Fried banana (Vietnamese fried banana)

Vietnamese fried banana: A fried snack that Mr.Hotsia must try in Rach Gia city

For me, Mr.Hotsia, who has had the chance to travel all over Vietnam, tasting local food is always a highlight. One of the fried snacks that impressed me greatly is "Vietnamese fried banana" or Fried banana in Rach Gia, a small city in southern Vietnam. It is a stopover point for travelers heading by boat to Phu Quoc island or the Cambodian border.

The Vietnamese fried banana here is completely different from the Thai version. The bananas used are longer and slimmer than those in Thailand and Cambodia that I have seen. The bananas are cut into long pieces and fried in a thin, crispy batter that is not oily, making it not greasy to eat. Importantly, the aroma of ripe bananas mixed with the crispiness of the fried batter made me unable to stop eating while strolling through the market in this city.

I remember walking leisurely at the large market in Rach Gia, where hot fried bananas were lined up on trays at street stalls. The atmosphere was lively with locals shopping. I ordered some in a bag to taste immediately. The fried bananas here are not too sweet, making them easy to eat and well suited to the hot and humid weather of southern Vietnam.

Rach Gia city, although not a popular tourist destination like other provinces, gave me a true sense of local life. The locals still greet and smile warmly, even though they are not very accustomed to tourists. The Rach Gia market is a place I recommend visiting. Besides fried bananas, there are fresh sugarcane juice stalls that I enjoyed, as well as famous local dishes like roasted duck and crab spirit noodle soup, which tastes very different from home (for those interested, you can read more atLang Son Province, Vietnamthat I wrote about).

Travel and atmosphere in Rach Gia city

I traveled to Rach Gia by bus and boat from nearby cities. The journey was not difficult because this city is an important boat transfer point. But upon arrival, I felt the city still retains its true character, not adapted for bustling tourism like other cities I have visited such as Nha Trang or Dalat (which I have written about the beautiful Buddhist temples atBuddhist temples in Dalat city)

During my visit, the weather was quite hot and humid but not as harsh as Bangkok's summer. The city center market and streets were filled with the aroma of food and fried sweets like fried bananas. The scent lingered, allowing me to stroll unhurriedly, stop to take photos, and chat with the fried banana vendors who were very cheerful and kind.

Vietnamese fried banana and its impressive differences

What I liked most was the thin, crispy batter, unlike the thick and sometimes oily batter of Thai fried bananas. Vietnamese fried banana made me feel it was a snack I could eat continuously without feeling greasy, and I could fully taste the natural sweetness of ripe bananas.

Additionally, the bananas used have a distinctive shape: long and slim, allowing them to be fried in long pieces without cutting into small pieces like at home. Eating them with chopsticks gave a different kind of enjoyment.

Anyone traveling to southern Vietnam and passing through Rach Gia, I recommend trying this fried banana once. I guarantee you will be as hooked as me, Mr.Hotsia.

Connecting experiences between northern and southern Vietnam

Although I just mentioned Rach Gia in southern Vietnam, the experience of eating fried snacks and local food in Vietnam is diverse and fascinating. If anyone is interested in mountain towns and beautiful temples in northern Vietnam, try reading my story atLang Son Provincewhich has both mountains and interesting local food, or visit Dalat city with its beautiful Buddhist temples such asBuddhist temples in Dalat citythat I have written about.

For travelers who love the sea and beaches, visitingNha Trang sea beachis another good option. I have stayed and enjoyed the sea view there in a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. Additionally, there is Vinh Long bus station, convenient for traveling to nearby provinces (Vinh Long bus station)

Summary of Mr.Hotsia's impression of Vietnamese fried banana

Vietnamese fried banana in Rach Gia is a fried snack I did not expect to be so impressed with. The banana is crispy outside, soft inside, with a balanced flavor, not overly sweet or greasy. Most importantly, I experienced the local market atmosphere full of genuine people. Vietnam is a country with diverse food and culture. Traveling and trying street food like this is an experience I, Mr.Hotsia, want to recommend to everyone.

If you have enough time, I recommend planning trips to visit several cities and markets in Vietnam while tasting different local foods. I guarantee each place has its own charm and unique flavors.

For more information and travel stories in Vietnam that I, Mr.Hotsia, have written, you can read more atLang Son Province, VietnamandBuddhist temples in Dalat citywhich will help you get a better overall picture of this country.