Horrible dishes in Vietnam make foreigners shudder

One of the biggest reasons foreign tourists long for learning about in their Vietnam tours is this country’s amazing gastronomy. However, apart from the extremely famous dishes like Pho or Banh mi (Vietnamese street bread), travelers will definitely be startled by some indigenous eats. In this article, we will name the nightmare list of horrible dishes in Vietnam.

1. Larvae coconut worm

First of all, let’s have a look at the little things. Like other Southeast Asia countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia or Malaysia, to name a few, people use insects as foods in Vietnam as well. Most noticeably, folks there eat larvae coconut worm – raw ones!

Horrible dishes: Larvae coconut worm

These flaccid moving worms make their way to a small bowl of fish sauce with slices of spicy chili. According to the ones who dared to try out this worm, this larva tastes quite like egg yolk based on the distinctive tenderness and richness. It would be a huge memory for anyone who visits south-western area of Vietnam and checks out this vermin. Give it a shot, dudes!

2. Clam worm

Another dish made from a tiny thing will scare the hell out of you is Vietnamese grilled clam worm (Cha ruoi). Have a look at the image below, will you put this thing in your mouth?

Horrible dishes: Raw clam worms

This creature looks like the combination of disgusting leech and centipedes. But wait, this is the living worm and luckily, the dish is not served in this state. To turn into a mouth-watering dish like the next pic, locals use just simple ingredients like eggs, spring onion, mandarine zest and fry it up. This eat has been highly valued for protein and mineral richness. On top of that, you must be super lucky to have an opportunity to try this. Because this edible animal just shows up in a very short period of time from the end of September to the beginning of October. Locals try their best to freeze these clam worms for gradual use. Then have a try if you have that luck!

Horrible dishes: The edible version

3. Raw blood

Raw blood will be our next stop in the journey of food nightmares. In Vietnam, people love eating dishes made from the raw blood of pig, chicken, duck and especially lobster. The idea of the red slimy sudstance run down our throat will scare even the bravest horror movie lovers. However, there are 2 reasons that can make you think thwice. Firstly, this dish is highly nutritious. Pig’s blood contains more protein than its meat and even beef. Micro-nutrients are also praised by Vietnamese people when talking about this fluid-based foodstuff. Second, it achieves a desirable criterium of a must-try dish: it’s scrumptious.

Horrible dishes: Vietnamese raw pig blood soup

Maybe (just maybe) it’s an acquired dish, but even the most discerning eaters will be knocked down after the second try (if they dare lol). Crunchy roasted peanuts, fragrant Vietnamese herbs, and a bit grounded pepper stir up your likings. One thing you must notice is the hygiene concern. Viruses from raw blood cause many lethal infectious diseases. Hence you are suggested to choose reputable eateries/restaurants taste this thing.

4. Weird fruits

Two fruits will end this list. They are super familiar to locals but very strange to foreigners – rambutan and durian. The hairy red or yellow peeled fruit makes visitors wonder about how to eat this thing. But that first impression will not last for long. The delicious and crunchy white flesh will overshadow your first scare.

Horrible dishes: The hairy fruit

At this point rambutan is way luckier than durian – the gift from heaven or the fruit from …hell. These two share the same thing – the ugly appearance. The big prickles outside of durian have been used as a strict punishment a long time ago at there. Criminals were forced to kneel on these rough peels! But the more note-worthy thing is their yellow flesh. It has a super heavy aroma, then it’s on the list of forbidden items in restaurants/hotels.

Horrible dishes: The most controversial fruit in the world

Many people love it so much and it’s not overstated to say that there are thousands of durian-holics out there. But it also has many anti-fans for “the stinky smell”. It’s scintillating to know that there are just 2 reactions speaking of this fruit: If it’s not: Don’t mention about that! You make me mouth-watering then this: “Don’t mention about that, it’s gross.”

So, besides infamous dog meat, Vietnam offers foods that somewhat make you startle on hearing about the origin.

In addition, you should discover the famous dishes of Vietnam through the following articles:

• The Food Regions of Vietnam
• The top 5 Vietnamese foods you should try