Tiếng Việt
Con Dao tourism is increasingly developing as this place, besides being associated with spiritual tourism, also boasts pristine nature with many extremely clear and beautiful beaches. In addition, Con Dao’s specialties are also something that tourists look forward to experiencing and enjoying every time they come here.
The article below will suggest 10 famous Con Dao specialties for tourists to enjoy on the spot or buy as gifts for loved ones after their Con Dao trip!
>> Chia sẻ kinh nghiệm du lịch Côn Đảo chi tiết nhất cho người mới đi lần đầu.
Con Dao’s Deliciously Fresh Seafood
1. Red Lobster
Con Dao is famous for its fresh seafood. One of them is the red lobster. Red lobsters are expensive and can be processed into many delicious dishes.
Some dishes that can be made from lobster include grilling, steaming, salad,… Red lobster is not only nutritious but also chewy, sweet, firm, and much more fragrant than other types of shrimp. Tourists in Con Dao, if they have the means, often choose red lobster as a precious gift for their loved ones.
>> Reference Price: Approximately VND 800,000 – 1,200,000/kg (depending on the time).
2. Moon Crab
Another famous Con Dao specialty is the moon crab. This type of moon crab in Con Dao is completely different from other crabs because it has red spots on its back. This crab can be processed into many different dishes, or simply steamed and dipped in chili salt to feel the fresh sweetness of the crab meat.
3. Areola Snail (Oc Vu Nang)
Another special seafood in Con Dao suitable for buying as a gift for loved ones is the areola snail (Oc Vu Nang). This is a very rare type of seafood in Con Dao.
This snail can be processed into many delicious dishes such as grilling, boiling, stir-frying, or making salad, all of which are excellent. This type of snail is also often grilled with scallion oil to treat tourists when they come to Con Dao.
4. Oysters
Con Dao oysters are large in size and have a sweet, fatty, and very distinctive flavor. They are not only delicious but also very good for health. A delicious oyster porridge is made by simmering rice until it blooms and becomes soft and smooth. When eating, adding pepper, cilantro, and fried shallots makes it even more wonderful.
>> Reference Price: Approximately VND 35,000 – 50,000/bowl
5. Elephant Ear Snail (Oc Tai Tuong)
Another seafood that is also considered a Con Dao specialty that you should try is the elephant ear snail (Oc Tai Tuong). This snail has a very large size, looking just like the earlobe of an elephant. The meat of the elephant ear snail is chewy, crunchy, and has a delicious and nutritious flavor that captivates every visitor.
6. Peanut Worms (Sa Sung)
Peanut worms (Sa Sung) are a rare and expensive Con Dao specialty. They are extremely difficult to catch and only appear from March to July. Peanut worms are very nutritious and can be processed into many dishes such as salads, porridge, stir-fries with vegetables, or grilling,… Peanut worms have a fatty, chewy, and savory taste and are extremely nutritious.
>> The current price of Con Dao peanut worms can range up to VND 3-4 million/kg when purchased.
7. Con Dao Red Grouper (Ca Mu Do Con Dao)
Besides peanut worms, the Red Grouper is also an extremely rare species in Con Dao. They usually live in coral reefs, and their price is also extremely high. However, “you get what you pay for”; Red Grouper possesses extremely high nutritional content, suitable for malnourished people, children with stunted growth, thin people, fetuses with slow development, people with physical weakness, etc.
Red Grouper can be prepared into many dishes such as salad, steamed with soy sauce, fish hot pot,… The fish meat is very firm and sweet, making it absolutely worth enjoying.
>> “Đổi gió” với trải nghiệm chinh phục núi Dinh Vũng Tàu
Famous, Fresh, and High-Quality Con Dao Seafood Restaurants
You can buy fresh seafood at the Con Dao seafood market, or if you want to enjoy delicious Con Dao seafood dishes on the spot from restaurants, here are some suggestions for famous restaurants for you to choose from:
- Cay Bang Restaurant: Pham Van Dong Street, Nguyen Van Troi (Tran Huy Lieu) Street, Zone 8, Con Dao
- Thu Ba Seafood Restaurant: Vo Thi Sau Street, Con Dao
- Tri Ky Restaurant: Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Con Dao
- Ot Seafood Restaurant: Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Zone 5, Con Dao Town, Ba Ria – Vung Tau
- Gia Dinh Restaurant: Tran Phu Street, Zone 5, Con Dao Town
Above are the top famous Con Dao seafood restaurants that visitors to Con Dao trust and choose as a stop to enjoy the local specialties.
