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Cao Lau Specialty Food At Cham Island Hoi An – Pride Of Quang Nam Cuisine

On the Tet Holiday, Cham Island seems to be cheerful and bustling, tourists also have a chance to get along with the chilly spring coming. There are many seafood dishes or traditional dishes such as Quang noodles, Cao Lau has long been considered a typical dish of Hoi An cuisine in general.

Thus, where exactly does Cao Lau come from, and what are the ingredients to make this attractive dish? Let Hoi An tour and you explore the Cao Lau dish at Cham Island. Cao Lau noodle dish has been around for a long time and is considered a specialty of Hoi An and Quang Nam. Cao Lau noodles are yellow and served with pork and raw vegetables. Just like Quang noodles, Cao Lau is eaten with very little soup. What especially attracts diners is the process of making noodles with many meticulous and unique handmade steps.

The Original of the name Cao Lau dish

According to a resident who has lived in Cham Island Hoi An for a long time: When Hoi An port was first opened in the 17th century, it allowed foreign merchant ships to trade and exchange goods. Including ships from countries such as Japan, overseas Chinese, Spain, and England… Cultural and culinary exchanges flourished at this time, and Cao Lau dishes also existed from this time.

Cao lau is not vermicelli, nor is it like pho. This dish resembles dry noodles and is only available in Hoi An, then gradually other localities can make this dish. Cao Lau in the past was often sold in the old town and customers who wanted to eat Cao Lau had go to upstairs to enjoy it. on the upstairs, the owner hung lots of red and green lanterns. 

Cao Lau is always a question for tourists from near and far when joining a Cham Island one-day tour. This is a dish that synthesizes eastern and western cultures and currently, there is no exact answer to the origin of this dish. It can be said that this is a multi-ethnic specialty dish that Quang Nam is lucky to own. The name sounds strange but familiar, many tourists happily say: If you want to eat Cao Lau, you have to go to the upper floor to eat…

Come to Cham Island, Hoi An to enjoy the taste of ancient town cuisine

Although similar to traditional dishes like Mi Quang, Cao Lau is a more refined dish. To have delicious noodles, it is an extremely elaborate processing process such as: The noodles must be soaked in rice with ash from Cham Island, and Ba Le well water, after drying in dew to create the characteristic crispy dryness. To add flavor to the dish, local people often eat it with delicious and strange fried rice paper.

Cao Lau fibers have a yellow color and are served with pork. Lean pork leg meat is marinated with five spices. In the past, it was made from deep-fried pork skin. In addition, to make Cao Lau more fragrant, people also add crushed roasted peanuts. Then pour the sauce over the pork and it’s ready to eat. If you like it thicker, add a little more fish sauce.

Over the years, Cao Lau’s dishes have gradually changed. But if you want to enjoy the original flavor of this dish, you can find long-standing restaurants that specialize in serving this dish such as

When you leave Cham Island, Cao Lau dishes will always attract you with all the delicate flavors that are prepared from Champa ancient well water and raw vegetables from Tra Que village. This unique dish has created an attraction for diners.

Nowadays, Cao Lau become more popular in European countries such as France, England, and Australia, and closer to the southern area, and Hanoi… However, in each locality, the flavor and preparation method will be different, and you will likely find a certain unique flavor. If you have the opportunity to Cham Island one-day tour, you must enjoy the dish once to feel the difference. 

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