VietNamNet Bridge – Made from simple ingredients including rice flour and fresh shrimp, Vac cake in Hoi An is one of the best Vietnamese street foods visitors should not miss when travelling to the famous central coast town.

The dish is very simple but its taste will explode in your mouth, visitors will remember it even more than Cao Lau or Quang Noodle which are the most famous dishes in Hoi An.

In a small restaurant at the end of Hai Ba Trung Street, travellers can easily find many Vac cakes for consumption. The outside of this store looks like a residential property more than a restaurant. When visitors arrive at the restaurant, the owner will welcome guests with a tray of three specific dishes to the restaurant: dumplings, Vac cakes and wonton.

The outer layer of the cakes are made from rice flour, not rolled like other similar dishes, there are two seperate steps for making dough.

Of the various fillings inside the Vac cake - smashed shrimp is the star, other fillings include pork and mushroom. The outer-cover of each dumpling looks like a white flower and after being steamed they turn to a milky color. A secret to kneading the dough can make the dumpling a little crunchy adding another element to the delicious savoury treat.

Fried wonton in this restaurant is a masterpiece, comparable to pizza in a restaurant in Rome. The wonton cover is crunchy, covered with green chili, onion, pineapple and tomato sauce. When you bite into the filling, the flavor of shrimp permeates your mouth. And yes, like pizza, you should eat this Vietnamese street delicacy when it is hot.

Nhan Dan