Thai flavourful culinary

ĐBP - The culinary culture in the northern mountain province of Điện Biên has the typical flavours of ethnic minorities living in the northwestern mountain and forest region, particularly Thái people.

The unique cuisine of Thai people is always most chosen by visitors whenever they come to Điện Biên to experience the culture of local indigenous ethnic groups there. It is famous for its grilled dishes that are meticulously prepared and marinated, with their own flavours that cannot be mixed with any other ethnic dish or cooking method.

A feast with various grilled dishes is beautifully presented by Thai women. VNS Photo 

These days, restaurants specialising in serving ethnic food and cultural tourism villages around the Điện Biên Phủ City and and Điện Biên District are always crowded with diners.

The main dishes in a Thai feast are grills, salads and soups. Meat of livestock, poultry or aquafood all can be marinated then grilled. There are different ways to marinate the meat depending on its type but some of the most commonly used spices including wild forest chili, garlic and mắc khén - a speciality spice originating from the northwestern region of Việt Nam, that is quite close to pepper with mild spicy taste and intense aroma. 

Phiêng Lơi cultural village in the Điện Biên Phủ City these days welcomes crowded visitors who booked to stay and enjoy local delicacies.

Lò Thị Xuyến, owner of Kim Xuyến restaurant in the village said: "Since the beginning of March, the restaurant has received so many customers mainly from outside the province. As they come from far away, they are very excited to enjoy traditional dishes here. Their most favourite orders include the popular grilled dishes of chicken, fish, pork, buffalo, beef and eel.

Thai people often prepare grilled pork wrapped in banana leaves. The pork meat is cut in slices or minced carefully, and marinated with spices then grilled over burning charcoal. Before, the pork used to be wrapped in a large square shape and put on a plate to serve for each meal but now, to make it more convenient and easy for visitors to enjoy, it is divided into small and moderate pieces with only about 12cm length.

To prepare a grilled dish, the cook should choose fresh meat, usually best part of the animal such as the rump. After simple preparation, the meat will be chopped and mixed with green onions, coriander, and seasoning.

It is especially important to marinate the meat with fish sauce to enhance the aroma. The banana leaves should be wiped clean, then heated over a fire to wilt and cut into square pieces for easy wrapping. The marinated meat should not be left too long for it to become watery. After about 15 minutes, the meat will be soaked in spices and divided into portions for packaging. Each package only has about three small spoons of meat placed in the middle of the banana leaf and then tightly folded in two edges so that when being grilled, the meat still retains its sweet and hot flavour. About 30 minutes before mealtime, the meat is put it on the wood stove to grill. The charcoal should be heated moderately so that the meat can be slowly cooked, without drying out or losing its sweet flavour.

Speaking about Thai ethnic cuisine, it should mention nộm hoa ban (Bauhinia flower salad). This is an indispensable dish in the traditional Thai feast, especially in every March and April - when the flowers are in full bloom. Bauhinia flower​​​​​​​ salad is combined with vegetables from the forest such as Erythropalum scandens and bitter bamboo shoots. After boiling thoroughly to reduce the acrid taste, the flowers will be squeezed out and then mixed with boiled beef and bitter bamboo shoots. The spices mixed into the flower salad are not complicated, especially not sour like other salads. Usually, there are only galangal, garlic, chili, coriander and seasoning.

The soup dishes in the traditional Thai feast are also very diverse. In addition to bon soup and eggplant soup, buffalo foot soup cooked with some sour leaves is very pleasant to eat. The buffalo foot, after cleaning will be burned on charcoal, chopped into small pieces and then put into a pot to boil. When it's almost done, the cook will add the sour leaves and boil them together.

The rusticity has created a unique feature for the culinary culture of Thai people in Điện Biên. Delicious dishes help visitors from far away better feel the flavours of the mountains and forests.

If you have the opportunity to go to the Northwest, come to Điện Biên to enjoy Thai ethnic cuisine. 

Bình Nguyên
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Online savings increasingly popular in Điện Biên

    Online savings increasingly popular in Điện Biên

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - With just a few taps on an internet-connected device, customers can now open savings accounts, deposit money, settle accounts, and check interest rates anytime, anywhere. This form of online savings is becoming increasingly popular thanks to its convenience and flexibility.
  • 'Guardians of Mường Nhé Nature Reserve

    Guardians of Mường Nhé Nature Reserve

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - After a recent organizational consolidation, the specialized forest protection force under the Management Board of Mường Nhé Nature Reserve in Điện Biên province now comprises 53 members. This core team plays a pivotal role in managing and safeguarding over 46,730 hectares of forest land within the reserve.
  • 'Efforts to preserve historical and archival records

    Efforts to preserve historical and archival records

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Over 20,000 linear meters of documents and records are being archived following the administrative restructuring of Điện Biên province’s former districts and communes into a two-tier local government system. With such a vast volume, the archiving task presents numerous challenges and requires meticulous organization to preserve these materials as valuable historical and reference sources for the future.
  • 'Điện Biên determined to fight smuggling and counterfeit goods

