Halong Food Guide 2026: Squid Cake, Seafood & Where to Eat

Halong food is all about the sea. Start with chả mực, Ha Long’s hand-pounded squid cake (about 35,000–60,000 VND in sticky rice or rice rolls, or about 400,000–550,000 VND per kg), then try fresh steamed or grilled seafood, mantis-shrimp noodle soup and, if you are adventurous, sá sùng (peanut worm). Eat in Hong Gai, Bai Chay or on your cruise.

Status (checked October 2026): Storm season lasts until about late October, when rough seas can limit fresh catches and suspend cruises at short notice; October–December is the most pleasant time for seafood dinners by the bay. Since 1 July 2025, Ha Long’s wards have new names (for example Hong Gai and Bai Chay), so restaurant addresses may have changed.

Key takeaways:

Chả mực Hạ Long (hand-pounded squid cake) is the must-try dish and the classic edible souvenir.
Seafood is sold by weight: agree the price per kilogram and the cooking fee before anything goes in the pot.
Best areas: Ha Long 1 Market and Hong Gai for local eateries, Bai Chay for seafood restaurants near hotels and the cruise port.
On a cruise, all meals are included and dietary needs can be catered for if requested in advance.
Street food is cheap: about 30,000–60,000 VND per dish.

Halong Food at a Glance

Signature dish	Chả mực Hạ Long – hand-pounded squid cake, fried golden
Other specialities	Bánh cuốn chả mực, bún bề bề, sá sùng, oysters, clams, mantis shrimp, crab
Street food price	About 30,000–60,000 VND (US$1–2.50) per dish
Squid cake to take home	About 400,000–550,000 VND (US$16–22) per kg
Seafood dinner	About 300,000–800,000 VND (US$12–32) per person, depending on what you choose
Where to eat	Ha Long 1 Market and Hong Gai ward; Bai Chay ward; Cat Ba town for Lan Ha Bay
How seafood is priced	Live, by weight; agree price per kg and cooking fee first
On cruises	Meals included; drinks usually extra
Best season for dining out	October–April is cooler and comfortable
Vegetarian / halal	Vegetarian easy on request; halal options very limited – arrange with your cruise in advance

What Food Is Halong Bay Famous For?

Halong Bay is famous above all for chả mực (squid cake) and for very fresh seafood from the Gulf of Tonkin around the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage Site: squid, clams, oysters, crab, prawns, mantis shrimp and fish. Below are the dishes worth seeking out, with typical 2026 prices.

Dish	What it is	Typical price
Chả mực	Hand-pounded squid cake, fried golden	About 400,000–550,000 VND/kg; about 35,000–60,000 VND in a dish
Xôi chả mực	Sticky rice topped with sliced squid cake	About 35,000–50,000 VND
Bánh cuốn chả mực	Steamed rice rolls served with squid cake	About 35,000–60,000 VND
Bún bề bề	Noodle soup with mantis shrimp	About 40,000–70,000 VND
Bánh gật gù	Soft rice sheets with fried shallots and fish sauce	About 30,000–50,000 VND
Cháo hàu	Oyster rice porridge	About 30,000–50,000 VND
Sá sùng	Peanut worm, stir-fried, grilled or dried; a Quang Ninh delicacy	About 150,000–400,000 VND per dish
Grilled or steamed seafood	Clams, oysters, squid, crab and prawns cooked to order	Priced by weight

Prices are indicative and vary by restaurant, size and season.

1. Chả mực Hạ Long (squid cake)

Fresh squid is pounded by hand with a pestle (giã tay) rather than minced by machine, then shaped into patties and fried until golden. The result is springy and slightly crunchy, with visible pieces of squid and a sweet, briny flavour. Eat it hot on its own with chilli sauce, with sticky rice for breakfast, or with rice rolls. Locals judge quality by the bounce and by how much real squid is in it, so buy from busy, reputable shops.

2. Bánh cuốn chả mực (rice rolls with squid cake)

Silky steamed rice rolls are served with slices of squid cake and a light dipping fish sauce. It is Ha Long’s favourite breakfast and is cheaper and lighter than a seafood feast.

3. Bún bề bề (mantis-shrimp noodle soup)

A clear, slightly sweet broth with rice noodles and mantis-shrimp meat, often with tomato and herbs. Look for it in local eateries in Hong Gai and Bai Chay.

4. Sá sùng (peanut worm)

Sá sùng, a type of peanut worm (sipunculid), lives in the sandy tidal flats of Quang Ninh, especially around Van Don and Quan Lan. It is expensive and prized for its sweet, nutty flavour; you may meet it stir-fried with garlic, grilled, or dried and used to sweeten soup stock. It is an adventurous choice rather than an everyday dish.

5. Fresh seafood cooked to order

Choose live clams, oysters, crab, prawns, squid or fish from the tanks and have them steamed with lemongrass, grilled with salt and chilli, or stir-fried with garlic and tamarind. Grilled oysters with spring onion oil and steamed clams are safe crowd-pleasers.

6. Bánh gật gù and oyster porridge

Bánh gật gù are thin, soft rice sheets layered with fried shallots and dipped in fish sauce, a simple local snack. Cháo hàu, oyster rice porridge, is a comforting breakfast on a cool morning.

Where Should You Eat in Halong?

Head to Hong Gai and Ha Long 1 Market for authentic local food and squid cake, Bai Chay for seafood restaurants close to most hotels and the cruise port, and Cat Ba town if you are exploring Lan Ha Bay.

Area	What to expect	Best for
Ha Long 1 Market (Hong Gai)	Squid cake stalls, dried seafood, local breakfast eateries	Chả mực, souvenirs, breakfast
Hong Gai old town streets	Small family eateries serving noodle soups and rice rolls	Bún bề bề, bánh cuốn, local prices
Bai Chay seafood strip	Large seafood restaurants with live tanks, near hotels and Sun World	Seafood dinners, groups
Tuan Chau area	Restaurants around the port and resort area	Pre- or post-cruise meals
Cat Ba town waterfront	Waterfront seafood restaurants and cafés	Travellers staying on Cat Ba Island

The mainland city across the bay is covered in our Ha Long city guide.

Woman selling fresh seafood from a boat in Halong Bay — Fresh seafood sold from boats is part of daily life in Halong Bay. Photo: Kris Martyn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How Do You Order Seafood in Halong without Being Overcharged?

Ask the price per kilogram before choosing, watch the weighing, and agree the cooking fee and final total before anything is cooked.

1. Ask the price per kilo first

Prices for crab, lobster, mantis shrimp and grouper vary hugely by size and season; ask for a written price.

2. Watch the weighing

Stay at the tank while your seafood is weighed and note the weight.

3. Agree the cooking style and fee

Some places add a cooking charge per dish; confirm whether it is included.

4. Avoid unpriced menus

Walk away from places that will not show prices, especially touts near piers and some boat-based sellers.

5. Pay by card or QR where possible

Larger restaurants in Bai Chay accept cards and Vietnamese QR payments; carry cash for markets and small eateries.

What Is Dining Like on a Halong Bay Cruise?

Overnight cruises include all meals, usually set menus or buffets that mix seafood with Vietnamese classics, and many offer a spring-roll cooking demonstration. Drinks other than water are usually charged separately, at bar prices higher than in town.

Lunch on boarding, dinner, and breakfast plus brunch on the last morning are standard on 2-day, 1-night trips.
Vegetarian and vegan menus are easy to arrange; halal-friendly menus are possible on some cruises if requested well ahead.
Tell the operator about shellfish, peanut or gluten allergies when booking, and remind the crew on board.
Squid fishing at night is a popular activity; the catch is sometimes cooked for you.
Compare boats and meals in our Halong Bay cruise guide.

How Much Does Food Cost in Halong?

A local breakfast or noodle soup costs about 30,000–60,000 VND, while a full seafood dinner usually costs about 300,000–800,000 VND per person, depending on what you choose.

Item	Typical price (VND)	Approx. US$
Bánh cuốn or noodle soup	30,000–60,000	1–2.50
Sticky rice with squid cake	35,000–50,000	1.50–2
Squid cake (per kg, takeaway)	400,000–550,000	16–22
Grilled oysters (plate)	100,000–200,000	4–8
Seafood dinner per person	300,000–800,000	12–32
Local beer	20,000–40,000	1–1.60
Coffee	25,000–50,000	1–2
Drinks on a cruise	About 50,000–150,000 each	2–6

Can You Find Vegetarian, Halal or Allergy-Friendly Food in Halong?

Vegetarian food is easy to find on cruises and in larger restaurants, but halal food is very limited on land, so arrange it with your cruise or tour operator in advance.

Learn the phrase “tôi ăn chay” (I eat vegetarian) and ask for dishes without fish sauce (không nước mắm).
For halal-friendly meals, book a cruise or private tour that can prepare them and confirm when booking.
Shellfish is in many dishes and broths; carry an allergy card in Vietnamese if needed.
Drink bottled or filtered water; ice in established restaurants is generally factory-made.

What Food Souvenirs Can You Bring Home from Halong?

Vacuum-packed or frozen squid cake, dried squid, dried shrimp and dried sá sùng are the classic edible souvenirs. Buy from reputable shops at Ha Long 1 Market or in Bai Chay, ask for vacuum packing and a cool bag, and check your home country’s customs rules on seafood before you fly.

Local Expert Tips for Eating in Halong

These tips come from years of arranging Halong Bay tours for international travellers.

Eat squid cake hot and fresh at breakfast; it is at its best straight from the pan.
Ask your guide or hotel to recommend a seafood restaurant with clear prices rather than following touts.
Order a mix of cheap shellfish (clams, oysters) and one premium item, rather than a whole platter of expensive crab.
Eat where locals queue; high turnover means fresher seafood.
On a cruise, ask for the drinks price list at check-in to avoid surprises.
Tell your cruise about dietary needs when booking, not on board.
Buy edible souvenirs on your last day so they stay cold.

Plan Your Halong Bay Trip

Combine good food with the sights: cruise past Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island, visit Cua Van fishing village to see where the seafood comes from, and explore Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Read our Halong Bay cruise guide, Hanoi to Halong Bay transport guide and Halong Bay travel tips, and taste the capital with our Hanoi food and drinks guide.

Plan your trip with our Halong Bay travel guide and Halong Bay food and cruise tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Halong Food

1. What is the most famous food in Halong?

The most famous food in Halong is chả mực, a hand-pounded squid cake fried until golden, eaten with sticky rice, rice rolls or on its own.

2. How much does Halong squid cake cost?

Halong squid cake (chả mực) costs about 400,000–550,000 VND per kg to take away, or about 35,000–60,000 VND in a dish with sticky rice or rice rolls.

3. Where can I buy good squid cake in Halong?

Buy Halong squid cake from busy, reputable stalls at Ha Long 1 Market in Hong Gai or established shops in Bai Chay, and ask for vacuum packing.

4. What is sá sùng in Halong?

Sá sùng is a peanut worm from the tidal flats of Quang Ninh, served stir-fried, grilled or dried in Halong; it is a pricey local delicacy.

5. Is seafood in Halong expensive?

Seafood in Halong is sold by weight, so a dinner usually costs about 300,000–800,000 VND per person, more for crab, lobster or large fish.

6. How do I avoid being overcharged for seafood in Halong?

In Halong, ask the price per kilo, watch the weighing and agree the cooking fee and total before your seafood is cooked.

7. What should I eat for breakfast in Halong?

For breakfast in Halong, try bánh cuốn chả mực (rice rolls with squid cake), xôi chả mực (sticky rice with squid cake) or oyster porridge, each about 30,000–60,000 VND.