Why is herring from Nghe An province so exceptionally delicious?

Herring fishing season

March to May is the seasonherringIn the coastal areas of Nghe An province, fishermen take advantage of the opportunity to catch fish. Besides large vessels that fish far offshore, there are also hundreds of rafts belonging to fishermen from Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, etc., that fish near the shore. Because they fish near the shore, within just one night, the herring are still fresh and green, without any preservation using ice.

Fishermen in Dien Chau district are in the herring fishing season. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Because of the freshness of herring just caught from the sea, traders compete to buy it to supply the market not only in the region but also to transport it to other provinces and cities. According to traders, when Nghe An enters the herring fishing season, customers from all over place orders continuously, because they say that Nghe An's herring is of high quality.Nghe An provinceIt's very fatty and tastier than herring from other places.

So why are herring from the coastal areas of Nghe An so delicious? According to local fishermen, herring can be caught year-round, but the peak season is from March to the end of May. During this time, herring are incredibly abundant and fat. This is likely because there is a lot of plankton in the sea during this season, attracting schools of herring to search for food.

The herring caught by fishermen in Dien Chau district near the shore is still fresh and vibrant. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Tran Xuan Nhue, Head of the Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Development Department of the Fisheries Sub-Department, believes that the characteristics of coastal areas...Nghe An seaThe abundance of estuaries and streams creates a rich source of plankton in the Dien Chau coastal area. Furthermore, this season brings a plentiful supply of shrimp, providing an abundant food source for herring. Therefore, herring are fatter than in other seasons. A crucial factor is freshness. This is also an advantage for Nghe An, as fishermen fish near the shore for a short period, ensuring the fish remain fresh upon arrival, making them easy to prepare into delicious and nutritious dishes.

According to fishermen in Dien Chau, two types of herring can be distinguished visually: short, flat herring (wider, thinner flesh) and long herring (narrower, longer, and thicker flesh). Fishermen say that the long herring is more popular with customers and therefore fetches a higher price than the flat herring. While short, flat herring sells for 15,000 VND/kg, long herring sells for 20,000 VND/kg. And when the tourist season intensifies, herring becomes more sought after and fetches a higher price.

Delicious dishes made from herring.

Freshly caught herring, still firm and succulent, is used by locals and restaurants/hotels to prepare many delicious and nutritious dishes.

Herring salad: Photo: Google

One of the delicious and unique dishes is herring salad. Fresh herring, with two portions of fillet taken, is mixed with onions, lime, fresh herbs, peanuts, etc., then wrapped in rice paper and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce – very appealing. In Nghe An, herring salad is often prepared by restaurants in coastal areas to serve tourists during the peak season.

A very popular dish, often found in seaside restaurants and markets, is grilled herring. Grilled herring has an attractive golden color and a wonderful aroma. Grilled herring can be eaten wrapped in fig leaves and dipped in chili salt or sweet and sour fish sauce – both are delicious.

Grilled herring. Photo: Google

Crispy fried herring. Fresh herring is coated in batter and then deep-fried until crispy. This fried dish, served with chili sauce, ketchup, or sweet and sour fish sauce, is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on anyone who tries it.

In addition, there are many other ways to prepare herring, such as fried herring with fish sauce, herring spring rolls, herring in tomato sauce, herring braised with pineapple... each dish has its own flavor, but all are delicious and nutritious, because the meat has a sweet, tender, and rich taste, containing a large amount of important nutrients that are good for human health.

During the herring fishing season, visitors to the coastal villages of Nghe An province can enjoy many delicious dishes made from fresh herring.