy land. Made from pomelo pulp, shredded papaya, rice powder, and chùm ruột leaves, the dish has a mild sourness, a faint scent of orange peel, a gentle spiciness, and a crispy texture when bitten. Pomelo sausage is not only a delicious snack but also reflects the pure spirit of the people around the Tay Ninh Holy See.

Pomelo spring rolls Tay Ninh is a unique snack with its own flavor of the holy land. (Source: Collected)

The average selling price ranges from 70,000 – 120,000 VND/kg, depending on the production location and packaging method. When buying, you should choose nem wrapped in green banana leaves, with a natural aroma, and not too wet to maintain its standard taste. Tourists who want to buy pomelo spring rolls as gifts can visit areas like: Tay Ninh market, Ben Cau market, Sau Tran spring roll shop to place orders.

2.5. Grilled Snails on the Street

An evening in Tay Ninh would not be complete without stopping to enjoy street-grilled snails, a dish that deeply embodies the local life. Small snail stalls are lined up side-by-side at the Tay Ninh night market, Nguyen Van Rop street, or at the foot of Ba Den Mountain, always bustling with customers, with a captivating aroma emanating from the charcoal grills. Snails are prepared in various ways: grilled with scallion oil, stir-fried with butter and garlic, steamed with lemongrass and chili, both rustic and rich in flavor, suitable for young groups of friends as well as families.

Suggested addresses:

• Oc Chao 79: Nguyen Van Rop street, open until 11 PM, famous for its fragrant grilled escargots, bloody clams, and spicy steamed clams.
• Quan Oc Cay Phuong: specializes in charcoal-grilled snails and sa te stir-fried dishes.
• Quan Oc Nui Ba: near Sun World Ba Den Mountain area, beautiful mountain view, fast service, and affordable prices.

2.6. Desserts and Refreshing Drinks

Amidst the characteristic Southern heat, snacking in Tay Ninh becomes even more complete when ending with a cool bowl of che (sweet soup) or a fresh fruit smoothie. The most famous is Che Cay Me (near Nui Da Lake), a long-standing and beloved shop known for its mixed che, soursop smoothies, and giant sugarcane juice with a refreshing sweetness, providing effective cooling. The rustic space and cool lake breeze make it a familiar stop for locals and tourists alike.

Besides, along the streets of Nguyen Van Linh and Nguyen Van Rop, numerous smoothie, juice, and iced yogurt shops are open until late and always bustling with customers.

3. Notable "Tay Ninh Snack" Destinations

3.1. Central Night Market Area

When talking about Tay Ninh snacks, one cannot miss the central night market – the most vibrant culinary paradise in the city. Over 50 stalls stretch out, bustling from 5 PM to 11 PM, selling all sorts of familiar specialties such as mixed rice paper, quail eggs stir-fried with tamarind, grilled snails, fried fish balls, mixed che... Prices range from only 10,000 – 50,000 VND.

The space is illuminated by dazzling lights, with aromas wafting from the stalls and the cheerful chatter, making it an ideal spot to stop by every evening. Tip: it’s best to visit between 7 PM – 9 PM to fully experience the lively atmosphere and try the most dishes.

3.2. Sun World Ba Den Mountain Outdoor Food Court

After conquering Ba Den Mountain by cable car, visitors can stop at the Sun World Ba Den Mountain outdoor food court, which gathers many attractive Tay Ninh snacks. Stalls serve grilled rice paper, grilled corn with scallion oil, fried fish balls, ice cream with iconic landmark images, offering an experience of eating while sightseeing. With a view of Ba Den Mountain, fresh air, and pleasant cool breezes, this is an ideal location for young groups or families with small children to relax after a late afternoon cable car trip.

The outdoor snack food area attracts tourists when visiting Sun World Ba Den Mountain. (Source: Collected)

3.3. Nguyen Van Rop Food Street

Located in Tan Ninh ward, Tay Ninh center, near 30/4 street and Tay Ninh market, Nguyen Van Rop food street is a familiar meeting point for snack lovers. This street is bustling from 4 PM to 11 PM, gathering dozens of street food stalls and affordable specialty eateries.

Tourists can easily find famous dishes such as grilled snails, tamarind paper rolls, pomelo spring rolls, and fruit smoothies, all with a rustic, familiar flavor. The lively atmosphere, warm lighting, and the aroma of grilled food make this place a miniature "food tour", where visitors can clearly feel the youthful and liberal rhythm of Tay Ninh's snack cuisine.

4. Suggested Tay Ninh Snack Experience Itinerary

4.1. Afternoon warm-up at Ba Den Mountain area

Start your Tay Ninh snack journey in the afternoon at Sun World Ba Den Mountain, which is not only a place of majestic scenery but also an outdoor culinary paradise. From 2 PM to 4 PM, you can visit, sightsee from the cable car station, then stop to enjoy grilled paper rolls, fried fish balls, and cool sugarcane juice amidst the fresh mountain breeze.

Discover the sacred space atop Ba Den Mountain and enjoy the cuisine of the holy land. (Source: Collected)

As sunset descends, choose a small corner in the food court, order a portion of sun-dried rice paper rolls with meat, wild vegetable salad, and sip a hot coffee, while eating and watching the sun gradually disappear behind the mountains, concluding the afternoon with a breathtaking view.

4.2. Evening: Stroll through Tay Ninh Central Night Market

As the city lights up, Tay Ninh's culinary scene becomes most vibrant. Spend your evening exploring the Tay Ninh Central Night Market, which gathers dozens of stalls selling attractive dishes such as grilled snails, grilled eggs, mixed sweet soup, and soursop smoothies.

Strolling, enjoying delicious food, and chatting with locals is a very "Tay Ninh" experience, simple yet friendly. Before leaving the market, don't forget to visit the specialty stalls to buy salt, tamarind rice paper, and pomelo nem as gifts, with their rich flavors carrying sweet memories of the holy land.

Tay Ninh snacks are not just a journey to discover flavors, but also a way to feel the rhythm of life and culture of the people in the holy land. From simple street vendors to modern food courts on Ba Den Mountain, each dish carries a story of creativity and love for the homeland. If you have the chance to visit Tay Ninh, dedicate an evening to a true "food tour", savoring, experiencing, and retaining the authentic, rustic, and unforgettable tastes.