Goby fish hotpot has foodies craving
Hồ Nguyên Ngọc, who recently returned from Dubai to his home in HCM City (formerly named Sài Gòn) to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year) festival with his family after four years of absence, said he had a strong craving for goby fish hotpot and hoped to have some immediately.
Ngọc’s mother Kiều Lam led him to a shop on Bà Huyện Thanh Quan Street, known to serve the most tasty and delicious goby fish hotpot in the city.
The goby fish hotpot that has a lot of foodies hooked. — Photo checkinvietnam.vtc.vn |
“When we arrived at a shop, it was full so we had to wait a few minutes. My belly was so hungry that I thought I would eat all the fish in the shop,” said Ngọc.
Fortunately, a waiter soon came and served them. Several minutes later, savoury smell from the hotpot made Ngọc’s mouth water even more.
When the fish was done in the pot, Ngọc’s mother added sliced banana trunk, taro stem, and other fresh vegetables into it and turned down the heat.
A boiling hotpot may be just what you are craving. — Photo digifood.vn |
“My first impressive taste is the heat of chili mixed with sour herbs and tamarind fruit, as well as the delicious hot goby fish,” said Ngọc, adding that the dish is most enjoyable when eaten with fresh aromatic herbs and chili.
He said that the hotpot’s broth is more savoury than others because of its stewed pork bone, while live goby fish mixed with tomato, bitter herb and chili help create the characteristic broth that is its own made-in-Sài Gòn trade mark.
Other ingredients in the hotpot may include shrimp, clams and octopus, but Ngọc said he didn't like these extra ingredients, preferring the goby fish for its own flavour.
Ngọc’s mother said the dish originates in the southern-most province of Cà Mau. The goby fish is grey and lives in rivers so it is very clean and organic. Its meat is firm and fragrant, without a fishy smell but savoury and a bit bitter.
A colourful tray of goby fish hotpot ingredients include shrimp, octopus, clam and many others. — Photo halotravel.vn |
Apart from hotpot, we were also served grilled and braised goby fish with coconut juice.
Goby fish hotpot is often eaten with vermicelli, not with instant noodle as others, said the waiter.
After half an hour of pleasurable and healthy eating, Ngọc observed those eating around him. Locals, foreign tourists and domestic travellers from other areas all flocked here to enjoy the dish, and they all looked happy.
Ngọc said although he was full, he still wanted to eat more.
Crowds of customers enjoy goby fish hotpot at a shop in HCM City's Bà Huyện Thanh Quan Street. — Photo digifood.vn |
“Goby fish hotpot is not only nutritious, but also helps connect people from across the country, and unite family members in a very close and warm atmosphere like Tết in which they can tell each other about their life, their work and their concerns,” Ngọc’s mother said, adding that the dish is so popular that low-income people can afford.
“I will never forget the dish’s special taste. I hope to return home next Tết to enjoy it,” said Ngọc, who will again leave his home for work in Dubai this week.
See also
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
European Literary Days focuses on gender
06:00 | 09/05/2024 Lifestyle
“The Road to Dien Bien Phu” full of emotion
14:59 | 07/05/2024 Lifestyle
Vietnamese celebrated director to head jury at Shanghai International Film Festival
06:00 | 07/05/2024 Lifestyle
See more news
HCM City launches international photo contest
06:00 | 05/05/2024 Lifestyle
Optimising UNESCO titles for national development
06:00 | 04/05/2024 Lifestyle
Vietnamese space introduced at Buenos Aires Int'l Book Fair
06:00 | 03/05/2024 Lifestyle
Exhibition spotlights significance of Điện Biên Phủ Victory
06:00 | 01/05/2024 Lifestyle
VCCA introduces a digital exhibition of cubist masterpieces
06:00 | 29/04/2024 Lifestyle
Concert to honour Điện Biên Phủ victory
06:00 | 27/04/2024 Lifestyle
Film week to celebrate 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ victory
06:00 | 25/04/2024 Lifestyle
Museums free on National Reunification Day
10:34 | 23/04/2024 Lifestyle
New decree protects intangible cultural heritage
06:00 | 20/04/2024 Lifestyle
MCST reports on national culture, sport and tourism activities in Q1, looks to Q2
06:00 | 18/04/2024 Lifestyle
Central bank to inspect gold trading activities
09:17 | 20/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Northern provinces need greater cooperation across industrial and trade sectors
08:22 | 20/05/2024 News and Events
VEPR forecasts Vietnamese economy growth at below 6 percent
08:00 | 20/05/2024 Economy
Vietnamese steel affirms position in world market
07:00 | 20/05/2024 Industry
VN seafood exports up 6% in first four months
07:00 | 20/05/2024 Major exports
Multimedia
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
The Anam Cam Ranh named among Vietnam’s best family hotels
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tax, land rent payment deadlines to be extended this year
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Policy
Ministry proposes tax filing deadline extension for 2024
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Policy
Viet Nam targets to have 2 million enterprises by 2030
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Policy
Law on Telecommunications hoped to promote development of new telecoms services
06:00 | 13/05/2024 Policy
Vietnamese steel affirms position in world market
07:00 | 20/05/2024 Industry
Concerted efforts to reduce manufacturing inventory
06:00 | 20/05/2024 Industry
Energy giants plan for national power plan
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Energy
Vietnam charts vision for sustainable, modern fisheries
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Industry
Delegation from EU, Netherlands explore investment opportunities in Thai Nguyen
07:10 | 18/05/2024 FDI
Desk established in Dong Nai to support Japanese investors
09:02 | 16/05/2024 Investment
Vietnam should not miss opportunities to attract FDI
08:00 | 14/05/2024 FDI
New wave of Chinese investment
06:00 | 12/05/2024 FDI
Central bank to inspect gold trading activities
09:17 | 20/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Banks raise interest rates to attract depositors
16:47 | 17/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Credit access obstacles lifted for collective economic entities
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Government urged to narrow domestic, global gold price gap
08:36 | 15/05/2024 Finance-Banking
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Enhancing informal sector’s role in EPR implementation
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Environment
Centre opened to serve environmental data integration, monitoring network operation
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Environment
Capacity building for policy makers, large emitters on ETS and carbon market
08:48 | 15/05/2024 Environment
Semiconductor investment prioritized
06:29 | 17/05/2024 Science - Technology
Full cyber stream ahead Bắc Giang focuses on digital society development
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Science - Technology
35 localities piloting four-wheel EVs for tourists, despite no official legal regulations
07:00 | 09/05/2024 Science - Technology
2024 VinFuture Prize records 1,469 nominations
06:00 | 07/05/2024 Science - Technology
Government tightens vessel control to fight IUU fishing
07:00 | 20/05/2024 Society
HCM City to complete 183km of metro routes by 2035
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Society
Railway sector gets creative to attract passengers
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Society
Việt Nam’s largest high-speed ship service from HCM City to Côn Đảo launched
07:00 | 14/05/2024 Society
Vietnamese agricultural products to take part in Foodservice Australia 2024
15:08 | 17/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
PV GAS launches Month of Workers
10:22 | 16/05/2024 Companies
National Brand Program promotes prestigious Vietnam
13:09 | 15/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Largest made-in-Vietnam bulk carrier launched
17:07 | 13/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
European Literary Days focuses on gender
06:00 | 09/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tourism sector goes green for sustainable development
08:22 | 19/05/2024 Tourism
Vietnamese tourism information centre opened in India
08:00 | 18/05/2024 Tourism
Mysterious 'floating' lake discovered in Quảng Bình
16:54 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism