Visitors to Dinh Bang Village in Bac Ninh Province should not miss tasting a specialty of this region: the phu the (husband and wife) cake, a traditional cake made from local materials representing marital fidelity, originating from the time of the Ly dynasty (1009-1225).

While only the more adventurous foreigners in Vietnam have tried bird’s nest, the slimy specialty, a nest made from bird’s saliva, is considered a delicacy in the country.

Banh tam (silkworm-like rice-flour cake) is a scrumptious, traditional snack from the Mekong Delta that resembles the long, string shape of silkworms, giving the dish its peculiar name.

Enjoying a bowl of hot chao ca (rice porridge with fish) is a must on any trip to the Mekong Delta.

In the past each Vietnamese village would have had its own way of arranging a feast, but there were certain habits that were universal, many of which are still common today.