Strangely named cake, cheap as hell, customers can eat their fill for less than 30,000 VND

Banh quai vac is a popular rustic dish in Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan). The cakes are clear white, revealing the red shrimp filling. The sticky layers of cake are stacked on top of each other, placed on a large aluminum tray. In terms of shape and structure, Banh quai vac Phan Thiet is similar to Banh bot loc but smaller. The name comes from the shape resembling the handle of a cauldron.

Banh quai vac is made from refined wheat flour (filtered wheat flour), there are two popular forms: bare banh quai vac and fried banh quai vac. In the provinces of the South Central Coast such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan... the cake is boiled, not fried, served with sweet and sour chili fish sauce or sandwiched in bread. Banh mi quai vac has become a "one-of-a-kind" specialty in Phan Thiet, making tourists excited to find and enjoy it.

Banh mi quai vac is popular with many tourists when coming to Phan Thiet because of its unique and different flavor (Photo: Linh Trang)

According to Ms. Hue, the owner of the famous banh mi quai vac stall on the sidewalk of Vo Thi Sau Street (Phan Thiet), the preparation of banh quai vac is not too difficult but requires meticulousness in each step and is time-consuming. The cake must be made from tapioca flour, and boiling water must be poured in until the dough is cooked. Then, the baker will knead the dough until it is really soft before shaping. The filling includes shrimp and chopped pork belly, braised with sugar, fish sauce, onions, pepper, seasoning powder...

Mrs. Hue has been selling banh quai vac for more than ten years. Her sidewalk stall is a familiar breakfast spot for locals. Later, the stall became known to many tourists.

Mrs. Hue's banh quai vac shop is simple and rustic but attracts customers with its attractive flavor and "cheap as free" price (Photo: Linh Trang)

Diners can eat banh quai vac with sweet and sour fish sauce or sandwiched in bread. The soul of this cake is Phan Thiet fish sauce, mixed with chili and sugar, which has a thick, sweet and sour taste and a spicy taste that numbs the tongue. When eating banh quai vac, locals sprinkle fried shallots and pork rinds to enhance the flavor, and eat it with cucumber.

You can enjoy banh quai vac on the streets of Phan Thiet for 15,000 to 20,000 VND/box. At Mrs. Hue's shop, depending on the needs of customers, she sells boxes of banh quai vac for 10,000 VND. The most expensive box is 26,000 VND with full banh quai vac, cucumber, fish cake, leaf cake, bread and fish sauce. Customers can eat a portion like that and be full.

Banh bot loc and cha ca are both made by Mrs. Hue herself every day (Photo: Linh Trang)

Mrs. Hue's sidewalk bread stall usually sells from 6am to noon and from 1pm to 5pm. Mrs. Hue said that on busy days, she makes about 5kg of dough. "In the past few years, there have been a lot of tourists coming, so sales have been steady. I sell until about 5pm and then stop. In the evening, I make dough and shape bread until about 2am. The work is hard but fun," Mrs. Hue shared with a smile.

Many guests from far away order 2-3 plates of banh quai vac to enjoy and "satisfy their cravings" then buy large and small boxes to take home.