Local cuisine and secret recipes
Hoi An has its own unique cuisine and there are several dishes that are specific to the town. For starters, there is cao lau, which is a noodle soup made with pork, lots of greens, bean sprouts, and crispy croutons. What makes this dish so special is that the water for the broth is said to come from an ancient Cham well located in the outskirts of town. You know it’s a one of a kind dish when the water for it comes from an undisclosed source!
Another dish that is unique to the town is banh bao vac, also known as ‘white rose dumplings’. These special dumplings are made with a translucent dough and then stuffed with shrimp. The dumplings get the name ‘white rose’ because the dough is bunched up and folded to resemble a flower. The secret to this recipe is held by one family in town who has been responsible for supplying the rest of Hoi An with dumplings for the past three generations.