Western tourists spend 50,000 VND to "eat up" a series of famous delicious dishes in Phu Yen

Giai Son Market (in An My commune, Tuy An district), about 15km north of Tuy Hoa city center, is one of the destinations that attracts many tourists when traveling to Phu Yen.

Known as the "cheapest traditional market in Vietnam", this place attracts tourists because it has many delicious dishes that you can enjoy without worrying about the price.

During her recent trip to Phu Yen, Iryna Yang (born in 1996, Belarusian) went to Giai Son market to experience local dishes. She revealed that she should go to the market early in the morning, because this is the time when people sell a lot of fresh and delicious food.

At Giai Son market, the Belarusian female tourist had the opportunity to enjoy many famous delicacies such as fish cake noodle soup, banh can, banh bo... Including dishes she knew for the first time such as congee and jelly (xu xoa).

One of Iryna’s favorite dishes at this market is fish cake noodle soup. She was surprised because the dish was cheap, only 10,000 VND/bowl, but the ingredients were more plentiful than she had imagined.

“I find the texture of banh canh more interesting than noodles because it is a bit more chewy, flexible and smooth. And this dish is combined with a slightly sweet broth, which is very delicious. I think it is not like the dishes in the North,” Iryna said.

Besides fish cake noodle soup, seafood pancake is also a famous specialty in Phu Yen in general and Giai Son market in particular. This dish is made from rice flour, steamed in a clay pot. The filling is made from fresh seafood or meat, eggs.

Banh Can is small in size, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and tastes even better when served with sweet and sour fish sauce. Iryna commented that the cake has a full filling, with lots of fresh squid. The cake has a crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

“If the squid had its shell and ink sac removed, this dish would probably be more delicious. But for 2,500 VND each, I think the dish is really great. I really like Vietnamese dishes with small portions like banh can,” Iryna said.

Xu xoa (also known as agar jelly) is made from agar (agar seaweed). This type of seaweed grows naturally in coastal areas and appears a lot in Phu Yen.

Xu xoa is a refreshing dessert that has an effective cooling effect. Eaten with sugar water and coconut milk to enhance the attractive flavor.

Iryna said that xu xoa is a dish she has never tried before. At first glance, it looks quite simple, but when eaten, it is delicious and refreshing.

“The jelly cup looks simple but tastes attractive, with sugar water, chia seeds and a little coconut milk. The ingredients combine harmoniously to create a sweet and refreshing dessert.

I think this is a delicious dessert for hot, muggy days," she commented.

Some other rustic snacks such as banh bot loc, banh bo, and che mep cam are also loved by many tourists and sought after when visiting traditional markets in Phu Yen. Banh bot loc here is different with a filling made from mung beans and a sweet taste.

At the end of her short food tour of the market, Iryna stopped at a porridge stall. “If you just buy porridge, it costs 2,000 VND, but if you add innards, it costs 10,000 VND. I can’t believe it,” Iryna exclaimed.

Porridge is a familiar dish of Vietnamese people, effective in relieving colds and reducing fever. This dish can be varied in many ways with different ingredients, the most common of which is pig intestines.

When customers order, the seller will scoop white porridge into a bowl, add pig organs such as liver, intestines, blood, etc. on top, sprinkle with pepper and chopped herbs.

After enjoying a series of delicious dishes at the market, a female Belarusian tourist commented that the dishes with dipping sauce in Phu Yen are often quite spicy, much spicier than in Hanoi. However, the plus points are the cheap price, generous serving and delicious flavor.

To summarize the culinary experience trip at Giai Son market, Iryna only spent 50,000 VND but could eat up to 7 dishes, including: Banh canh (10,000 VND/bowl), banh xeo (10,000 VND/4 pieces), jelly (5,000 VND), banh bot loc (5,000 VND/5 pieces), che (5,000 VND), congee (10,000 VND), banh bo (5,000 VND/3 pieces).

“People say this is the cheapest market in Vietnam, and I have to admit that it is true. With only 50,000 VND, I can buy 7 different dishes. The food here is not only cheap but also delicious. Besides the food, I also got to experience singing karaoke with the people in the market,” Iryna shared her feelings.