Unique cuisine of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark

Cao Bang cuisine is a harmonious combination of nature, culture and life, and is also an important bridge to help the local community preserve and convey cultural values, beliefs and customs through many generations. Each season has its own dishes, Cao Bang cuisine shows sophistication and ingenuity in processing, combining abundant natural ingredients to create dishes with rich flavors, imbued with the feelings of friendly and hospitable mountain people. It’s no need for expensive ingredients or elaborate presentation, traditional dishes are prepared by hand, without preservatives or artificial flavors, but focus on carefully selecting local ingredients such as: honey sticky rice, black pork, stream fish, wild vegetables... It is this simplicity that has created a unique culinary identity, leaving a deep impression in the hearts of diners.

Over time, Cao Bang cuisine has contributed to creating an attractiveness in the Vietnamese culinary treasure. Many Cao Bang products and delicacies have been listed in the top 100 Vietnamese dishes and specialties such as: rice rolls, ap chao cakes (a kind of fried- cake from sticky rice mixed with pork inside), sticky rice with canarium, coong phu (floating rice cake), che lam (nutty ginger sticky rice bar), Phja Den vermicelli, Trung Khanh chestnuts... Each dish not only has a unique flavor but also contains a cultural story about the lifestyle, seasons, customs and habits and the close relationship with nature of the indigenous peoples. That is a banh khao wrapped in pink paper carrying the traditional Tet flavor of the Tay people. It is a rustic but strange taste of Pho chua (sour noodles dish), with soft and chewy sour noodles, duck meat imbued with the aroma of mac mat and crispy fried potatoes mixed in a characteristic sweet and sour sauce. It is hot, fatty, fragrant taste of Trung Khanh chestnuts that make visitors linger in the winter weather of Cao Bang.
Experiencing Cao Bang cuisine is not just about enjoying the food but also a journey to discover the harmony between flavors and cultural identity. Coming to this land, visitors have the opportunity to gather around the fire in a traditional stilt house, amidst the melodious Tinh lute and the sweet Then melody, and then immerse themselves in the rustic but profound indigenous cultural space. Not only that, at traditional festivals, cuisine is also associated with spiritual rituals, folk games and fairy tales imbued with humanity. It is this harmonious connection that has created a unique identity for the cuisine of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, where each dish is like a delicate piece in a colorful cultural picture.

In the trend of developing green and sustainable experiential tourism, cuisine is gradually becoming an independent and attractive tourism product for tourists. Realizing this potential, Cao Bang tourism industry is actively building a culinary brand associated with the UNESCO Global Geopark Non Nuoc Cao Bang. At the same time, promoting a variety of types of tours combining nature exploration and indigenous cultural experiences such as: learning to cook ethnic dishes, visiting market-day, making traditional cakes... contributing to bringing tourists memorable experiences.
In order to promote the strength of cuisine in the tourism sector, in recent times, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with the Provincial Tourism Association, service businesses and local authorities to focus on developing unique and creative tourism products; at the same time, promoting culinary tourism communication on electronic information channels and social networks. Along with that, strengthening the organization of culinary promotion activities such as: culinary fairs, "Delicious Dishes of the Mountainous Region" contest, culinary exchange festivals, OCOP product display booths at major cultural events... Thereby, contributing to widely promoting Cao Bang cuisine to many regions across the country.

Cao Bang cuisine leaves a deep impression on visitors not only because of its unique flavors but also because of the rustic love and the sincere soul of the mountain people. On the journey to explore Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, cuisine becomes a bridge to help visitors feel the close connection between people and nature, while creating the opportunities to explore the unique traditional cultural values ​​of this land.