Distinctive flavors of Hai Phong cuisine

Impressions of marine flavors

Nguyen Thi Anh, a visitor from Lao Cai province, was particularly impressed by several products bearing the taste of the sea at Hai Phong OCOP booths, such as braised sardines by Sovi Co., Ltd., red crab rice noodles by Khanh Tho Service, Trading, and Production Co., Ltd., and various pork roll products from producers in Tran Hung Dao ward, the venue of the festival itself.

Nguyen Van Hoan, Deputy Head of the Hai Phong Sub-department of Rural Development, said that this year, the agency had invited businesses and cooperatives to prepare products for the festival, helped them set up their booths, organize product displays, and create attractive exhibition spaces for visitors. “Their main goal is for visitors to both experience the festival and discover the unique OCOP products of Hai Phong, the city by the sea,” said Hoan.

A highlight of this year’s festival is that many businesses and cooperatives not only sell their OCOP products but also share the stories behind them. Pham Tien Du, Director of Kim Thanh Clean Agricultural Cooperative, said his cooperative’s 3-star OCOP product, mam cay (fiddler crab paste), is a traditional local delicacy. Thus, to make their booth more appealing, they brought along old-fashioned tools such as stone mortars, bamboo traps, and woven baskets for display beside the product.

Enhancing product quality

With the goal of promoting the image and reputation of Hai Phong’s OCOP products, the city’s businesses and cooperatives came to the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival with high-quality, unique items that reflect the city’s coastal identity and the units’ constant innovation and investment in new production lines and facilities suited to market demands.

Bui Thi Khanh, Director of Khanh Tho Service, Trading, and Production Co., Ltd., said that her company only had one 4-star OCOP product, instant anabas noodles, being popular among customers with strong sales. Since the merger of Hai Duong province with Hai Phong city, the company has introduced a new product, instant red crab noodles, requiring upgrades and additions to their production lines.

Bringing four 4-star OCOP products to the festival, various flavors of dried banana, Ngo Thi Thu Hong, General Director of Ameii Vietnam JSC. said that customers especially enjoy banana chips coated with chocolate or flavored with matcha. This, she said, motivates her company to keep researching and developing unique new products. Customers will realize that the bananas are sourced from specialized growing areas in Hai Phong, then processed using modern technology into novel flavors like strawberry, tiramisu, and chocolate. These products not only meet domestic tastes but also have strong export potential.

HO HUONG