1. Hai Phong Mud Crab Spring Rolls become the culinary icon of the Port City
1.1. History and Origin
Mud Crab Spring Rolls were born when Hai Phong culinary artisans sought to innovate based on the traditional spring roll dish, utilizing the abundant local seafood resources. The distinguishing feature of this dish is the use of Hai Phong mud crabs as the main ingredient. This type of crab is famous for its firm meat, natural sweetness, and high nutritional value.
Initially, mud crab spring rolls only appeared on important occasions such as weddings, festivals, or on the menus of high-class restaurants. Thanks to this skillful variation, Hai Phong Mud Crab Spring Rolls quickly won over diners, becoming the culinary pride of the city and gradually spreading to many other regions, even appearing in Vietnamese restaurants abroad.
Square crab spring rolls have become a culinary brand of Hai Phong. (Source: Collected)
Different from traditional spring rolls in many places, Hai Phong crab spring rolls make a strong impression with their sea-infused filling, the characteristic sweetness of fresh crab, along with their unique shape and wrapping method.
1.2. Characteristics of crab spring rolls
The biggest characteristic of Hai Phong crab spring rolls is their square shape, completely opposite to the round shape commonly seen in other spring rolls.
The square shape not only helps the filling be plump and not break when fried but also gives the spring roll an evenly golden and crispy crust on all four sides, creating an irresistible appeal for both sight and taste.
This dish is also called by names such as "square crab spring rolls" or "square seafood spring rolls", depending on the naming conventions of each region, each locality.
In the local culinary culture, crab spring rolls carry a special meaning, often appearing in Tet holiday feasts, important festivals, or gathering occasions like weddings, banquets, with the implication of wishing good luck and prosperity.
The presence of crab spring rolls on the banquet table also demonstrates hospitality, care, and sophistication in the culinary style of Hai Phong people.
2. Secrets to creating the distinct flavor of Hai Phong crab spring rolls
2.1. Fresh crab spring roll filling
The filling of Hai Phong crab spring rolls is a skillful blend of quality ingredients.
The main filling consists of carefully selected fresh crab, fresh shrimp, pork shoulder, pork jowl fat, and duck or chicken eggs.
To balance the flavor and create a refreshing sweetness, the filling also includes finely chopped carrots, jicama, or kohlrabi, and onions.
Additionally, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms are added to enhance crispiness and a unique aroma.
The use of Hai Phong crab as an ingredient is not coincidental.
Although not very large in size, this type of crab is particularly meaty, with a clear sweetness and a delicate aroma, creating a flavor that other coastal regions find hard to replicate.
Thanks to this, the Hai Phong crab spring roll dish always retains its distinctive highlight.
Fresh and delicious crab filling with many fresh ingredients. (Source: VnExpress)
The filling mixing process requires care and sophistication. When mixing, the preparer needs to handle it gently, avoiding releasing too much water from the filling, so that the spring rolls remain crispy after frying, not soggy.
2.2. Crispy Rice Paper Wrapper and Ingredient Selection Tips
The spring roll wrapper is made from traditional rice paper, rolled to a moderate thinness. When fried, the wrapper turns golden brown, creating long-lasting crispiness, not becoming hard or tough after cooling.
To have a perfectly flavored Hai Phong crab spring roll dish, choosing and preserving fresh ingredients is paramount. The crab should be chosen from fresh, healthy, firm-fleshed individuals. Other ingredients like shrimp, meat, and vegetables also need to be fresh and delicious. Especially, vegetables need to be thoroughly drained to prevent the filling from becoming mushy.
The rice paper should be stored in a dry, airy place. Before wrapping, it can be lightly moistened with water or water diluted with vinegar so the wrapper does not break when rolling.
The secret to keeping the spring rolls crispy for a long time lies in controlling the moisture content in the filling as well as the frying temperature. A moderate oil temperature helps the wrapper cook evenly, turn golden, and become crispy to the core, while the filling remains tender and not dry.
3. Enjoying Hai Phong Crab Spring Rolls to the Fullest
3.1. Characteristic Flavor of Hai Phong Crab Spring Rolls
When enjoying Hai Phong crab spring rolls, the rich sweetness and mild saltiness of the crab spread first. Then comes the lingering taste of fresh shrimp, the slight richness of fat balanced by vegetables, creating a refreshing, non-greasy sensation.
The crispy rice paper wrapper combined with the generous filling brings a complete flavor experience. Each piece of spring roll offers a multi-layered culinary experience, where all flavors from the sea and land blend into a harmonious, unforgettable whole.
It is the combination of the salty sea flavor and meticulous preparation techniques that creates the unique character of Hai Phong crab spring rolls, reflecting the skillful hands of the local people.
3.2. Authentic Dipping Sauce and Accompaniments
Sweet and sour fish sauce is an indispensable part of eating Hai Phong crab spring rolls. Pure fish sauce is mixed with rock sugar, lime or vinegar, diluted with water, and seasoned with minced garlic and chili to create a balanced flavor. To add crunchiness and freshness, thinly shredded green papaya or carrots are added to the fish sauce, making the dipping sauce more appealing.
