According to Nationalgeographic, amidst the ancient citadels by the poetic Perfume River, Hue is reviving a special culinary heritage that once served emperors.
From elaborate royal vegetarian dishes to modern vegan restaurants, the ancient capital today has become an attractive destination for vegetarian food lovers.
History records many stories about the luxury of the last dynasty of Vietnam. Royal meals often have dozens of different dishes, requiring royal chefs to constantly be creative.
To this day, that heritage is still present in the daily life of the people of the ancient capital. "There may still be controversy about whether Hue is the culinary capital of Vietnam or not, but this is definitely the vegetarian culinary capital of the whole country," the US newspaper commented.
When the sunset falls, the golden tiled roofs of the Imperial Citadel shine under the afternoon sun. Across the Perfume River, the pedestrian street and night market begin to become bustling. The aroma of lemongrass, herbs and spices spread throughout the space, harmonizing with the sound of conversation and the sound of bowls and chopsticks clashing, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
That day was Soc Day (1st day of Tet) - one of the days Buddhists eat vegetarian food. Restaurants throughout the city simultaneously served meatless menus with countless attractive traditional dishes.
Visitors can order crispy vegetarian pancakes with mushroom, vegetable and perilla leaves filling. You can also eat sweet and mildly braised young jackfruit, a rustic but rich Hue flavor dish.
“We call this happy pancake,” a tourist said. “Not only because it looks like a smile but also because everyone feels happy after eating it.”
At Dong Ba market - the most famous market in the city, stalls full of vegetables, fruits and local spices create a colorful picture. Bitter melon, galangal, lotus seeds, green pepper or typical herbs of the Central region appear everywhere.
Hue people still like to go to the market every day to buy fresh food," this newspaper explained. That habit contributes to maintaining the richness and freshness of local cuisine.
From the market, visitors can bring carrots, oyster mushrooms, dried banana flowers, lemon leaves and green figs - a famous specialty of Hue - to An Nhien Garden, a vegetarian restaurant loved by many diners. Here, the chef will introduce a culinary philosophy based on plant ingredients and local organic agricultural products.
Through each dish that is meticulously prepared, visitors clearly feel the intersection between royal tradition and modern healthy living trends. Vegetarian cuisine in Hue is not simply replacing meat and fish with vegetables, but an art of combining flavors, colors and sophistication in processing.
Today, as experiential tourism and sustainable lifestyles are increasingly being concerned, Hue is finding a new position for itself.
Not only is it a city of heritage and history, the ancient capital is also a place to preserve a unique vegetarian cuisine, where each dish tells a story about culture, beliefs and creativity that has been preserved through many generations.
