1. Origin of Tay Ninh Rice Paper Rolls

Tay Ninh rice paper rolls are a rustic dish born from the creativity of the people of this sunny and windy land. Initially, rice paper originated from the Central region, then it was modified by the people of Tay Ninh to suit local tastes, becoming softer, chewier, and fragrant with the scent of new rice. It is this subtle variation that has made the dish a famous specialty of the Trang Bang region, loved by many tourists who seek to buy it whenever they visit.

Rice paper originated from the land of Trang Bang. (Source: Collected)

Over time, Tay Ninh rolled rice paper has become not only a familiar snack but also a culinary pride of the local people. From pure white rice grains, skilled artisans grind them finely, thinly coat them, and then dry them under the sun. Each bánh tráng born carries a rustic flavor, preserving the diligent spirit of the Tay Ninh people.

2. Distinctive Flavor of Tay Ninh Rolled Rice Paper

If the North is proud of pho, and the Central region is famous for Mi Quang, then Tay Ninh captivates visitors with its rolled rice paper, a dish that embodies the sun, wind, and sincerity of the people here.

The soul of Tay Ninh rolled rice paper lies in the harmonious combination of dew-kissed rice paper with characteristic ingredients such as: wild vegetables, boiled meat, shrimp, spring onions, or quail eggs, creating an interesting contrast between rich, spicy, salty, and sweet and sour flavors.

Types of rice paper are creatively prepared with many different flavors. (Source: Collected)

Each type of Tay Ninh rice paper roll has its own flavor, catering to every tourist's palate:

• Spicy flavor: The characteristic taste of dried chili combined with soft, chewy rice paper, making you crave more with every bite.
• Salty flavor: Rich shrimp salt or finely ground dried shrimp creates a harmonious flavor that stimulates the taste buds.
• Sweet flavor: The original mild sweet taste of the rice paper, with the aroma of fresh rice.
• Sour flavor: This flavor is selective but addictive, with a mild sourness combined with the rice paper to create a novel and attractive sensation.

An element that contributes to the special flavor of rice paper rolls is the wild vegetables of Tay Ninh. Leaves like coc, hung lui, mang mao, tram bau… contribute to creating rich layers of flavor: slightly astringent, sweet aftertaste, fresh aroma, and sometimes a hint of spice on the tip of the tongue.

3. Famous Tay Ninh Rice Paper Rolls

Tay Ninh cuisine always knows how to please diners with its limitless creativity. From the simple dew-kissed rice paper, locals have skillfully transformed it into countless attractive versions, each dish possessing its own unique flavor. Let's explore the famous Tay Ninh rice paper rolls that have captivated many below!

3.1. Dew-Kissed Rice Paper Rolls with Boiled Pork and Wild Vegetables

This is a quintessential dish and considered the "national soul" of Tay Ninh rice paper rolls . The chewy dew-kissed rice paper is rolled with boiled pork belly, wild vegetables, sour mango, and cucumber, creating a unique harmony of richness, freshness, and slight astringency.

Rice paper rolls combined with characteristic wild vegetables create a very unique flavor of Tay Ninh. (Source: Collected)

The accompanying fish sauce is prepared according to the locals' secret recipe. When enjoyed, the mild spiciness of chili, the gentle sweetness of sugar, and the aroma of garlic blend together, making each roll more appealing.

3.2. Salted Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls

Without needing to be elaborate, with just a few familiar ingredients like soft rice paper, specialty salted shrimp (muoi tom), dried shredded shrimp (ruoc kho), and a bit of chili sauce (sa te), the people of Tay Ninh have created a "addictive" snack for generations of students. Taking the first bite, the pungent, salty flavor of salted shrimp spreads in the mouth, mixed with the chewy texture of the rice paper and the rich aroma of fried shallots. This simplicity creates an irresistible attraction, a flavor that makes anyone who tries it want to eat it again.

