Khanh Hoa in every flavor

Flavors that define identity

Just after 6 PM, the seaside park area opposite Tuệ Tĩnh Street (Nha Trang ward) was already filled with the fragrant aroma of cooking smoke. The crackling of charcoal under the grills for spring rolls, the sound of freshly cooked rice cakes touching the clay molds, the clacking of knives slicing fish cakes, and the lively chatter of diners created a unique rhythm of this seaside town.

A group of South Korean tourists intently filmed a chef skillfully rolling spring rolls. Nearby, many diners patiently waited for their steaming bowls of fish noodle soup, while numerous foreign visitors continuously inquired about the ingredients and the stories behind each dish. What they were looking for was not just a new flavor, but also how the people of Khanh Hoa told their cultural stories through familiar dishes.

Within a relatively small space, diners can experience almost the entire culinary landscape of the province. There are the seafood flavors of Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa, and Cam Ranh; the banh can (rice pancake), chicken rice, grilled lamb, and products made from grapes, apples, and garlic from the southern region; dishes bearing the distinct mark of Cham culture; and products from the western mountainous areas... Each region brings its own ingredients, cooking methods, and stories, contributing to the rich culinary scene of Khanh Hoa today. “I’ve been to Nha Trang many times for vacation, but this is the first time I’ve spent almost an entire evening exploring the cuisine. Walking around the festival felt like visiting many different regions of Khanh Hoa,” shared Ms. Dao Thi Lan, a tourist from Lam Dong province.

When mentioning Khanh Hoa, many people immediately think of grilled pork skewers (nem nuong). This seemingly familiar dish requires meticulous attention to detail, from selecting the meat and preparing the dough to grilling it over hot charcoal. But what makes Ninh Hoa grilled pork skewers so special is not only the tender, flavorful meat but also the dipping sauce, prepared according to each family's secret recipe. Made from rice, glutinous rice, pork liver, and various spices, the sauce has the right consistency, a harmonious richness, and becomes the "soul" of the dish.

An authentic Ninh Hoa spring roll is a harmonious blend of rice paper, grilled pork, green mango, cucumber, chives, and fresh herbs. All these elements are connected by a rich dipping sauce that has made this dish famous for decades. From small roadside stalls along National Highway 1 to established brands in many provinces and cities, spring roll makers persistently maintain the traditional preparation method. For many tourists, a trip to Khanh Hoa without trying an authentic Ninh Hoa spring roll feels incomplete.

Ninh Hoa fish noodle soup captivates diners with its clear, sweet broth. Made from barracuda and sea fish bones, the broth has a naturally sweet, clear flavor and is almost completely free of any fishy smell. It's served with round, white, soft yet chewy rice noodles, marinated fish, fish cake, and a basket of fresh vegetables including lettuce, herbs, shredded banana blossom, and bean sprouts. Adding a squeeze of lemon or chopped mango is enough to bring out the unique, rustic, and unforgettable taste of the dish.

Unlike the piping hot grilled spring rolls or fish noodle soup, scad fish salad carries the refreshing coolness of the sea. Scad fish is lightly cooked with lemon to preserve its sweetness and firmness, then wrapped in rice paper with unripe bananas, starfruit, green mangoes, and herbs, and dipped in a rich sauce made from fish sauce and roasted peanuts. Many tourists are initially hesitant, but after tasting it, they are surprised by the natural sweetness, lightness, and almost complete absence of any fishy smell. This subtlety has made scad fish salad one of the signature flavors of Nha Trang's coastal cuisine.

Bird's nest - the essence from the sea and islands.

While grilled spring rolls, fish noodle soup, or scad fish salad are familiar flavors of everyday life, bird's nest represents a different level of value in Khanh Hoa's cuisine. It is the culinary essence that embodies the historical, cultural, and brand values ​​of an entire region.

For over seven centuries, the traditional craft of harvesting swallow nests from natural islands has been preserved through the experience and courage of generations of coastal residents. These values ​​have been recognized with the inscription of the Khánh Hòa Swallow Nest Harvesting and Processing Knowledge and the Khánh Hòa Swallow Nest Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2025, Khánh Hòa province will organize a ceremony to honor Khánh Hòa Swallow Nest as a National Cultural Heritage, further affirming the cultural value and brand of the swallow nest industry.

In the atmosphere of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, these values ​​were spread through the Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest Culinary Festival, an event now in its 15th year. A large number of locals and tourists attentively watched chefs and artisans prepare and present dishes made from bird's nest. Each time a dish was completed, applause and phone cameras capturing the beautiful moment made the festival even more vibrant. The highlight of the festival was the "Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest Culinary Excellence 2026" competition, bringing together 22 teams from 4-5 star hotels and resorts in the province. From traditional steamed dishes to creative combinations with lobster, truffle mushrooms, or local produce, each dish showcased the harmonious blend of nutritional value, traditional identity, and modern culinary thinking. According to chef Le Dinh Thinh, the most important thing when preparing bird's nest is to preserve its natural flavor and nutritional value, while also creating new experiences for diners.

After each Sea Festival season, tourists bring back not only jars of bird's nest, boxes of spring rolls, or mango rice paper rolls... but also stories about the land of agarwood. When cuisine becomes a part of heritage, history, and culture, it is no longer simply a culinary experience but has become a memory of the destination, a reason for tourists to remember, love, and want to return to Khanh Hoa.

Resources : https://baokhanhhoa.vn/festival-bien-khanh-hoa-2026/202607/khanh-hoa-trong-tung-huong-vi-99c4796/