Con Dao Island, also called Con Lon and Con Son, is an archipelago consisting of 16 pristine islands, located approximately 180 kilometers off the southern coast of Vietnam. This tropical region belongs to Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, which is approximately 100 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City.

When exploring Con Dao Island in Vietnam, tourists can satisfy their taste buds with the delightful local specialties. Here are some must-try dishes that will give them a true taste of the island's culinary delights.

Moon Crab

Moon crab is a rare seafood species and a famous Con Dao sea specialty. In terms of shape, this type of crab is similar to other sea crabs, but the shell often has red dots like a moon. Moon crab has sweet, firm, and mineral-rich meat compared to King Crab.

Moon crab is a rare seafood species and a famous Con Dao sea specialty. Photo: Nguoi Ha Noi

The most common way to prepare the moon crab is by steaming. Eating a piece of crab meat, dipping it in a little salt and lime, and slowly savoring the sweet taste of the crab melting on the tongue, will bring tourists an amazing taste in their mouth. This type of crab can also be served with tamarind sauce or cooked in a hot pot. There are many restaurants in Con Dao selling it, but to taste the most authentic flavor, tourists should visit Tri Ki Restaurant on Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Con Dao.

Vu Nang Snail

Vu Nang Snail is a kind of unique snail and has become a famous food of Con Dao Island. At Con Dao, the Vu Nang snail is available year-round but only appears on full moon days. The boiled Vu Nang snail is considered the most popular because it is easy to make.

Vu Nang Snail is a kind of unique snail and has become a famous food of Con Dao Island. Photo: MIA

This is one of the specialties of this southeastern island. Snails only live on rocky rapids in some places such as Con Dao Sea, Cu Lao Cham Sea (Quang Nam), and the Dai Lanh area at the foot of Co Ma Pass in Khanh Hoa.

Each recipe has a unique flavor that is difficult to mix, but the most attractive one is the famous grilled Vu nang snail dish. The fragrant, sweet, creamy, fatty snails will charm all diners. With some wine, this is the best dish that tourists will find during their journeys in Quy Nhon.

Sun – Dried Squid

Sun-dried squid is a specialty of the Con Dao Sea and is highly favored by tourists visiting the area. Photo: Dien may XANH

Squid is usually caught by locals at night, and when caught, the people carefully select the freshest, tastiest, and largest squid to dry. For this type of sun-dried squid, there is no need for extensive processing; just rinse it with water or salt water and then sun-dry it once. Sun-dried squid is a specialty of the Con Dao Sea and is highly favored by tourists visiting the area.

The price for type 1 sun-dried squid is around VND300,000 (US$11.80) - VND400,000 (US$15.74)/kg. You can find and purchase this sun-dried squid as a gift at specialty stores, supermarkets, and markets in Con Dao.

Sea Urchin Porridge

Sea urchin porridge is a delicious and nutritious dish. Photo:

Sea urchin porridge is a delicious and nutritious dish. This is a wonderful seafood dish that the sea has bestowed on humans. After being caught from the sea, the sea urchin is washed and split in half. The cook will use a knife or spoon to separate the meat and eggs and marinate them with spices, a little pepper, and onion. The meat is then stir-fried with oil and put in a pot of porridge, then boiled until it is fully cooked.

Sa Sung

Sa Sung has become the ingredient of many delicious dishes on Con Dao Island. Photo: Dien may XANH

Referred to as a species of seafood, Sa Sung has become the ingredient of many delicious dishes on Con Dao Island. Tourists can find a large number of sa sung units from March to July. Therefore, they should not miss the chance to taste this food. The dishes made from Sa Sung include salad, soup, fried vegetables, crispy, and porridge. Or the simple way is grilled Sa Sung with chili sauce. Thu Ba restaurant is a famous place for seafood that travelers can find in Con Dao.

Catfish Salad

One of the renowned exotic and nutritious dishes here is the Catfish Salad in Con Dao. The salad is made using only the fresh, firm part of the catfish's back, cut into small pieces, marinated to remove the fishy smell, and then mixed with galangal, lemongrass, and finely ground turmeric for about 30 minutes. It is combined with a dressing featuring various spices to create a harmonious blend of sourness, spiciness, and sweetness.

One of the renowned exotic and nutritious dishes here is the Catfish Salad in Con Dao. Photo: Vietnamnet

A plate of Catfish Salad will give tourists the soft, fragrant taste of the fish with the spicy kick of mustard and a combination of natural ingredients such as banana flower, sawtooth herb, the slightly astringent taste of green banana, and the sourness of pineapple and starfruit.

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