Seafood Feasts in Hạ Long Bay
Hạ Long Bay – Day 1
I have always wanted to see Hạ Long Bay. For as long as I can remember, it was on my travel bucket list. In photos, Hạ Long Bay looks like it could be lifted out of the Avatar movies. The lush world of Pandora is actually based on the otherworldly Tianzi Mountains in China, but both locations boast gorgeous scenery.
In many ways, the Bay was as beautiful as I’d imagined. Boats glide peacefully through bright turquoise waters as the pure blue sky frames gorgeous green-capped mountains.
What I was not prepared for was the immense number of other tourists. Somehow I’d imagine that we’d have the Bay all to ourselves. Alas, that’s not how tourism works. We certainly had company. Soon after my tour group and I boarded our boat and settled in, the on-board cooks served the first meal. As you might imagine, it featured multiple kinds of seafood. That’s code for lots of shrimp!! And you know how I feel about shrimp 🦐🍤😋
Another appetizer consisted of oysters topped with a green onion sauce.
Next up was pork fried in a sesame seed crust. This was everyone’s favorite dish. The crunchy exterior was like popcorn chicken but nuttier, thanks to the sesame. I’ve never used sesame seeds to coat pork or chicken but, after eating this dish, it’s definitely something I want to try at home.
Of course, we sampled pork rolls served along with a delicious dipping sauce studded with garlic and cilantro. No matter where we eat this dish, the light, crunchy exterior plus the sweet savory sauce is a combination that’s immensely satisfying. After all, who doesn’t love fried food?
Squid with large chunks of onions, carrots, and morning glory shoots (water spinach) rounded out the seafood selection.
To finish, we feasted on firm white fish cooked alongside delicate slices of carrots and green onions. This dish was light, flavorful, and exactly what you’d want to eat on a boat in the middle of Hạ Long Bay.
The view from our table. The bendy straw was a nice touch 🌀
Hạ Long Bay – Day 2
The following day, our cooks pulled out all the stops and made intricate veggie sculptures. Have you ever seen a carrot carved as a flower? How about a fishing net? Or a candle? It was impressive!
A carrot by any other name would taste as sweet…
Talk about knife skills. Oh and under the carrot is moist fried fish. Yum.
It’s a carrot carved to be a candle votive. Woah! As you can see, the candle cast a soft glow onto some scrumptious looking squid cakes.
Our guide was obsessed with these squid cakes. I always thought it was fun to observe what he liked best, versus what I liked best, versus what the English people on our tour preferred. What we like to eat depends so much on our cultural upbringing, but also on personal preferences for different flavors. Everyone has different taste. And yet, some dishes are universally beloved, like meat on a stick. Behold…
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 🍖
Besides pork on a stick, we also enjoyed baked oysters, egg soup, and squash cooked in garlic.
We ended the meal with a comforting stew full of chicken, potatoes, and carrots cooked in gravy. It was the most familiar-tasting dish, and a nice finish to yet another lovely meal in Hạ Long Bay.