The accompanying fresh herbs are quite diverse, including lettuce, perilla, aromatic herbs, and mint varieties typical of the North. Some places also serve fresh Hai Phong vermicelli, creating a combination of rich seafood flavor, fresh vegetables, and sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Nem cua be are eaten with vegetables and a rich sweet and sour dipping sauce. (Source: Collected)
To fully experience the flavor, nem cua be should be enjoyed right after frying, while still hot. They can be eaten with fresh vegetables wrapped in rice paper or dipped directly in fish sauce, to fully appreciate the unique characteristics of the cuisine from the port city.
4. Famous Hai Phong nem cua be Restaurants in 2026
4.1. Thuan Yen nem cua be
Located at 30 Ky Dong, the Thuan Yen nem cua be restaurant is loved by many diners for maintaining its traditional flavor. The nem cua be here are neatly wrapped in a square shape, with a generous filling featuring prominent fresh mud crab meat.
The rice paper wrapper is fried to an even golden brown, crispy inside and out, combined with a secret dipping sauce recipe, creating its unique characteristics. The restaurant's ambiance is clean and cozy, the staff are friendly and attentive.
The price per portion at Thuan Yen ranges from 70,000 VND/piece, which is well worth the quality of the dish and the generous portion size. According to many diners' reviews, this is a place where Hai Phong nem cua be retain their original, unforgettable taste from the very first bite.
4.2. Phuong Mai nem cua be
At 87 Cat Dai, the Phuong Mai nem cua be restaurant is also a familiar destination for those who want to experience authentic cuisine. The restaurant stands out with its clean space and traditional design, spacious seating provides an airy and comfortable feeling.
Phuong Mai pays special attention to ingredients, using fresh mud crabs daily to ensure their characteristic sweetness. The rice paper wrapper is made thin and fried evenly on all four sides, creating a harmonious blend of aroma and taste.
Crab spring rolls eaten at the restaurant, piping hot, crispy. (Source: VnExpress)
Besides Hai Phong crab spring rolls, the restaurant also serves side dishes such as fried rice, bun cha, crab soup for customers to have more choices. The restaurant is usually crowded with customers on weekends, including both locals and tourists, so it is advisable to book a table in advance to ensure a seat.
4.3. Quan 92 Tran Nhat Duat
Besides the two famous addresses mentioned above, visitors can stop by Nem Nga at 92 Tran Nhat Duat. This is a long-standing restaurant, trusted and loved by locals thanks to preserving the traditional recipe passed down through generations. The nem here has a golden crispy shell, a generous filling, harmoniously combining meat, wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli, and characteristic spices, carrying the strong flavor of home. The friendly service style and reasonable prices make Nem Nga one of the familiar stops for both locals and tourists when visiting Hai Phong.
The Tran Nhat Duat crab spring roll restaurant is famous. (Source: VnExpress)
According to the experience of many diners, it is recommended to choose a restaurant owned by someone from Hai Phong to enjoy traditional Hai Phong crab spring rolls, making the trip more complete.
5. Suggestions for enjoying crab spring rolls combined with traveling to Hai Phong
In the morning, tourists can start their day by visiting long-standing restaurants such as Nem Cua Dong or Nem Nga 92 Tran Nhat Duat to enjoy crispy, fragrant, and rich Hai Phong crab spring rolls. The spring rolls are characteristically wrapped in a square shape, with a generous filling of crab meat, shrimp, lean meat, and wood ear mushrooms, fried to a golden crisp, served with fresh vegetables and a rich sweet and sour dipping sauce, offering an unforgettable flavor.
At noon, you can continue exploring the cuisine at the Cho Ga area or Cho Cat Bi market, where there are many affordable crab spring roll stalls but with no less quality, suitable for a quick meal during the sightseeing journey.
In the evening, stop by a restaurant along the Song Tam Bac or the Lach Tray area, while enjoying hot crab spring rolls and watching the city light up. This is a perfect way to conclude a day exploring Hai Phong, a land famous for its renowned crab spring rolls.
If you have more time, tourists can continue exploring many other attractive destinations in Hai Phong such as Dao Cat Ba, Hon Dau, Bach Long Vi, or the Tien Lang hot spring resort. Among them, Cat Ba Island is always a prominent choice with the majestic beauty of mountains combined with the blue sea. Tourists can travel to the island by the Sun World Cat Ba cable car, offering an experience of viewing the entire Vinh Lan Ha and the beautiful Cat Ba archipelago from above.
Visitors experience Sun World Cat Ba.
Hai Phong crab spring rolls are not only a delicious dish but also an exquisite symbol of the culinary culture of the city of red flamboyant flowers. The crispy texture, rich seafood flavor, and the skillfulness in every preparation step have created this special dish. When visiting Hai Phong, don't forget to enjoy crab spring rolls at reputable addresses to fully experience the culinary essence of the Port City!
