Coming to Huế in the summer without trying the delicacy of Bún Giấm Nuốc is to miss out on the refined taste of the people of the ancient capital. This dish, while rustic, is unique to Huế and cannot be found elsewhere.

Heading towards Đông Ba Market, crossing the Gia Hội Bridge, at the intersection of Chi Lăng – Trịnh Công Sơn streets, there's a small eatery that specializes solely in this special dish of Bún Giấm Nuốc. The place is tiny, with no name, yet it's always bustling with customers in the evening.

"Nuốc" – a local term in Huế dialect often used to refer to the soft-shelled turtle – is a type of soft-bodied, boneless creature that inhabits the brackish waters of the Cầu Hai estuary, and the Tam Giang lagoon. While it resembles a jellyfish found in the sea, it's easier to eat and prepare because of its docile nature. During the summer, these creatures float up in patches and are caught by fishermen, chopped into small pieces, and sold at the market.

The fresh and vibrant green nuốc comes in two parts: the ear and the leg. The ear part is soft and tender, while the leg part is crisp and slightly chewy, giving a refreshing taste.

During this season in Huế, nuốc is transformed into various delicious dishes such as nuốc with shrimp paste dip, nuốc salad, found along the drinking streets like Lê Hồng Phong, Trần Huy Liệu. However, the most outstanding dish remains the Bún Giấm Nuốc.

Bún Giấm Nuốc is a dish that requires meticulous preparation and presentation. Fresh ingredients such as soft-shelled turtle, shrimp, crab, pork belly, peanuts, rice paper, and fresh vegetables are carefully arranged. The soft-shelled turtle is soaked in guava leaf and fig leaf-infused water to enhance its crispiness. The shrimp is marinated with shallots, pepper, fish sauce, and salt before being stir-fried until golden and fragrant.

The broth is made by simmering with added shrimp paste, adjusted to taste preferences and the number of diners. When the broth is boiling, fresh tomatoes are added for the perfect touch. Finally, to enhance the sweetness and color of the soup, crab bricks are added to create a crab paste.

The dish is served with fresh vegetables such as thinly sliced banana blossom mixed with basil, fragrant herbs, lettuce, cilantro, and bean sprouts. Each ingredient is portioned accordingly: a bit of fresh vegetables, noodles, shrimp, meat, soft-shelled turtle, crab paste, a touch of Huế shrimp paste for aroma, roasted peanuts, crushed rice paper, and of course, a dash of spicy Huế chili, spreading a unique and enticing aroma. The dish offers a perfect blend of flavors: sweetness from the shrimp, spiciness from the chili, sourness from the tomatoes, richness from the peanuts, and crispiness from the soft-shelled turtle.

The Bún Giấm Nuốc eatery is located at 02 Chi Lăng, near Đông Ba Market, or downstream towards Gia Hội Bridge. Despite being a small dining establishment, it becomes bustling with numerous patrons during late afternoons, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. The eatery is situated on Chi Lăng Street, close to Đông Ba Market in Huế.

Nuốc has a cooling property, so this dish is often enjoyed during hot summer afternoons or evenings, providing a refreshing and suitable taste for everyone. If you have the opportunity to visit Huế during this season, don't forget to try this renowned specialty dish!