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| It is easy to find a roadside fish noodle soup shop in Ninh Hoa. |
From the crack of dawn, many people visit the shops to order a piping hot bowl of noodles to get the energy to start their day. By the evening, fish noodle soup becomes a comforting meal after a long day of work. It is precisely this familiarity that has made fish noodle soup not only a rustic dish but also a part of the memories of the coastal people. Ms. Le Huyen (Hoa Thang Ward) shares: “I was born and raised in Ninh Hoa. We Ninh Hoa locals are used to eating fish noodle soup; we eat it for breakfast, and it's fine for dinner too—we never get tired of it".
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| For the people of Ninh Hoa, fish noodle soup is a dish that can be eaten at any time of the day. |
The ingredients that make up the fish noodle soup are quite simple but require great care. Mackerel, tuna, sailfish, etc., are selected from fresh fish just landed at the local sea. The fish is steamed, deboned, and "flaked" into bite-sized pieces to retain its natural sweetness. It is because of this characteristic that this ingredient is called "ca dam" (flaked fish).
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| Flaked fish is often made from triggerfish or tuna. |
The broth is also a key factor in creating its unique flavor. Fresh fish bones are simmered for many hours to extract a light, sweet taste. The cook usually adds a bit of pineapple and tomato to make the broth fragrant and harmonious in color, while still maintaining its characteristic clarity.
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| A pot of fish noodle soup broth. |
If the broth is the gentle, sweet soul, then the fish cake is the "spirit" of the Ninh Hoa fish noodle bowl. Many places still maintain the traditional manual method of preparation. The fish chosen for the cakes is usually red-belly fusilier, barracuda, or horse mackerel, which is pounded and kneaded until firm and chewy, creating a distinctively elastic texture. Adding seasoning to taste results in a delicious fish cake. Those who prefer a rich, savory taste will choose golden fried fish cakes; those who prefer a light, subtle flavor will enjoy the soft, steamed fish cakes.
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| Fish cakes - the soul of the dish. |
A standard bowl of fish noodle soup cannot be without finely sliced fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and banana blossoms. When the bowl of noodles is served, diners are easily attracted by the harmonious colors of the white fish slices, golden fish cakes, and flavorful flaked fish, all blending with the clear, sweet, steaming broth. Just add a little lime, some chili fish sauce, and a few slices of spicy chili, and the flavor immediately bursts into something truly captivating.
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| Fresh herbs served with fish noodle soup. |
Ms. Co, a fish noodle seller for over 20 years in Ninh Hoa Ward, shares: “To have a delicious bowl of noodles, the fish must be fresh and the fish cakes must be made carefully. The broth is cooked from fish bones for a natural sweetness. Many tourists visit here, and after eating, they look for it again the next time”.
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| A delicious bowl of fish noodle soup attracts diners. |
Not only popular in Ninh Hoa, but fish noodle soup has also become a famous specialty of Khanh Hoa province today. In Nha Trang—the province's tourism hub—many fish noodle shops are always bustling with visitors coming to enjoy it. For many, visiting Khanh Hoa without eating fish noodle soup means not fully experiencing the flavors of this coastal region.
Ms. Mang Thuy (Tuy Hoa Ward, Dak Lak province), who has traveled to Nha Trang many times, says that Ninh Hoa fish noodle soup is always the dish she prioritizes enjoying whenever she visits the coastal city. “The first time I ate it, I found it very much to my taste because the broth is sweetly light and the fish cakes are chewy and delicious. Every time I come to Nha Trang, I look for fish noodle soup—a characteristic coastal dish that is both rustic and very captivating", Ms. Thuy shared.
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| A delicious bowl of fish noodle soup. |
The attraction of Ninh Hoa fish noodle soup lies not only in the taste but also in the sense of familiarity the dish brings. For many children away from home, just smelling the broth or seeing the golden fish cakes brings childhood memories flooding back. Eating Ninh Hoa fish noodle soup is more than just enjoying a meal. It is also a way to feel the "soul of the countryside" through each slice of fish and every spoonful of the sweet, clear broth. A simple dish, yet one that holds affection, memories, and the generous spirit of the coastal people.
