Heading to the remote border region of Nghe An to hunt and prepare dishes featuring rhinoceros beetles.

Holding a beetle flapping its wings and hissing, Dam Ngoc Van (Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district) introduced: "This is the rhinoceros beetle, also known as the rhinoceros beetle, which is prepared as a dish when we have distinguished guests. It is the largest beetle in this border region. Adults are approximately 6cm long; the males are reddish-brown, while the females are dark black."

A close-up of an adult male rhinoceros beetle. Photo: Thanh Quynh

What makes this beetle special is its large horn protruding from the front of its chest and another horn protruding from its head. The horns are long, curved, and hard, resembling those of a rhinoceros, hence their name "rhinoceros beetle." The stronger the beetle, the larger its horn. These are sharp weapons used for self-defense, attacking enemies, or attracting mates.

When cicada season begins, people flock to hunt adult rhinoceros beetles to prepare them as a favorite snack.

Catching these beetles isn't too difficult. During the day, you just need to patiently search on leaves and stems to catch them. But catching them at night is much more effective.

The rhinoceros beetle's favorite food is tree sap or decaying stems and leaves. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Waiting until it was completely dark, Mr. Dam Ngoc Van took a cloth bag, lit a large oil lamp, and strode briskly into the garden. “I’ve been farming for a long time, growing many kinds of plants, but I’ve found that these rhinoceros beetles ‘like’ the green bean plants the most. During the bean season, they start digging up the soil to feed and reproduce. All you need to do is light the lamp and wait for about 30 minutes, and they’ll automatically fly to you; you just have to catch them and put them in the bag,” he said, placing the oil lamp on a chair in the middle of the green bean garden before retreating to a corner to wait.

After 30 minutes, the slimy black beetles began to swarm towards the lamp. Witnessing my surprise, Mr. Van explained: "Beetles often use the moon or stars as a 'compass' to navigate. When they see light, it means there are no obstacles in their path. They fly straight towards it to find food. So, when they see the oil lamp, they just fly straight towards it."

After nearly three hours, when the cloth bag was starting to get "heavy," he packed up his lamp and went inside: "There aren't many of these, each time I only manage to catch a few dozen at most. Just enough for a feast to entertain important guests."

When summer arrives, it's also the time when the rhinoceros beetle hunting season begins. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Then, Mr. Van soaked the beetles in diluted salt water, washed them clean, then plucked off their wings, cut off their lower legs, and ripped open their bellies to remove the intestines. Next, he seasoned them with roasted "mắc khén" buds (wild chili peppers), salt, MSG, and finely chopped lime leaves, marinating them for about half an hour; finally, he poured them into a pan of oil over low heat, stirring constantly.

While inhaling the rich, fragrant aroma emanating from the pan of food, Mr. Van split a large, round beetle in half, revealing its firm, yellowish-white flesh. He explained, "Remember not to use too much heat; if it burns, it will have a slightly burnt smell. If you want to be more elaborate, you can skewer them onto bamboo sticks and grill them. That's incredibly satisfying."

The meat of the dung beetle is delicious, golden brown, and fragrant when fried in oil. Photo: Thanh Quynh

During a casual meal, Mr. Van also mentioned that rhinoceros beetles are a valuable medicine for the local people. Traditional healers in the village still use them to make medicine to treat boils and constipation with great effectiveness. People recovering from illness or anemia also recover quickly from eating this dish due to its high nutritional content.

Another interesting fact about this particular species of beetle is that many people "hunt" them for ornamental purposes because of their majestic beauty. Many people in the village have earned a considerable sum selling pairs of rhinoceros beetles as pets, fetching over 50,000 dong each. For connoisseurs, they even breed and train these beetles to fight each other for entertainment. Thanks to their strong horns, rhinoceros beetles often use their horns to lift and knock out their opponents during fights.

Dishes made from beetles leave a lasting impression on diners after just one taste. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Having the opportunity to enjoy the dish and hear the fascinating story about this unique beetle, diners from afar like us understand better why the rhinoceros beetle is so deeply intertwined with the culinary and spiritual life of the local people.