By Tuong Vi in Hue
Fishermen back from a nights work catching kinh fish
A friend of ours who lives in Hue was talking about how impressive Chuon Lagoon is in the early morning, especially the images of local fishermen catching kinh fish (siganus canaloculatu), enjoying banh khoai (a typical fried pancake served in Hue) made right on spot, and so much more. So our gang of tourists from HCMC was extremely curious to visit.
At 5 a.m. the next morning, we started riding motorbikes through empty streets when it was still dark. The morning dew plus cool breeze made us feel comfortable and charged with energy as we got ready to discover Chuon Lagoon located in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Passing by large roads and then creeping through village paths, the landscapes on the roadside were so peaceful and atmospheric and the air was so fresh that we could take a deep breath.
Merchants buy kinh fish to sell at local markets in Hue - Photos: Tuong Vi
After half an hour, we reached Chuon Lagoon and its bustle. Fishermen were back from their fish and shrimp harvests as they sold seafood to merchants.
Every motored dinghy was full of kinh fish. It was not only men who were responsible for catching fish but whole teams of families including wives and children were carried on fishing dinghies.
Kinh is a specialty to Hue citizens and is harvested in abundance in Chuon Lagoon. According to local fishermen, the kinh season is from the fourth to the seventh month of the lunar year. Each kilogram of kinh bought in the lagoon costs around VND100,000 while a kilo of large shrimp is priced at VND150,000.
As we looked on, tourists in Chuon Lagoon bought kinh from local fishermen and went to any of the huts nearby to ask locals to make banh khoai ca kinh (pancake with fish), a simple dish found in Hue. Smoke spiraled up from thatched huts and gorgeous smells of banh khoai ca kinh fried over rice husk ovens made us feel hungry.
After buying half a kilo of kinh and half a kilo of shrimp, we went to a hut nearby and had locals prepare banh khoai. A small pan was coated with cooking oil before the kinh and shrimp were put on to make it sizzle. The chef then quickly poured the rice flour mixture into the pan and fried it over the rice husk fire. Two minutes later, the cake was done and we could enjoy.
We held a hot cake in one hand and picked the flesh of fish out of its bone and dipped it in a bowl of pure fish sauce with sliced chili with the other. Kinh fish is small, so you have to eat the intestines to enjoy the taste. If fish is not your thing you can also try pancake with shrimp.
Vegetarians can try the plain pancake made from rice flour, with some bean sprouts and green onions which is also delicious. Besides being made with banh khoai, kinh is also cooked with sour soup featuring bamboo shoots, tomato and pineapple. We were full after eating 30 small pancakes but we were so surprised that all we had to pay was VND15,000 for the lot.
Fishermen back from a nights work catching kinh fish
A friend of ours who lives in Hue was talking about how impressive Chuon Lagoon is in the early morning, especially the images of local fishermen catching kinh fish (siganus canaloculatu), enjoying banh khoai (a typical fried pancake served in Hue) made right on spot, and so much more. So our gang of tourists from HCMC was extremely curious to visit.
At 5 a.m. the next morning, we started riding motorbikes through empty streets when it was still dark. The morning dew plus cool breeze made us feel comfortable and charged with energy as we got ready to discover Chuon Lagoon located in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Passing by large roads and then creeping through village paths, the landscapes on the roadside were so peaceful and atmospheric and the air was so fresh that we could take a deep breath.
Merchants buy kinh fish to sell at local markets in Hue - Photos: Tuong Vi
After half an hour, we reached Chuon Lagoon and its bustle. Fishermen were back from their fish and shrimp harvests as they sold seafood to merchants.
Every motored dinghy was full of kinh fish. It was not only men who were responsible for catching fish but whole teams of families including wives and children were carried on fishing dinghies.
Kinh is a specialty to Hue citizens and is harvested in abundance in Chuon Lagoon. According to local fishermen, the kinh season is from the fourth to the seventh month of the lunar year. Each kilogram of kinh bought in the lagoon costs around VND100,000 while a kilo of large shrimp is priced at VND150,000.
As we looked on, tourists in Chuon Lagoon bought kinh from local fishermen and went to any of the huts nearby to ask locals to make banh khoai ca kinh (pancake with fish), a simple dish found in Hue. Smoke spiraled up from thatched huts and gorgeous smells of banh khoai ca kinh fried over rice husk ovens made us feel hungry.
After buying half a kilo of kinh and half a kilo of shrimp, we went to a hut nearby and had locals prepare banh khoai. A small pan was coated with cooking oil before the kinh and shrimp were put on to make it sizzle. The chef then quickly poured the rice flour mixture into the pan and fried it over the rice husk fire. Two minutes later, the cake was done and we could enjoy.
We held a hot cake in one hand and picked the flesh of fish out of its bone and dipped it in a bowl of pure fish sauce with sliced chili with the other. Kinh fish is small, so you have to eat the intestines to enjoy the taste. If fish is not your thing you can also try pancake with shrimp.
Vegetarians can try the plain pancake made from rice flour, with some bean sprouts and green onions which is also delicious. Besides being made with banh khoai, kinh is also cooked with sour soup featuring bamboo shoots, tomato and pineapple. We were full after eating 30 small pancakes but we were so surprised that all we had to pay was VND15,000 for the lot.
