1. Why are tourists captivated by Ha Long's cuisine?
When mentioning Ha Long, people often immediately think of majestic limestone mountains, jade-green seas, and bustling tourist boats. But perhaps, what makes tourists remember this land forever is not just the scenery, but also the cuisine that deeply embodies the soul of the sea.
In Ha Long, every meal is a journey of discovery. Just walk along Bai Chay or Hon Gai areas, and you will encounter hundreds of eateries, large and small, with the aroma of seafood spreading in the sea breeze. The dishes here carry the strong flavors of the North but also have the liberality of the Central region, both delicate and passionate.
Ha Long is known as a culinary paradise. (Source: Collected)
What could be better than sitting at a dining table, with a plate of steaming hot seafood in front of you, the gentle sound of waves behind you, and the emerald Ha Long Bay before your eyes? It is this atmosphere, along with the distinctive flavors of the sea, that makes Ha Long cuisine an indispensable part of any trip.
2. What to Eat in Ha Long? Top 8 Must-Try Dishes in Ha Long in 2025
If you are wondering what to eat in Ha Long, here are the most famous and beloved dishes by locals and tourists alike.
2.1. Ha Long Squid Cake
Coming to Ha Long without trying squid cake means you haven't truly experienced the local flavor. Squid cake is made from fresh cuttlefish caught daily, entirely hand-pounded to retain its natural chewy and crispy texture. When fried, each piece of cake turns golden, emitting a fragrant aroma. Taking a bite reveals a clear, sweet taste blended with the characteristic richness of the sea.
Golden yellow, incredibly fragrant Ha Long squid cake. (Source: Collected)
Locals often whisper to each other that if you want to eat authentic squid cake, you should visit Hoai Phuong restaurant at Ha Long Market I, or Ba Nu squid cake on Ly Nhan Tong street. The squid cake is chewy, crispy, sweet, and fragrant; just try it once and you will understand why this dish has become an icon of Ha Long cuisine.
2.2. Ha Long Horseshoe Crab
Horseshoe crab is a characteristic seafood found only in the saltwater areas of Quang Ninh. The horseshoe crab meat is firm, with a rich sweet taste, and can be processed into countless delicious dishes such as sweet and sour stir-fried horseshoe crab, crispy fried horseshoe crab eggs, or horseshoe crab salad mixed with herbs. The aroma of the horseshoe crab blends with a harmonious sweet and sour taste, both novel and satisfying from the first try.
To eat the most authentic horseshoe crab, you should visit Sam Ba Ty restaurant, Sam Co Beo restaurant, or Dung Hoa restaurant. All three places are famous for their skillful preparation, preserving the sea's flavor without any fishiness.
2.3. Grilled Mantis Shrimp with Salt and Chili
If you don't know what to eat in Ha Long, grilled mantis shrimp with salt and chili is always a choice that makes everyone fall in love. Mantis shrimp, also known as 'tom tit', when grilled over charcoal, emits a rich aroma, with a lightly crispy shell and firm, sweet, and mildly spicy meat from the salt and chili.
In the late afternoon, when strolling around the Cai Dam area, you will easily spot small stalls displaying glowing charcoal stoves and the characteristic sizzling sound of grilling. The mantis shrimp here are always fresh, caught by fishermen in the morning and processed the same day, thus retaining the sweet flavor of the bay's seafood.
2.4. Grilled or Steamed Ngán with Wine
Ngán is a bivalve mollusk living in the intertidal zones of Ha Long Bay. It looks like a clam but has a delicate sweet taste and a distinct strong aroma. From ngán, people process many delicious dishes such as grilled ngán, ngán porridge, or ngán wine, but the most beloved dish is still ngán steamed with wine.
To enjoy the most authentic ngán flavor, you can visit Hong Hanh restaurant or Ngoc Phuong Nam restaurant. These are long-standing establishments famous for their refined preparation style, preserving the fresh taste of seafood. When the ngán is just steamed, the wine evaporates and releases its aroma, the ngán meat firms up and becomes incredibly fragrant. Just dipping it in a little lime and pepper salt is enough to make you remember it forever.
2.5. Salt-Roasted Sásùng
For gourmets, sásùng is considered a rare and valuable delicacy, comparable to "sea ginseng." This seafood lives under the sand in the Van Don sea area and usually only appears when the tide recedes. Fresh sásùng, when salt-roasted or grilled until crispy, is both nutty and sweet, fragrant, and delightfully crunchy on the tongue.
