Four of the most expensive foods in Vietnam

Check out some of the most expensive foods in Vietnam: 

King Crabs

King crabs are a superfamily of crab-like decapod crustaceans chiefly found in cold seas. Because of their large size and the taste of their meat, many species are widely caught and sold as food, the most common being the red king crab.

These crabs are found in Alaska (US), Russia, Japan and the Republic of Korea. In some supermarkets in Hanoi, an imported King crab weighing 2kg costs VND5 million each. In restaurants, it sells for VND3.5 million per kilogramme.

In Vietnam, this kind of crab is caught in clean and deep islands such as Phu Quy and Cam Ranh. However, it’s not an easy catch for fishermen.

Shark cartilage

Shark cartilage is a dietary supplement made from the dried and powdered cartilage of a shark—from the tough material that composes a shark's skeleton.

Today, shark cartilage soup is on the menu at some high-ranking restaurants throughout Vietnam. It sells for VND1.5 million a bowl.

Lobsters

Clawed lobsters make up a family of large marine crustaceans. They have long bodies with muscular tails, and live in crevices or burrows on the sea floor. Three of their five pairs of legs have claws, including the first pair, which is usually much larger than the others. 

Lobster is used in soup, bisque, lobster rolls, and cappon magro. Lobster meat may be dipped in clarified butter, resulting in a sweetened flavour.

It costs VND3 million per kilogramme in restaurants.

Salanganes nest

Thousands of years ago, salangane nests were considered a precious product of heaven and earth which served as – a miracle drug –  so it was reserved only for kings.

Today this product is sold much in Khanh Hoa province, which is widely inhabited by salanganes. Salanganes are sold at VND4.5 million per 100 grams.

Vietnam’s salanganes nests are now exported to many Asian countries.