Unique spices from the highlands.

"The finest spice of Northwest Vietnam" is the mắc khén seed, considered a type of wild pepper by the ethnic minorities in the mountainous regions. Mắc khén belongs to the anise family, contains essential oils and a fragrant aroma, making it an indispensable and flavorful spice in the meals of the people of Northwest Vietnam. Dried mắc khén seeds must be roasted until golden brown, cooled, and ground into a fine powder before use. Mắc khén is often used as a dipping sauce for sticky rice, but it's best suited for marinating grilled dishes. If you've ever tasted grilled dishes marinated with mắc khén, such as pa pỉnh tộp or grilled pork, you'll surely never forget the very distinctive spicy and aromatic flavor of this spice.

Chẳm chéo (or chẩm chéo) is also a delicious traditional condiment, deeply rooted in the local culture. It's a familiar dipping sauce in Thai cuisine, prepared quite simply from ingredients like salt, garlic, chili peppers, herbs, and an indispensable spice: mắc khén (a type of spice). The aroma of finely ground herbs, the spiciness of roasted chili peppers, the pungent smell of garlic, and the distinctive flavor of mắc khén create a unique taste unlike any other dipping sauce. Any dish becomes more appealing when dipped in chẳm chéo. From boiled wild boar meat and bamboo shoots to sour fruits like mangoes, loquats, and peaches, everything becomes irresistible when eaten with chẳm chéo.

Besides mắc khén and chẳm chéo, other spices such as mắc mật seeds, dổi seeds, and legendary dishes like smoked meat, thắng cố, mèn mén, and cơm lam also contribute to conveying the culinary cultural identity of this mountainous region.

The journey to the highlands becomes even more fascinating when visitors can admire the legendary terraced rice fields, adorned in a shimmering hue, standing out in the autumn sunlight. Layers of rice stalks, like undulating waves in the wind, stretch from the valleys up the towering hillsides, blending with the clouds and mountains to create a breathtaking landscape along the roads of Northwest Vietnam. Amidst this vast expanse, peaceful houses nestled among the golden rice paddies, the joyful laughter of children, and the charming smiles of highland girls leave visitors captivated and reluctant to leave.

Contact: FIDITOUR – Head Office: 129 Nguyen Hue, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City – Tel: (08) 39 141414 (Ext: 330,119) - Transaction Office 2: 12D CMT8, District 1 – Tel: (08) 38 282282 – Website:www.fiditour.com

The Thanh