Although Saigon has many supermarkets, shopping centers... the markets are still strangely attractive to food lovers. Perhaps because each market creates a different highlight for diners. Some places are famous for their cheap prices, some are attractive for their delicious food and some have regional specialties that cannot be found anywhere else...
Among them, there is a place known as "miniature Central Vietnam" in the heart of Saigon, which is also one of the most unique markets in this land, that is Ba Hoa market. Coming here, you will not only enjoy the rustic culinary flavors of the Central region but also immerse yourself in the extremely bustling atmosphere in every corner of the market...
Cake
Maybe banh thuan or banh thng is a dish that is quite unfamiliar to Saigon food lovers, but for the people of the Central region, especially those from Quang, everyone knows about this simple but meaningful traditional cake.
Previously, this specialty only appeared on traditional Tet holidays because it was considered a symbol of prosperity and luck in the new year. But now this cake has become more popular, it is also prepared every day and sold right in the Central market in the heart of Saigon.
It looks similar to a sponge cake but is richer. The cake is delicious thanks to the combination of the mild fatty taste of eggs, the smooth fluffiness and the delicate fragrance. Each small, pretty cake brings a familiar flavor that touches the hearts of many people far from home.
A standard banh thuan must bloom evenly like apricot blossoms, not broken, and have an eye-catching golden yellow color. When you try it, you will feel the crispiness of the crust, the softness and crumbliness of the inside, and especially the characteristic aroma of tapioca starch and eggs.
The bright yellow cakes, with a mild, fatty aroma, are the most familiar flavor at Ba Hoa market. The small, bright yellow baked cake in the palm of your hand, still a little warm from the oven, impresses people with its unique, rustic flavor.
Turmeric stir-fried intestines
Another Central specialty at Ba Hoa market that you cannot miss is stir-fried intestines with turmeric. Just passing by the snack stall at this corner of the market, no one can resist but sit down to enjoy the unique flavor of the chewy, fatty, rich intestines. Slowly sipping, you will feel the aroma of turmeric spreading and a bit of spiciness that brings out the flavor of the dish.
A rustic dish of stir-fried offal on a bright yellow background of turmeric, accented with green chives or fresh red chili, just looking at it is enough to make you crave. The most attractive thing is when you break a piece of grilled rice paper and scoop up as much offal as you can, chewing and feeling the crispy, fragrant, fatty, and rich flavors blending harmoniously, awakening your taste buds.
Peanut cake
Peanut cake is a snack of Quang Nam people, made from 4 main ingredients: peanuts, molasses, sesame and rice paper. The cake has a shiny brown color of sugar, mixed with crispy roasted peanuts and dotted sesame seeds, just looking at it is attractive.
Enjoy slowly, you will feel the sweet taste melting together with the fatty taste of peanuts or add a layer of crispy fragrant rice paper. The rustic, simple flavor like that but captivates many diners.
Jackfruit salad
It is almost impossible to find a jackfruit salad stall with the authentic Central Vietnamese flavor right in the heart of Saigon, so when you come to Ba Hoa market, don't miss this unique snack. Young jackfruit strands are boiled until soft and mixed with dried shrimp, Vietnamese coriander, fried onions... creating a very stimulating salad dish.
Add more fish sauce, garlic, and chili to blend a little salty, sweet, and spicy into the sweet, fatty taste and the aroma of the light, crispy mixture that will surely conquer all palates. Not too fussy in appearance, this mixed jackfruit salad has captivated many Saigon people when exploring Central cuisine at this small market.
Banh to
Banh to is a traditional cake in the holidays and Tet of the people of Quang Nam and is now also commonly found in Ba Hoa market. Banh to is dark brown in color, poured into a thick mold lined with a layer of banana leaves underneath. The main ingredients of the cake include sticky rice flour cooked with molasses sugar, a familiar type of sugar in Quang Nam cuisine. Adding more flavor are ginger and sesame seeds spread evenly on top, creating an extremely attractive aroma.
The longer the cake is left, the more flavorful it becomes, so many people at the market make it in advance to sell. The cake layer is fluffy and soft, bringing a rustic sweet taste. Those who are more picky can add a piece of grilled rice paper to add more crispy aroma, the more you eat, the more delicious it becomes.
Banh dap
Anyone who has been to Hoi An must have heard of Banh Dap. People will spread a thin layer of wet rice paper on a crispy grilled rice paper and then use their hands to pound them together. To increase the appeal, when eating Banh Dap, it is indispensable to sprinkle scallion oil on top and a bowl of rich fish sauce.
It sounds simple, but once you taste it, you will be impressed by the unique and different flavor of the dish. When eating, the crispy rice paper layer with the fragrant smell of flour blends with the soft and moist wet cake layer, refreshing your throat with the attractive cool sweetness. Dip it in the spicy and passionate fish sauce, surely this rich salty flavor will make you remember it forever.
Salads
Many people believe that if you want to enjoy all the special salads of the Central region, just visit Ba Hoa market. Because just one stall is enough to overwhelm you with countless attractive choices such as calf skin salad, lotus root pork tongue, steamed beef tripe with ginger, beef tongue with lemon juice... Each dish makes people fascinated with its own layer of flavor.
If the pig's ear is crunchy and permeated with a little bit of mild sourness, the beef tongue or tripe is chewy and the more you chew, the more you enjoy it. In the afternoon, if you have free time, come here and enjoy the delicate sweet and crunchy flavor of these salads. What could be more ideal?
Hoi An mixed mussels
Completely different from the rich mussel dishes in Saigon, Hoi An mixed mussels captivate people with their sweet and chewy taste combined with the subtle spiciness of lemongrass and chili. The tiny mussels are boiled and then stir-fried with spices, onions, vegetables... looking rustic but strangely attractive.
This dish is best eaten with grilled rice paper, scooping up the mussels and then pouring a little fish sauce on top, chewing and feeling each layer of flavor blend together perfectly. The mussels are soft, the more you eat, the sweeter they become, and the crispiness of the rice paper intertwines delicately to awaken all the senses.
