What to eat in Bắc Hà: local dishes worth traveling for

To experience the true flavors of Bắc Hà, try sour noodle soup (phở chua) and horse meat stew (thắng cố). These two traditional dishes represent the culinary heritage of the local ethnic groups. While phở chua is a refreshing cold noodle dish, thắng cố is a hearty, hot stew. You can find both easily at the weekly Bắc Hà Sunday Market. Prices for a bowl of phở chua start from $2 (approximate).

Unlike hot beef pho in Hà Nội, Bắc Hà sour pho is served cold with a special sour sauce. The noodles are handmade from a local red rice, giving them a distinct dark pink color. The dish features char siu pork, crushed peanuts, fresh herbs, and a warm sour broth. For the best experience, visit the food court inside the Sunday market. A serving costs from $2 (approximate). For specific stall recommendations, ask a Trip2VN specialist to help plan your visit.

Thắng cố is a traditional Hmong stew made from horse meat and offal. It is cooked with 12 local spices, including cardamom and star anise. The stew simmers for hours in large iron pans. To eat authentic thắng cố, visit the food area of the Bắc Hà Sunday Market. If you prefer a quieter setting, family-run restaurants on Ngọc Uyển Street serve this dish too. A shared hotpot of thắng cố starts from $15 (approximate).

Five-color sticky rice (xôi ngũ sắc) is a staple of Tay ethnic culture. Women sell this colorful dish at the entrance of the Bắc Hà market. The vibrant colors come from natural plant dyes, not artificial chemicals. The rice is steamed in wooden vessels, making it fragrant and sticky. It is usually served with sesame salt or grilled pork. A small portion costs from $1 (approximate) and makes a convenient snack.