Rice paper dish associated with childhood. (Source: Collected)

Among the dishes of Tay Ninh rolled rice paper, the salt-marinated rolls are the most familiar to young people. No need for elaborate ingredients, just with soft rice paper, specialty shrimp salt, dried shrimp floss, fried shallots, and chili oil, the people here have created a snack with a rich, characteristic flavor.

The pungent spicy, savory taste of shrimp salt combined with the chewy texture of rice paper makes the dish attractive. It is this simplicity that creates an unforgettable charm, making the salt-marinated rolled rice paper dish associated with generations of students.

Tay Ninh salt-marinated rolled rice paper is conveniently packaged, becoming a sought-after specialty gift.

3.3. Creamy avocado egg rolled rice paper

If salt-marinated rolled rice paper impresses with its spicy and salty taste, then avocado egg rolled rice paper is attractive with its creamy and nutty flavor. The avocado egg sauce is made by hand: chicken egg yolks are beaten, oil is added slowly to create a smooth mixture, then seasoned with salt, MSG, and a little chili oil for aroma.

When eating, the avocado egg layer is spread evenly on the rice paper, rolled with green mango, dried shrimp floss, Vietnamese mint, quail eggs, and shredded squid. The creamy, spicy, and sour flavors blend together for a full-bodied experience, making you want to eat more without getting bored.

The rich, golden butter sauce creates an endlessly captivating flavor. (Source: Collected)

This is a snack served by many bánh tráng stalls in Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City, always on the list of best-selling items daily.

3.4. Shrimp and Scallion Rolled Rice Paper with Shrimp and Quail Eggs

Another variation that many people love is shrimp and scallion rolled rice paper. This dish has a simple preparation method but a rich flavor thanks to the combination of many ingredients.

Each piece of rice paper is spread with fragrant scallion oil, sprinkled with stir-fried shrimp, crushed peanuts, green mango, Vietnamese coriander, and dried beef. Some places also add boiled shrimp or quail eggs to enhance the richness. When eating, people dip it with sweet and sour fish sauce or chili sauce, creating a flavor that is salty, sweet, and a very characteristic savory richness.

Shrimp and scallion rolled rice paper demonstrates the creativity of Tay Ninh people in combining simple ingredients to create a dish that is both delicious and easy to make, suitable for many tastes.

3.5. Tay Ninh Rolled Rice Paper with Thai Sauce

This is a modern version of rolled rice paper, loved by young people for its unique flavor. It still uses Tay Ninh rice paper as the base, but the dipping sauce is prepared in a Thai style, with tamarind, sugar, garlic, chili, and fish sauce creating a balanced sweet, sour, and spicy taste.

The filling includes roasted peanuts, fried shallots, quail eggs, and green mango. When dipped with the Thai tamarind sauce, the dish becomes flavorful, possessing both traditional charm and a novel touch. This special culinary combination has led many eateries and street food vendors in major cities to include this rolled rice paper dish on their menus, spreading the flavor of Tay Ninh to many other regions.

4. Delicious Places to Eat Authentic Tay Ninh Rolled Rice Paper

4.1. Ut Yen Establishment

• Address: Quarter 3/66, Go Dau Ward, Tay Ninh Province

When mentioning Tay Ninh rolled rice paper, Ut Yen Establishment is always among the top choices for many food enthusiasts. With over 20 years preserving its traditional recipe, this place produces entirely by hand, from selecting rice, making the paper to sun-drying it.

Ut Yen rice paper has a moderate chewiness, a natural aroma of fresh rice, and is free of preservatives, thus always retaining its soft, fresh characteristic taste. Besides sun-dried rice paper, the establishment also sells packaged salt-and-chili rice paper and butter rice paper, which are convenient for buying as gifts for friends and relatives.

