In Soc Trang, there are some dishes that the province is well-known for. This past week, I went around to a few different places to eat so that I could get pictures for all of you. I ate some of the most popular dishes in Soc Trang as well as some of my favorites. The different kinds of food in Soc Trang are connected to the different cultures that exist here. Many of the dishes you can find in Soc Trang are Khmer, Vietnamese, or Chinese.
There are places to buy food nearly everywhere here. To get something small, like bánh mì (a Vietnamese-style sandwich) or xôi (sticky rice), people buy from food carts or from handmade stands along the sides of many streets in Soc Trang. These carts and stands are perfect for when you need to eat on-the-go. They are usually open at night too, so if I’m ever hungry then, I know I can find someone selling food. For larger meals, people often go to sit-down spots, restaurants or bars. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals, people either eat at home with their families or at a quán, a shop that is smaller than a restaurant but serves hot and quick meals.
The dish that Soc Trang is perhaps most famous for is called bún nước lèo. The word bún means “rice noodles” or noodles made from rice, and nước lèo means “soup broth.” Although the name of this dish makes it sound kind of generic, the ingredients put into it are more interesting. To make bún nước lèo, people use a unique kind of fish that lives in southern Vietnam, local shrimp, roasted bits of pork and vegetables. This dish is Khmer, and it is often made with a Khmer-style fish paste (a thick dip).
