If there's one thing Phu Yen is most famous for, it's probably its Banh Hoi Long Heo.

 

 

Banh Hoi Long Heo is actually just a simple dish of steamed rolls made of rice flour and served with pig's inner organs. It's a local favorite in the central province. But to tourists, especially foreigners who are not used to this kind of exotic food, the dish may either be a complete no-no or a must-have to experience something adventurously new and wild.

 

 

A small, unassuming diner at An My Commune, in the Tuy An District is famous for serving this local delicacy. Even in the early morning, the place is filled with eager customers either curious to try the meal for the first time or loyal patrons who have tried the dish and can't get enough of it.

 

 

The main ingredients of the dish are banh hoi (steamed rolls made of rice flour) and long heo (pig's inner organs), thus, the name. Grilled rice pancake and white rice pancake (used for wrapping) are served with the dish to complement the taste and presentation. Rice pancakes is another popular local delicacy in Phu Yen which tourists find delighful. They are either served grilled or dried.

 

 

Pancakes in Phu Yen may be made from rice flour just like in the other provinces, but it stands out in that it is thinner yet tougher and more glutinous compared to all the other pancakes in the nearby areas. This is evident in the wrapping process wherein the material does not tear when dipped in water. In the South, their pancakes are sprinkled with onion sauce and oil. In Phu Yen, oil and shallot sauce are used. Aromatic herbs are also added into the recipe to balance off the smell, taste and texture of the internal organs.

 

 

The long heo or inner organs consist of lean and fat pork, liver, stomach, intestines, kidney, and tongue. They are boiled to cleanse the ingredients and make them more palatable. The rice pancake is dipped in water and then added with fresh vegetables, banh hoi, some grilled rice pancake, a slice of pork and organs. It is then rolled and dipped in fish sauce with a little bit of chili to add some more excitement into the already interesting dish.

 

 

To the even more adventurous diners, banh hoi long heo can be finished off with a bowl of gruel mixed with even more internal organs of the pig. Talk about food adventure.