Vietnamese Fermented Pork Roll - Local Culinary Elite

How special is Vietnamese fermented pork roll?

Among traditional foods, Vietnamese fermented pork roll is enjoyed by people from various regions. This dish is made from minced pork, sliced pigskin, and a mixture of seasoning with garlic. These ingredients are meticulously blended before being encased in fragrant, fresh leaves, typically banana leaves, to form small rolls. 

Fermented pork roll has an irresistible delicious taste

They are then left to naturally ferment for three to five days in a cool environment before consumption. The dish's allure lies in its harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy spices, which makes the mouth salivate with each bite.  

Savor Nem chua to its fullest

The best way to taste Vietnamese fermented pork roll is to eat it raw or dip it in chili sauce. It will create a combination of spice and sour, which excites the taste buds. Usually, in each pork roll, there will be a fig leaf cover on it, this ingredient creates a special acrid taste so don’t throw it away. 

There are two most popular sauce used with fermented pork roll

While some opt for the traditional preparation of fermented pork roll, others delight in its grilled, a favored snack among the younger generations in Vietnam. Traditional and grilled versions are typically accompanied by raw sliced garlic and fish sauce. 

This dish is enjoyed year-round and served as a snack or an appetizer, but pairing it with rice wine, or beer during the colder months adds an extra layer of perfection. In some local recipes, they will eat fermented pork roll with steamed rolled rice pancakes, flat steamed rice dumplings, bread, fermented pork roll salad, etc.

Some popular fermented pork roll (Nem Chua)

Vietnamese fermented pork roll can be distinguished by its name, named after the area it originates from. Such as nem chua Thanh Hoa and nem chua Lai Vung. 

Nem chua Thanh Hoa

This Vietnamese fermented pork roll comes from Thanh Hoa province. It's a familiar fixture in the daily meals of locals and a recognized delicacy from Northern Vietnam for tourists. 

Thanh Hoa fermented pork roll

Although it is made of pork with chili and garlic,  what sets nem chua Thanh Hoa apart is the use of ming aralia leaves, which creates a distinct taste. Besides, you can recognize them by the shape, nem chua Thanh Hoa will have a long roll shape. Meanwhile, nem chua Lai Vung will have square-shaped rolls. 

Moreover, I will give you a tip to differentiate the real and fake ones vid the color. Authentic ones, made with 70% lean meat, exhibit a distinct bright pink or slightly red hue. If the spring roll appears too pale, it's likely due to a lower-than-standard lean meat content.

Here are top 3 reputable stores to buy nem chua Thanh Hoa with the average price range from  2 to 2,83 USD/10 pieces

1. Lam Son Food

2. Address: 466 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi

3. Hotline: 0862.23.8383

2. DACSANTHANHNAM

3. Address: 71A Thang Long, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

4. Hotline: 0909.548.686

3. Nem chua Hoa Thong

4. Address: 13 Ngoc Giao, Thanh Hoa Province

5. Hotline: 0947.651.111

Nem chua Lai Vung 

When visiting Lai Vung District in Dong Thap Province, don’t forget to savor their renowned traditional fermented pork roll. This Vietnamese fermented pork roll recipe has been handed down through numerous generations, symbolizing pride for the local community. With its striking red-rose hue, nem chua Lai Vung promises a distinctive blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes. 

Nem chua Lai Vung with the square-shaped

Nem Lai Vung sets itself apart from other Vietnamese fermented pork rolls on the market by being wrapped with coriander leaves or gooseberry leaves instead of guava leaves, as seen in certain other provinces. The gooseberry leaves will accelerate the fermentation process of the pork rolls while imparting a distinctive sour flavor, resulting in a more balanced and harmonious taste.

This culinary delight stands as one of the primary draws for tourists exploring Southern Vietnam's Dong Thap region. This dish not only has a delicious taste but is also very affordable. The average prices range from 2.43 to 2.83 USD / 10 pieces.

Some stores that you can refer to to buy delicious nem chua:

1. Dac san 3 mien

2. Ordering website: Dacsanngon3mien.net

3. Hotline: 0973.895.089

2. Nem Lai Vung Ut Thang

3. Address: 424 Ba Hat Street, Ward 8, 10 District, Ho Chi Minh City

4. Hotline: 093.333.1456

3. Dac san mien Tay

4. Address: 195 Ngo Tat To Street, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

5. Hotline: 093.111.7381

Discover related insights on what to eat in Vietnam!

All you need to know about the Vietnamese fermented pork roll was unveiled in this post. If you want to know more about other delicious Vietnamese dishes or Vietnam adventures, direct to New Asia Tours’s website for more detailed information.