Banh Bao Banh Vac (White Rose Dumpling)

When it comes to Hoi An cuisine, you might remember the well-known names like Hoi An bread, Cao Lau, Com Ga Hoi An, Mi Quang, Banh Xeo, etc. However, there is a name that might be a bit strange to tourists but is very popular among local people here which is Banh Bao Banh Vac (White rose dumpling)

Banh Bao Banh Vac is a popular dish in Hoi An 

Banh Bao Banh Vac originated from Hoi An. It is one of the popular dishes of local people here. Because it looks like a rose when being on the plate, the French decided White Rose Dumpling to be its English name. Banh Bao Banh Vac is sold at many food stalls and small vendors around Hoi An. There are two different dumplings but are served together on one plate with sauce. Banh Vac includes ingredients like shrimp, garlic, spring onion, lemongrass, and spices while Banh Bao is made of minced pork and mushrooms. These dumplings will be enjoyed with sweet dipping sauce. 

Banh Bao Banh Vac originated from Hoi An

Many people are addicted to this dish because of its excellent taste and attractive appearance. The dish has two small 2-inch diameter rounds of rice paper with a lump of meat right in the center. When being steamed, the edge of the dumpling will get soft and chewy and warp, which makes it look like a white rose. 

Usually, people will present 15 dumplings on a plate. These dumplings have crunchy bits of toasty garlic on the top and are eaten with sweet dipping sauce. Enjoying the dish, you will feel a bit sweet in the dipping sauce, a bit crunchy and salty in toasted garlic, and a bit savory in shrimp meat filling. The combination of these flavors gives the dish a unique taste that keeps Hoi An’s local attention and support for many years. 

Ingredients of Banh Bao Banh Vac

Although we can list some of the ingredients needed to make Banh Bao Banh Vac, how to make this dish is still a secret. That is the reason why it is so special. All the Banh Bao Banh Vac supplied in Hoi An are made by one and only family. Tran Tuan Ngai is the only person in Hoi An who knows how to make this specialty. Now he is running a restaurant on Hai Ba Trung Street, and supplying this dish to many restaurants, food stalls, and vendors in Hoi An. 

Tran Tuan Ngai is the third generation of the family, after his father and grandfather, to sell Banh Bao Banh Vac. His grandfather first made the dish for family dinners, then started selling to his neighbors and finally, opened a restaurant especially serving this amazing dish to locals and tourists.

Banh Bao Banh Vac is an amazing dish

You can find Banh Bao Banh Vac everywhere in Hoi An. All of them are made by Mr. Tran Tuan Ngai and then being distributed to other restaurants. However, if you expect the best Banh Bao Banh Vac, you should visit his restaurant at the address of 533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. Just with 3 dollars, you can enjoy a dish which is not only delicious but also beautiful. The restaurant opens at 07:00 am and closes at 08:30 pm.

Good place to eat Banh Bao Banh Vac

All in all, with a unique flavor and attractive appearance, Banh Bao Banh Vac is a delicious dish in Hoi An and it should be added to the list of must-eat dishes on your trip to Hoi An. 

Image source: Internet