Here are 7 must-buy souvenirs when visiting Nghe An.

First, we must mention Xã Đoài oranges – a fruit renowned as a "royal tribute" delicacy. Xã Đoài oranges have long been famous for their golden-yellow flesh, sweet and refreshing taste, juiciness, and fragrant aroma. Because of their distinctive deliciousness, during the Nguyễn dynasty, Xã Đoài oranges were offered to the emperor. Not only famous domestically, they are also honored with inclusion in the French dictionary, appear in the Lao idiom "Xã Đoài oranges, Thà-Khẹk mangoes," and have entered Vietnamese literature, even being considered by many to be the best oranges in the world.

There is a poem that says:

"Cam Xã Đoài is juicy"

The drop is golden like honey.

Peel the oranges outside the front door.

The fragrance wafted into the house..."

Nam Dan soy sauce – a rustic dipping sauce that seems indispensable on the family dinner table in Nghe An province. Nam Dan soy sauce is made from four main ingredients: soybeans, glutinous rice, salt, and water. The process of making the soy sauce involves many steps: fermentation, cooking the soybeans, and simmering. The soybeans must be of good quality, roasted evenly, crushed, cleaned, and cooked for about 12-14 hours. Nam Dan soy sauce has a rich, sweet, and fragrant flavor and can be used as a dipping sauce for vegetables, meat, braised fish, or as a condiment.

Or you could choose a gift box.Phuc An FarmPhuc An Farm encapsulates local gifts that embody the cultural, historical, and traditional values ​​of Nghe An province. This is a gift brand with a distinct Nghe An character, from ingredients, flavor, and quality to packaging. Phuc An Farm's products are made from carefully selected and cultivated local ingredients. Examples include teas made from lotus plants from Nam Dan – President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, ginger jam, turmeric jam, dried lotus seeds, etc. Combining the craftsmanship of local people with the most advanced science and technology, the products meet high standards while preserving the flavor, nutritional value, and quality of the freshest, best ingredients. Phuc An Farm's products are all of high quality, notably lotus flower tea, red lotus tea, and lotus leaf tea, which have received OCOP 3-star provincial certification.

Beyond product quality, Phuc An Farm also pays special attention to the exquisite packaging and presentation of its products. Each gift from Phuc An Farm is not just a product, but a work of art imbued with Vietnamese character, bringing elegance and sophistication to the recipient. Each box lid features a painting of the Nghe An countryside or rustic, traditional scenes, skillfully crafted by local artisans. Phuc An Farm gift boxes are not only meaningful gifts for family and friends, but can also be considered a symbol of the culture and hospitality of Nghe An province.

At first glance, Thanh Chuong jackfruit pickle sounds strange, but it's a unique and special dish made from very familiar ingredients. This dish has been a part of Nghe An province since times of poverty. It's similar to the pickled vegetables of Northern Vietnam or kimchi of Korea. Thanh Chuong jackfruit pickle is made from young jackfruit. The jackfruit strands are shredded, mixed with salt, and then pounded in a mortar until soft. Afterward, the finished product is placed in a jar and soaked in diluted brine for 5-6 days. It can be prepared in many ways, such as jackfruit salad, jackfruit stir-fried with pork cracklings, jackfruit stewed with fish, etc.

Cua Lo's "jumping squid" has long been a famous specialty that everyone visiting this coastal town wants to try. "Jumping squid" refers to squid that have just been caught by fishermen, still very fresh, with eyes and stars on their bodies flashing and glowing. This type of squid is a specialty of the Nghe An coastal region, usually appearing from March to August each year. After being brought ashore, the squid are divided into small bunches and placed in trays for sale to tourists along the road to Lan Chau Island (Cua Lo).

Rice crackers are found everywhere, but the ones from Do Luong, Nghe An, are unmatched. The crackers here are packed with sesame seeds, giving them a nutty flavor, complemented by the spicy kick of pepper, garlic, and rich seasonings. Anyone who has tasted them once is sure to praise them endlessly.

Making a rice cracker involves many steps, from selecting the ingredients to the final preparation. Locals use rice with low stickiness and no impurities, soak it overnight, then grind it into a fine powder, mix it with black sesame seeds and other necessary spices. Afterward, the mixture is steamed and then dried. When you buy dried Do Luong rice crackers, you can bake them yourself and eat them directly or as an accompaniment to other dishes.

Many say that if you visit Nghe An and haven't tried eel soup, then you haven't really been there. The eels are cleaned, deboned, and gutted, then marinated with spices like shallots, fresh turmeric, and red chili peppers before being stir-fried until cooked. The broth, simmered with sweet pork leg bones and eel bone stock, creates a unique sweet and aromatic flavor. Alongside scallions and sawtooth coriander, the hot soup is topped with herbs rich in essential oils such as thinly sliced, pungent red onions and Vietnamese coriander, which stimulate digestion. This gives Nghe An eel soup a distinctive flavor unlike eel dishes from other regions. Nghe An eel soup is served with rice noodles, rice crackers, and bread.