Cha muc which is fried squid paste is a popular specialty tourists should give a try when visiting Ha Long city. The most important ingredient to make this dish tasty is fresh squids newly caught from the sea. After being net, they are pounded till becoming elastic pastes, added broken pepper and fish sauce and shaped into cakes before being deep fried in a pan.

The dish is best served with steamed rice rolls or steamed glutinous rice. The greasy and sweet taste of squids blends well with the fragrant flavor of glutinous rice, which makes the dish savory and appealing to tourists from near and far. The dish is also more delicious when being eaten with pepper fish sauce. There is a line of streets specializing in making fried squid pastes in Bach Dang Ward of Ha Long city, which travelers should pay a visit to enjoy this tasty dish.

Fried squid pastes can be found in other cities but the dish made of fresh squids in Ha Long beaches has distinctive flavor that makes it different from others.

Image sources:

• http://du-lich.chudu24.com/f/d/090319/chamucbaovunduasy.jpg
• http://vzone.vn/Resources/StyleOld/2009_05_05/2595/cha muc.jpg
• http://www.vnnavi.com/halong/travel/gourmet.html