A giant sea snail, enough for 6 people to eat and still not finish.
The flesh of the snail is white, firm and crunchy like chicken gizzard, while the inner part is light brown, soft, and has a rich, creamy flavor.
Giant snails are caught in the wild, making them one of the most popular and sought-after seafood items.
The giant conch, also known as the golden conch, is commonly found in the coastal waters of South Central Vietnam, extending southward. It's more familiar to people in Southern Vietnam, as it typically lives in shallow waters near reefs, caves, cliffs, and around islands where the water is clear. These conchs are large, with thick shells, averaging 0.3-0.5 kg per conch, although some can weigh over a kilogram.
The giant snails in the Quang Yen sea area are quite large.
However, the giant conch snails in the Quang Ninh sea area are different. According to Mr. Ngo Hoang Huy, manager of Hai Linh restaurant (Mao Khe, Quang Ninh), the snails caught in the Quang Ninh sea area weigh about 1 kg each, larger than those in the South. Large snails can reach a weight of over 3 kg.
The snails weigh between 1 and 3 kg.
"Golden conch can survive for weeks after being caught if kept in saltwater. That's why it's quite easy to get them to restaurants while they're still fresh. Seafood and drinking enthusiasts really love this golden conch meat," Huy added.
Snail meat
Because he receives frequent orders from customers, Huy has to order 3-4 large sea snails in advance from his supplier every day to keep up with demand. On hot days or weekends, the quantity even doubles, despite the fact that they are not cheap.
Because if prepared into a dish, each kilogram of snails would cost 550,000 - 600,000 VND, depending on the current price. However, since they only sell fresh snails, customers who want to eat them must buy them whole. "If there are only 2-3 people, you only need to buy one snail weighing a little over 1 kg, but if there are 6-7 people, you have to buy one snail weighing 3 kg. The price of large snails will also increase according to weight," Huy said.
The price of large snails ranges from 550,000 to 600,000 VND/kg.
"This seafood delicacy from the Quang Yen (Ha Long) coastal region can be prepared in many ways, so even if you eat a lot, you won't get tired of it. But it's best when stir-fried, stewed with medicinal herbs, or grilled," Huy said.
In the South, golden conch may not be too rare, but in Quang Ninh, restaurants need connections to get them. The conch is not sold retail in the market, and the maximum amount available each day is only 10 kg.
In fact, some restaurants in Quang Ninh are now competing with each other using this snail dish. According to Mr. Dong Van Kien, the owner of a seafood restaurant in Dong Trieu (Quang Ninh), some customers even call ahead to order, and if the snails are unavailable, they will go to another restaurant.