If you want to try this dish, head to Huong Duyen restaurant in the Hon Gai area, which is famous for its sásùng soup cooked with 'la lot' leaves. Although the price is a bit high, everyone who has tasted it agrees that the flavor is "worth every penny."
2.6. Grilled Tu Hài with Scallion Oil
Tu hài is a type of seafood with an unusual shape but captivates visitors from the first try. When grilled with scallion oil, the tu hài meat is both crispy and sweet, combined with the light richness of the oil and the aroma of fried shallots. This dish often appears on the menus of high-end seafood restaurants in Ha Long.
Delicious grilled geoduck with scallion oil fascinates tourists. (Source: Collected)
If you want to experience a luxurious seafood feast with a breezy sea view, you should visit Cua Vang restaurant at 32 Phan Chu Trinh, Bai Chay. The spacious ambiance, professional service, and dishes like geoduck, lobster, and gravid crab here are all fresh and delicious, meticulously prepared, worthy of the reputation "peak of Ha Long cuisine".
2.7. Mantis shrimp noodle soup, Ha Long seafood noodle soup
In the morning in Ha Long, there is nothing better than starting the day with a hot bowl of mantis shrimp noodle soup. The broth is sweet and clear, simmered from fish bones and fresh shrimp, with shelled mantis shrimp, fish cake, squid, and a few slices of ripe red tomato. All blend together to create a "distinctly oceanic" flavor that is still delicate and light.
One of the most famous places is Ngoc Hai Mantis Shrimp Noodle Soup in Bai Chay area, where the shop is crowded with people queuing up as soon as morning arrives. The bowl of noodle soup here is generous, the broth is clear, with a natural sweetness, served with fresh herbs and a bit of fresh chili is the authentic Ha Long flavor.
2.8. Banh cuon with grilled squid cake
Banh cuon with grilled squid cake is an interesting variation that you can only find in Ha Long. The cake layers are thin and soft, with a moderate meat filling, served with golden, crispy, hand-pounded grilled squid cake. The dipping fish sauce is skillfully mixed, rich yet still retaining a fresh taste.
To eat this dish at its best, you should visit Goc Bang Banh Cuon Grilled Squid Cake. Although located deep in a small alley, the shop is always bustling with customers coming and going. Locals often choose this dish for breakfast or a snack, as it is quick and nutritious.
3. Pocket some tips for dining in Ha Long
To make your culinary exploration journey complete, you must know a few small but extremely useful tips when researching what to eat in Ha Long.
First, if you love a bustling atmosphere and want to enjoy authentic local seafood, visit Ha Long Market 1, Ha Long Market 2, or Cai Dam Market. These markets are famous for fresh seafood, where you can choose shrimp, crab, squid, and clams yourself and ask the sellers to prepare them on the spot. The seafood tastes fresh and sweet, and the prices are much more reasonable than in restaurants, making the meal more interesting and memorable than ever.
If you prioritize quality assurance and want a comfortable space, then reputable eateries like Hong Hanh, Phuong Nam, or Cua Vang are perfect choices. These restaurants are famous for using only fresh seafood daily, preparing it meticulously, and providing professional service. Whether it's a family lunch or a romantic dinner by the bay, you can fully enjoy the taste of Ha Long's sea in every dish.
Prioritize dining at famous restaurants and eateries to ensure quality and hygiene. (Source: Collected)
Another small tip that seasoned travelers often share is to eat in the late afternoon or evening. At this time, the sea breeze is cool, the seafood has just been prepared, and you can enjoy your meal while watching the sunset over Ha Long Bay.
Additionally, you should also prepare cash, as many small eateries or market stalls do not yet support card payments. A little proactivity will make your culinary exploration smoother. And we are sure that, when you master these tips, you will no longer have to wonder "what to eat in Ha Long" because every culinary experience here will leave you completely satisfied.
Exploring Ha Long's cuisine is an emotional journey, where each dish from golden crispy squid cake, fragrant steamed horseshoe crab with wine to lightly spicy grilled mantis shrimp with salt and chili are all imbued with the salty flavor of the sea and the affection of the people of Quang. Now you have a complete answer to the question "what to eat in Ha Long", right? And to make your trip even more complete, after enjoying the delicious local specialties, don't forget to visit Sun World Ha Long, the most modern entertainment complex in the North, which offers endless experiences from the Queen Cable Car, the Sun Wheel to the vibrant coastal amusement park, helping you end your Ha Long trip with many unforgettable memories.