    Điện Biên determined to fight smuggling and counterfeit goods

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Authorities and functional forces across Điện Biên province are actively carrying out an intensive campaign to combat smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property rights violations. Based on initial results, relevant agencies have concluded that efforts must be further intensified and carried out with greater determination.
  • 'Điện Biên focuses on accelerating agricultural sector restructuring

    Điện Biên focuses on accelerating agricultural sector restructuring

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Blessed with abundant potential and natural advantages, Điện Biên province has in recent years stepped up efforts to restructure its agricultural sector with a focus on enhancing value. Central to this strategy is the shift in crop structure, gradually replacing traditional low-value crops with high-value economic plants. As a result, many specialized farming areas have been gradually established, with some already yielding harvests and generating stable income for local residents.
  • 'When children enters Grade 1

    When children enters Grade 1

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Entering Grade 1 marks a significant milestone in a child’s journey of growing up. From a familiar preschool environment full of play and gentle activities, children transition into a more structured learning space that demands discipline, attentiveness, and the ability to absorb knowledge. This shift can be disorienting for young learners and concerning for parents, who often worry about how to best support their children in adapting quickly and starting the school year smoothly.
  • 'Preserving symbolic bauhinia trees on Phạm Văn Đồng Street

    Preserving symbolic bauhinia trees on Phạm Văn Đồng Street

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - For months now, residents living along Phạm Văn Đồng Street in Điện Biên Phủ ward, Điện Biên province have expressed sorrow as more than a dozen Bauhinia (ban) trees have withered and died, leaving behind barren trunks and branches. Once dubbed the “Bauhinia Street,” this iconic roadway is gradually losing its natural charm, stirring regret among both locals and tourists.
  • 'The man who sparks hope in a dialysis neighborhood

    The man who sparks hope in a dialysis neighborhood

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Chronic kidney failure forced Giàng A Thắng, a young police officer from Huổi Toong 1 village, Huổi Lèng commune (former Mường Chà district), Điện Biên province, to set aside his dreams and ambitions. Yet from the same turning point, a new journey began, one where he became a source of hope for others facing the same fate.
  • 'Heightened vigilance urged against online fraud schemes

    Heightened vigilance urged against online fraud schemes

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Online asset fraud and cybercrime are growing increasingly complex, with perpetrators employing sophisticated high-tech tactics. Alarmingly, criminals are now impersonating government agencies, hacking into personal accounts, and even mimicking voices and faces to steal personal information and commit fraud with ease.
  • 'Ensuring safety of reservoirs and irrigation dams during rainy season

    Ensuring safety of reservoirs and irrigation dams during rainy season

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Weather forecasts indicate that this year’s rainfall in Điện Biên province will be more intense and unpredictable than in previous years. Given the prolonged use and deterioration of many irrigation works, the local authorities and relevant agencies are taking urgent and comprehensive measures to inspect, reinforce, and prepare emergency response plans. These efforts aim to minimize damage and ensure the safety of both agricultural production and people’s livelihoods.
  • 'The light from Resolution No.02

    The light from Resolution No.02

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Recognizing the development of the power grid system as a vital “pioneer driver” to accelerate socio-economic growth and build new-style rural areas, communes such as Na Son, Xa Dung, Pu Nhi, Mường Luân, Phình Giàng, and Tìa Dình in Điện Biên province have focused on eliminating villages without access to the national electricity grid.
  • 'Tủa Chùa: Pristine and Mysterious

    Tủa Chùa: Pristine and Mysterious

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - Beyond its beautiful natural scenery, Tủa Chùa is a land of cultural convergence, where ethnic communities like the Mông, Thái, Dao, Hoa, Khơ Mú, and Phù Lá each contribute their unique cultural identities to weave a vibrant, colorful tapestry for this rocky plateau in the northeastern part of the province.
  • 'Seamless operation of commune-level Public Administration Service Centers

    Seamless operation of commune-level Public Administration Service Centers

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Alongside the establishment of 45 new commune-level administrative units in Điện Biên province, the Public Administration Service Centers of Nà Tấu, Mường Ảng, Mường Lạn, and Búng Lao officially began operations on July 1, 2025. This marks a significant milestone, demonstrating the proactive and determined implementation of a streamlined, efficient two-tier government model right from the grassroots level.
  • 'Bringing science to the highlands: Technology boosts farming in Tủa Chùa

    Bringing science to the highlands: Technology boosts farming in Tủa Chùa

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Nestled in the rocky highlands of northeastern Điện Biên province, Tủa Chùa is an area marked by its rugged karst terrain, nearly three-quarters of its land made up of steep, rocky mountains. These geographical challenges have long made agriculture here more difficult than in the lowlands. Yet, by applying science and technology in farming, local agricultural products are not only improving in quality but also gradually building their own brand identities.