During over 110 years of development, compatriots from all three regions of Vietnam have moved to Da lat to settle down. They brought their own customs and dialects to this land 1,500 metres above sea level, including the distinct culinary tastes of the North, the Centre and the South.
People often say that although Da Lat’s area and population is small, its food culture is diverse. It can be seen clearly from the dishes not only for breakfast, lunch and diner but also for light meals. Da Lat’s food is diverse and reflects the origins of its immigrants. Some of the most traditional dishes of the north are available in Da Lat such as noodles, noodles in crab chowder, Thanh Tri pancakes, noodles and snails, etc. Food of the North with strong taste and little sweet has attracted many people. Many noodle restaurants are well-known such as Phi Thuyen (Phan Dinh Phung Street), Bang noodle (No.18 Nguyen Van Troi), Tien (Hoang Van Thu), Xu Lang’s noodle (Bui Thi Xuan), Nam Quang (Ha Huy Tap). Going to Phi Thuyen restaurant, diners can trust the safety and cleanliness of the food. Fresh meats are cut in to thin slices for a typical taste of noodles. Pho Tien restaurant attracts people with its cooking style. At Pho Xua restaurant, in addition to tasty noodles, people can request soup cooked from bones. Besides, some specialties of The Thai of the Northwest are served by some restaurants at Da Lat.
The central highlands, with wind and sun and simple-hearted people, bring a fascinating food culture with special salty flavours. Bun Bo Hue (Hue’s beef and noodles) and Mi Quang (Quang Nam’s noodles) are typical central specialties. Anh Sang village (or village of sunlight) is the Central Food centre where many Hue families work here from dawn to dark to provide customers the most tasteful dishes, but sometimes they cannot meet the demand, said Ms Hoa. Noodles cooked by Ms Hoa are very distinguished, totally different from others with peppery-hot soup and a slice of soft pig skin. On a cold day, having the chance to slurp beef and noodles is very interesting. Ms Hoa is now 70 years old and is only responsible for cooking, while and her daughter Ms Cuc is responsible for running the business. Ms Cuc started buying food together with her mother at the age of 16 years old and now she is about 40 years old. Ms Hoa’s restaurant opens at noon. In the morning, the restaurant of Ms Chi, another daughter of Ms Hoa, opens and also attracts many people. Beef and noodles of Ms Chi’s restaurant are made according to the Central style with stingingly hot taste; however, it attracts many people even those who do not like hot dishes.
In comparison with population from the Northern and Central regions, the number of people from the South living in Da Lat is rather small; however, its food culture is second to none. People from the South are open-minded and ebullient, and foods from the South are often sweet, with many lighter dishes such as Banh Xeo (rice pan cake), steamboat, Banh Khot and Bo Ne.
Chi restaurant, located on the first lane of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, is very well-known for its rice pan cakes although it buys many different cakes. Well-done rice pancakes processed from grilled rice, shrimp, meat, small-green bean buds is served with salad. These cakes are very crisp with a sweet and sour taste, and not greasy. Apart from Banh Xeo, there are many restaurants offering Com Tam such as Com Tam Mai Huong (Nguyen Van Troi), Tay Do, and restaurants along Tang Bat Ho street. Besides, these restaurants offer ‘bi suon’, bi cha cua, bi trung, and bi lap xuong.
When immigrating to Da Lat, some dishes were adjusted to suit local tastes. Da Lat’s noodles have more vegetables than that in Ha Noi and Hue, and are less hot than in Hue. Da Lat people add many herbs to noodles. Da Lat’s typical characteristics are mixed with that of all three regions, making a unique food culture.
Hong Hanh
Vietnamese
