Visit Dong Thap to enjoy dishes made from lotus.

When mentioning Dong Thap, tourists immediately think of the lotus flower. This product is a gift that nature has generously bestowed upon the locality, a symbol that reminds visitors of a land with generous, simple, friendly, and hospitable people; a land imbued with the "spirit of the lotus"... The lotus is noble and unyielding, simple and familiar, so everyone is captivated by its gentle pink blossoms amidst the lush green leaves of the pond. The lotus is a flower that, though familiar and simple, embodies a pure, noble beauty and a powerful vitality, always striving to rise above adversity.

Taking advantage of nature's resources, since ancient times, the people of Dong Thap have known how to use the lotus plant in both culinary and medicinal applications. From the root and stem to the leaves and flowers, the lotus plant is processed into a variety of foods and drinks. The lotus root has a bitter taste and is neutral in nature; the lotus stamens (stamens) have a sweet taste and are warm with a slightly astringent nature; the lotus seeds have a sweet taste and are warm with a slightly astringent nature; the lotus rhizome has a refreshing taste and is neutral in nature, with a slightly astringent quality; the lotus petals have a bland taste and are cool in nature; and the lotus receptacle has a bitter taste and is warm in nature.

Based on their knowledge of lotus plants in traditional medicine, the people of Dong Thap have created delicious and popular dishes such as lotus seed rice, lotus root salad, chicken stewed with lotus, lotus leaf tea, lotus heart tea, lotus sweet soup, and dried lotus root with salt and chili...

As someone passionate about preparing dishes from lotus, Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc Lan, residing in Vinh Thanh commune, Lap Vo district, said that for daily meals, her family often prepares many dishes such as: grilled snakehead fish wrapped in lotus leaves, lotus soup, lotus root salad... Just the soup alone includes: stewed lotus root soup, stewed lotus seed soup, sour lotus root soup, lotus root salad with shrimp and meat, chicken and lotus root salad... “From ancient times to the present, lotus has great nutritional value in cuisine. On weekends, I often prepare lotus rice. From preparation and cooking to presentation, I do everything meticulously to make it both visually appealing and delicious. The rice is colorful and subtly fragrant from the lotus leaves, with the chewy texture of high-quality rice, the sweet and nutty flavor of various vegetables and lotus seeds. Afterwards, I usually accompany it with a dessert of lotus seed and longan sweet soup, a combination of the delicate sweetness of rock sugar, the rich and nutty flavor of lotus seeds, and the crunchy texture of longan. It is these ingredients that make it so special.” "The lotus flower, with its simple and familiar qualities, contributes to the essence of our homeland's cuisine," Ms. Lan shared.

According to representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Young Chefs Club, the creation of lotus-based dishes and the establishment of a record aim to promote the spiritual, cultural, and economic value of products made from lotus plants in Dong Thap; to boost the development of the lotus industry; and to create a "mark" for tourism development, build a local image, stimulate demand, and attract more domestic and international tourists to visit Dong Thap.