Visiting Cao Bằng? What are the best local souvenirs and gifts to bring home?

When you're traveling through Cao Bằng, you might be wondering what local treasures to bring home as gifts. Look no further! Specialties like the famous Trùng Khánh chestnuts, the delightful Bánh Khảo sweet cake, and authentic forest honey are absolutely perfect choices to share with your loved ones.
What to Buy as Souvenirs When Traveling to Cao Bang?? Cao Bang is not only famous for its majestic natural beauty but also attracts visitors with unique local specialties that bear the cultural imprint of the Northern mountainous region. If you're wondering what souvenirs to buy, check out this article from63Stravelto discover Cao Bang's wonderful specialties!
What to Buy as Souvenirs When Traveling to Cao Bang?
Here are some suggestions for Cao Bang specialties you can buy as gifts for family and friends. Check them out now!
Cao Bang Lap Xuong (Dried Sausage)
While Cao Bang Lap Xuong (dried sausage) shares similarities with its Southern counterpart, it boasts an unforgettable distinctive flavor thanks to unique ingredients like wild boar and local pork. The secret to the locals' preparation lies in the delicate combination of meat and pork offal, marinated with ginger juice, mac mat fruit, and leaves, then smoked over a wood fire until the sausage gradually dries, deeply infused with rich flavor.

Cao Bang Lap Xuong - A Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir
This is a popular dish in Cao Bang restaurants and an ideal specialty to buy as a gift. It has a long shelf life and prices range from 300,000 VND to 600,000 VND, depending on the type.
Banh Che Lam (Glutinous Rice Cake)
What to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Cao Bang? Cao Bang Banh Che Lam (glutinous rice cake) has a distinctly different flavor compared to other regions, thanks to the locals' traditional recipe. Made from roasted glutinous rice flour, roasted peanuts, ginger, and malt syrup, Cao Bang Banh Che Lam is chewy, nutty, and moderately sweet. It's a wonderful treat to enjoy with a hot cup of tea in the cool atmosphere of the Northwest region.

Banh Che Lam - A Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir in Cao Bang
Banh Khao (Powdered Rice Cake)
Cao Bang Banh Khao (powdered rice cake) is a famous specialty, often placed on altars during Tet (Lunar New Year) to worship ancestors. Made from fragrant, plump glutinous rice, the cake has a filling of nutty peanuts, sesame, and rich pork fat. Skilled artisans meticulously wrap the cakes into rectangular shapes, offering a delicate sweetness from sugar, blended with the distinctive aroma of glutinous rice flour, creating a dish that is both rustic and incredibly appealing.

Cao Bang Banh Khao to Buy as a Gift
Black Sticky Olive (Tram Nep Den)
On chilly days, the Tay and Nung people in Cao Bang head to the forest to harvest black sticky olives (tram nep den), an indispensable specialty in their meals. When ripe, these black sticky olives have a deep purple color, are free from worms, and carry the distinctive flavor of the mountains and forests.

Black Sticky Olive (Tram Nep Den)
Locals separate the fruit flesh, remove the seeds, and package them for tourists to purchase. When tasting black sticky olives, visitors will experience a fragrant sweetness, a soft, rich, and nutty flavor that is not only delicious but also very beneficial for health. This unique taste leaves a deep impression on everyone who tries it.
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Mac Mat Fruit
What to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Cao Bang? Mac Mat fruit, also known as 'sweet fruit' in Tay-Nung language, is an indispensable spice in mountainous cuisine, used in dishes like roasted duck, roasted pork, braised fish, or stewed pork hock. With its delicate aroma, mac mat fruit helps neutralize the fishy smell of fish and the gamey odor of duck, making dishes more appealing.

Mac Mat Fruit in Cao Bang
The fruit's characteristic sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors are also used as an appetizer, in dipping sauces, or as an ingredient in various dishes. Locals often sun-dry or dehydrate mac mat fruit for preservation, allowing them to use it year-round.
Smoked Beef (Bo Gac Bep)
When visiting Cao Bang, travelers can enjoy and purchase smoked beef (bo gac bep) as a souvenir. The beef is cut into bite-sized pieces, typically 2-3 fingers wide and about a handspan long.

Smoked Beef - A Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir When Traveling to Cao Bang
The beef is marinated with salt, ginger juice, and white wine, then scored a few times to allow the spices to penetrate evenly. Locals string the meat with bamboo strips and hang it above the kitchen hearth to smoke. With its unique flavor, smoked beef makes an ideal gift for family, friends, or even your boss.
Banh Coong Phu
What to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Cao Bang? Banh Coong Phu is a famous traditional cake from Cao Bang, made from glutinous rice, sugar, peanuts, sesame, and fresh ginger. The preparation process is similar to making banh troi (floating rice cakes), but without a filling.

Delicious Cao Bang Banh Coong Phu
Glutinous rice is finely ground, kneaded into small balls, and mixed with gac fruit to create a red color. These balls are then dropped into boiling water with sugar and ginger. Once the cakes float to the surface, they are scooped out, topped with more ginger-infused sugar syrup, and sprinkled with peanuts, sesame, and shredded coconut, creating a sweet, warm dish perfect for chilly winter days.
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Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Tea (Tra Giao Co Lam)
What to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Cao Bang? Banh Che Lam combined with Gynostemma Pentaphyllum tea (Tra Giao Co Lam) is an unmissable specialty gift when visiting Cao Bang. Gynostemma Pentaphyllum tea is a rare herb that only grows in the Northern mountainous region, not only beneficial for health but also for skin beauty and rejuvenation.

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Tea in Cao Bang
In ancient times, this tea was offered to kings, and today it has become a beloved specialty. You can enjoy fresh tea at local cafes or purchase dried Gynostemma Pentaphyllum tea in filter bags as a gift. The tea has a light, fragrant aroma and is very relaxing to drink, especially suitable for the elderly.
Trung Khanh Chestnuts
Trung Khanh Chestnuts are a prominent specialty of Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang, known for their large size, thick shells, and delicious, rich, and nutty flavor. The chestnut tree, locally called 'mac lich,' typically grows 10-16m tall and is cultivated on hillsides at elevations of 450-600m, harvested in autumn from September to October.

Trung Khanh Chestnuts - A Unique Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir in Cao Bang
Trung Khanh Chestnuts are not only an important source of income for locals but are also prepared into many delicious dishes such as roasted, boiled, porridge, and sweet soup. They offer numerous health benefits, from improving cardiovascular health to aiding digestion. Chestnuts also make a meaningful gift for loved ones.
In the article above,63Stravel.comhas answered your question, “what to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Cao Bang?”. These products not only carry the distinct flavors of the mountains and forests but also make meaningful gifts, showcasing the sophistication and rich identity of this land. Check them out and buy some for your loved ones!
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Update day : 27/12/2024
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