4.2. Nhu Binh Establishment

• Address: Group 8, Phuoc Dan Hamlet, Phuoc Chi Commune, Tay Ninh Province

Nhu Binh Establishment is one of the most famous addresses in the Tay Ninh rolled rice paper craft village. With over 25 years of operation, this brand name is associated with Tay Ninh sun-dried rice paper, currently distributing products in over 45 provinces nationwide.

Nhu Binh establishment offers many unique Tay Ninh rice paper varieties. (Source: Collected)

The rice paper here is thinly coated, dried under natural sunlight, then aired through the night dew to achieve a special chewiness and aroma. Each piece of rice paper, when rolled with boiled meat, wild vegetables, or spring onions, offers a pure, unadulterated delicious taste.

If you want to find a place to buy authentic Tay Ninh rice paper, Nhu Binh is a reliable choice.

4.3. Other famous Tay Ninh rice paper rolling restaurants

• Ut Hue: 88 Nguyen Van Rop, Gia Loc ward, Tay Ninh province.

Ut Hue restaurant is a famous destination for those who want to enjoy Tay Ninh rice paper rolls on-site. The restaurant has a simple, rustic space but is always crowded thanks to its authentic local flavor.

• Be Nam: No. 45, National Highway 22, Trang Bang town, Tay Ninh province

With fast, efficient, and friendly service, Be Nam restaurant is always among the top choices for locals and tourists.

• Nam Hong: No. 39, National Highway 22, Gia Loc ward, Tay Ninh province

Characterized by spring onion rice paper rolls and quail egg butter. The homemade sour tamarind dipping sauce is a highlight that creates its unique flavor. The space is simple and cozy.

• Nam Dung: No. 91, Nguyen Van Rop street, Gia Loc ward, Tay Ninh province

One of the oldest restaurants in Tay Ninh. The rice paper is moderately soft and chewy, easy to roll with boiled meat, wild vegetables, or shrimp salt. The restaurant also offers pre-packaged services, convenient for tourists to buy as gifts.

5. Tips for choosing and preserving Tay Ninh rice paper rolls

To bring the authentic flavor of Tay Ninh rice paper rolls home as gifts, tourists should note a few small tips.

How to choose delicious rice paper:

• Prioritize buying from traditional establishments that make it by hand, preserving the fresh rice flavor.
• Good rice paper is off-white, slightly translucent, naturally soft and chewy, with a light rice aroma, and no strange smell.
• When held, it should not break, nor be too dry; this indicates good quality rice paper.

Proper preservation methods:

• Store the rice paper in a sealed bag in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place, away from sunlight and moisture.
• If the rice paper becomes dry, briefly steam it over hot water for a few seconds to restore its softness and chewiness.
• Do not store it near strong-smelling foods like garlic or onions to maintain the rice paper's original flavor.

After enjoying these special rice paper rolls, tourists can continue their journey to explore Tay Ninh with a visit to the sacred Ba Den Mountain. With a height of 986 m, Ba Den Mountain is considered the roof of the Southern region.

On the mountaintop, visitors can worship the statue of Bodhisattva Tay Bo Da Son and the giant Bodhisattva Maitreya statue. The modern cable car system makes the journey up the mountain convenient, while also offering a wonderful experience of admiring the magnificent nature as you fly among the clouds.

Ceremony of Offering Lanterns on Ba Den Mountain. (Source: Collected)

On weekend evenings, the lantern offering ceremony on the mountaintop attracts a large number of locals and tourists. Thousands of lanterns are lit, creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere. Visiting Tay Ninh, enjoying rice paper rolls, and admiring the scenery of Ba Den Mountain are ways to fully experience the culinary and cultural beauty of the Southern region.

Simple yet sophisticated, rustic yet profound, Tay Ninh rice paper rolls are a dish that encapsulates the love for the land and its people. From the dew-kissed drying workshops to the diners' tables, each roll tells a story of creativity and tradition preservation. If you have the chance to visit Tay Ninh, don't forget to savor this signature dish to fully experience the homeland's flavors.