Ca Mau — the southernmost land of Vietnam — is not only famous for its natural beauty but also a "paradise" for food lovers. From the king of seafood to unique forest delicacies, Ca Mau cuisine is something you must try and buy as gifts. Anh Bi — a son of Ca Mau — will show you exactly what's most worth trying.
Nam Can Crab — The King of Ca Mau Specialties
Nam Can Crab is the "king" among Ca Mau specialties, famous nationwide for its firm meat and rich, fatty roe. Crabs in the brackish waters of Nam Can feed on alluvial mud and natural food, making their meat sweeter and firmer than farmed crabs elsewhere. A genuine roe crab weighs about 400–700g, with dark orange roe, and is incredibly delicious steamed with ginger or stir-fried with salt. When joining a crab catching tour at Ba Ngoai Homestay, you'll catch and prepare fresh crabs yourself on the spot.
How to choose good crab:
- Crab should be alive, moving vigorously, with tightly clamped claws
- The shell should be dark green, the apron firm, not sunken
- Roe crab: apron is orange or slightly red, firm to the touch
- Avoid old crabs (rough shells) or young molted crabs (less meat)
Reference price: Roe crab 250,000–400,000 VND/kg | Meat crab 150,000–250,000 VND/kg
Rach Goc Ba Khia — Unforgettable Salty Delicacy
Ba khia is a small type of crab living in mangrove forests, salted whole — this is a distinct Mekong Delta specialty. Rach Goc Ba Khia (Ngoc Hien district) is considered the best because the ba khia here feed on mangrove apples, giving them a rich flavor and firm meat. The annual Tra Vinh Ba Khia Festival sees tens of tons of ba khia harvested by locals overnight — a legendary image of the Mekong Delta.
Traditional way to eat: Salted ba khia is eaten with white rice, dipped in kumquat and chili. It can also be mixed into a salad with mango, lime, and sugar — a "modernized" way of eating popular with young people.
Reference price: 80,000–150,000 VND/kg | Gift box 250g: 50,000–80,000 VND
Rach Goc Dried Shrimp — The #1 Gift
Rach Goc dried shrimp is the most popular gift to bring back from Ca Mau. Fresh whiteleg shrimp or tiger prawns are sun-dried naturally for 2–3 days, without chemical preservatives. Good dried shrimp has a fresh orange-red color, firm meat, and a fragrant, not overly salty taste. It's perfect for cooking sour soup, stir-frying with cucumber, eating with white rice, or as a gift.
How to distinguish real/fake dried shrimp:
- Real shrimp: natural orange-red color, not too bright red
- Feels firm when squeezed, doesn't crumble
- Natural aroma, no chemical smell
- Avoid unusually cheap shrimp or those with overly uniform color
Reference price: Grade 1 dried shrimp: 600,000–900,000 VND/kg | Grade 2: 350,000–550,000 VND/kg
U Minh Forest Honey — 100% Pure
U Minh forest honey is wild honey, collected by bees from melaleuca flowers and other natural forest flowers. It has a delicate sweetness, slightly sour, not as cloying as industrially farmed honey. This honey is harvested using the traditional method of hanging beehives — no captivity, completely natural — so the quantity is limited and highly valued. You can witness the honey harvesting process firsthand when booking the U Minh Ha Tour.
How to identify real U Minh honey:
- Dark yellow or light brown color (not transparent like farmed honey)
- Drop a single drop into water: it sinks slowly, doesn't dissolve immediately
- Paper test: drop onto paper, it won't soak through (real honey is thick)
- Characteristic melaleuca flower aroma, no sugar smell
- When refrigerated: partial crystallization is a good sign
Reference price: Grade 1 honey: 200,000–350,000 VND/500ml | Special grade (melaleuca blooming season): 400,000–600,000 VND/500ml
5. Grilled Clams with Scallion Oil
Clams (Vọp) are mollusks living in mangrove mud, related to blood cockles but sweeter and more tender. Grilled over charcoal, drizzled with fragrant scallion oil — this is a "divine" drinking snack for Ca Mau locals. A plate of 5–7 grilled clams with cold beer makes for the perfect Mekong Delta evening.
Price: 80,000–120,000 VND/kg
6. Grilled Mudskipper Fish
Mudskipper fish (Cá thòi lòi) is the most peculiar fish in Ca Mau — capable of walking on land and climbing mangrove trees. Mudskipper meat is firm, sweet, and has few bones — grilled with chili salt or deep-fried, it's incredibly delicious. This specialty cannot be found anywhere else outside the Ca Mau mangrove region.
Price: 150,000–200,000 VND/kg
7. Bon Bon — Garden Forest Vegetable
Bon Bon is a herbaceous plant growing wild in the flooded areas of Ca Mau. Its young white core is used to make pickles or stir-fried with meat. With a light, refreshing sour and crispy taste — this is an indispensable side dish in Ca Mau family meals, and also something city dwellers want to bring home as a gift.
Price: 30,000–50,000 VND/kg (fresh) | 80,000–120,000 VND/jar (pickled)
8. Where to Buy Authentic Specialties?
This is the most important question, as the Ca Mau specialty market has many products of varying quality. See more top 10 Ca Mau specialties for gifts and Mekong Delta specialties to buy for more options. Here are the most reputable places to buy:
bangoaihomestay.store — Official Online Shop
Ba Ngoai Homestay's specialty shop, nationwide delivery via Shopee/Lazada/Tiki. All products are quality-checked, with clear origins from local people. This is the safest and most convenient way to buy if you cannot visit Ca Mau directly.
View products at bangoaihomestay.store →Ca Mau Market — Specialty Area
The central market of Ca Mau City, the specialty section is near the market gate and the East entrance. Buy directly, see fresh products on the spot, and you can bargain. It's best to buy early in the morning when new goods arrive. Look for stalls with many customers and clear signs.
Ca Mau Airport — Buy Before Flying Home
Ca Mau Airport has a section selling pre-packaged specialties, convenient for air travel. Prices are slightly higher than the market, but items are carefully packaged, so you don't have to worry about spills when carrying them on the plane.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ca Mau Specialties
How is Nam Can Crab different from regular crab?
What is Ba Khia? How is it different from regular crab?
Where can I buy Ca Mau specialties cheapest?
Can I order Ca Mau specialties to be shipped to Ho Chi Minh City?
Buy Authentic Ca Mau Specialties
Nationwide delivery, secure packaging, guaranteed quality from Ba Ngoai Homestay.