>> Viếng thăm nhà mồ Ba Chúc để tưởng niệm 3.157 nạn nhân bị Pol Pot thảm sát.
Con Dao Specialties to Buy as Gifts
1. Indian Almond Nut Jam (Mut Hat Bang)
Indian almond nut jam is also considered an unmissable specialty when traveling to Con Dao. This type of jam is not easily found in other tourist areas. Therefore, be sure to buy some as gifts for everyone.
The Indian almond nuts will be harvested and preliminarily processed. People will separate the shell of the Indian almond nut and take the kernel inside. The kernel of the Indian almond nut is light brown in color, flat, and long. After separating the nuts and cleaning them, the Indian almond nuts will be roasted with salt or roasted with sugar. Indian almond nut jam has a very delicious, fatty, savory, and very fragrant taste. Visitors to Con Dao often buy Indian almond nut jam as gifts for their loved ones.
>> Reference Price for Indian Almond Nut Jam:
– Sugar-roasted type: Approximately VND 220,000 – 500,000/kg
– Salt-roasted type: Approximately VND 280,000 – 500,000/kg
2. Bird’s Nest – A Precious Con Dao Specialty
Con Dao is a place where swallows build their nests in large numbers because the natural environment here is extremely fertile and suitable for them. Bird’s nest can be processed into many nutritious dishes such as bird’s nest stewed with rock sugar, bird’s nest soup,… these dishes are extremely nutritious.
Although the price of bird’s nest is high, it is rich in nutrients, so tourists often choose Con Dao bird’s nest as a gift for their loved ones, especially the elderly in the family.
>> Price ranges from: VND 40,000,000 – 170,000,000/kg (1kg is a lot; bird’s nest is usually bought and sold by the gram).
>> Note: There are quite a few shops selling bird’s nest in Con Dao. However, to buy genuine bird’s nest, you can choose large supermarkets or certified quality locations!
3. Sun-Dried Mackerel (Ca Thu Mot Nang)
One of the most famous Con Dao specialties is mackerel! After being caught, the mackerel will be preliminarily processed, cleaned, cut into pieces, washed again with salt water, and dried under the sun for 1 day. Sun-dried mackerel can be bought as a gift or processed into many dishes such as grilling, frying, braising,… Especially, the fish meat has a high sweetness, good firmness, and no fishy smell for you to enjoy.
>> Price ranges from: VND 220,000 – 500,000/kg.
4. One-Sun Dried Squid (Muc Mot Nang)
Although you can buy one-sun dried squid in many other places, Con Dao squid is very fresh and has a distinct flavor. The squid meat is very delicious, sweet, moderately soft, and slightly chewy, making it delicious no matter how it’s prepared.
>> Price ranges from: VND 300,000 – 400,000/kg.
5. Sea Urchin Paste (Mam Nhum)
Sea urchin paste (Mam Nhum) is a specialty that many tourists buy as a gift. The way to distinguish Con Dao sea urchin paste from other types of fermented fish sauce is that when ripe, this paste will have a cloudy red color, a thick consistency, and a characteristic aroma.
>> Reference Selling Price: Approximately VND 125,000 – 200,000/bottle.
6. Oyster Sauce (Mam Hau)
If sea urchin paste has its own unique and unusually delicious characteristics, then oyster sauce is also equally famous. This type of sauce is very suitable for eating with plain rice or boiled meat,… it’s that simple, but it’s very appetizing, so it’s widely chosen by tourists as a Con Dao specialty to give as gifts to loved ones.
>> Price ranges from: approximately VND 170,000/500ml bottle.
7. Dried Peanut Worms (Sa Sung Kho)
Dried peanut worms have the same delicious and sweet characteristics as fresh peanut worms. Dried peanut worms are used to make broth for dishes like noodle soups, soups, and pho, which is very wonderful. Some other simple dishes include peanut worm soup, peanut worms stir-fried with vegetables, crispy fried peanut worms,… Although simple, each dish has its own unique delicious flavor.
>> Price ranges from: VND 4,500,000 – 5,000,000/kg.
Above are suggestions for seafood dishes as well as Con Dao specialties to buy as gifts for loved ones. Visitors coming here, besides exploring nature and spiritual tourism, should also not forget to experience the unique and famous cuisine of this special land.
If you enjoy my domestic and international travel experiences, you can watch more videos about Tieu Dao Tu’s trips on Youtube and Tiktok!
