Go to Truong Son mountain range to eat cool fish

cá mát - Ảnh 1. — Grilled fish skewers are attractively displayed on wild banana leaves - Photo: HOANG TAO

One weekend, Mr. Ho Van Chuong (residing in Ho village, Huong Son commune, Huong Hoa, Quang Tri) led a group of distinguished guests to explore the primeval forests in the Truong Son range.

He brought a fishing net and diving goggles to catch fish and entertain guests. The road leading to Bui Ho stream is more than 3km of forest road from Ho village, taking more than 2 hours to walk.

On the way, Mr. Chuong talked about cool fish that usually live in streams with fast-flowing, clear and clean water, with gravel bottoms. They like to hide in crevices in rocks.

"In the highlands of Quang Tri, cool fish often appear in large numbers around the 2nd - 5th lunar months. Cool fish are small in size, usually about 2 - 3 adult fingers. The fish meat is very delicious, sweet and healthy, with a sweet and nutty taste," Mr. Chuong introduced.

cá mát - Ảnh 2. — Mr. Chuong dives to catch cool fish - Photo: HOANG TAO

Arriving at Bui Ho stream, choosing an area of water as deep as an adult's chest, clear and flowing continuously, Mr. Chuong put on diving goggles, held the net in his hand and dropped it around. After that, Mr. Chuong dived around to observe the fish, while people on the shore used rocks to chase the fish into the net.

After 10 minutes, the net was full of fish and was brought ashore to be removed. After just a few nets, there were enough fish for the group of nearly 10 people. The fish were brought back to the campsite and processed right on the stream bank.

For thousands of years, the Van Kieu people in Truong Son have considered this a must-have specialty whenever distinguished guests come to their home.

The must-have dish is grilled mackerel over a red flame. Mackerel is cooked in soup with wild tamarind leaves, wild bamboo shoots, wild banana flowers or rattan, palm trees…

cá mát - Ảnh 3. — Fresh and delicious fish is processed right on the stream bank - Photo: HOANG TAO

Whenever he catches fresh fish like this time, Mr. Chuong makes a cool fish salad. The fish is scaled, gutted, sliced, and marinated with forest leaves and spices such as chili, galangal, and mac khen.

Depending on the dish, the sweet and fatty taste of the fish is different. Grilled fish has a sweet and fatty taste, fragrant; fried fish is crispy and fatty; fish salad has a chewy, crunchy, fresh taste...

Nowadays, the cool fish has become a specialty fish with high economic value, purchased by many restaurants and hotels in the delta. However, this fish species still only grows in the wild and cannot be artificially raised.

If you have the opportunity to visit Quang Tri and Quang Binh, don't forget to enjoy this specialty! The unique flavor of the mountains and forests will surely make you remember it forever.