Thang Co Bac Ha – A specialty imbued with the cultural identity of the Northwest people

1Thang Co Bac Ha – A unique and delicious dish of the Northwest region

1.1 Origin of Thang Co dish

Thang co (also known as khau tha or thang co) is a typical traditional dish of the H’mong people, originating from Yunnan (China); It was later introduced to Vietnam and known for its unique cooking method of the Mong people living in the Northwestern mountains.

1.2 What meat is used to cook Thang Co dish in the Northwest?

Previously, the meat cooked in Thang Co was traditionally horse meat. But later, to suit the taste of people down low, people changed horse meat into buffalo, cow and pig meat so that diners can enjoy it easily.

1.3 Anecdotes about thang co dish that everyone should know

According to the explanation of Thang Co dish that Mong people often tell their children and grandchildren, in the past when the Northerners chased them out, the Mong people had to migrate to the South. When they were starving and had nothing left to eat, suddenly a horse appeared and said: “Take my meat, use my skin to make a shell and use my meat to cook a dish.”

The Mong people listened and decided to slaughter the horse. Then they cooked it on a horsehide pan and ate it. Thanks to that horse, they had enough strength to cross deep rivers and high mountains to the South to live peacefully.

2How to make thang co dish

2.1 How to prepare thang co horse

Bac Ha thang co horse dish is cooked very simply but brings an extremely unforgettable flavor, with 2 cooking methods passed down as follows:

– Method 1: Clean all the horse meat and internal organs, put them in a pan, boil until cooked, and cut into squares. Then put the meat in the pan and season with various spices. Boiled horse blood is placed on top of the meat pot and then the water is poured into the stew.

– Method 2: After cleaning the horse meat, all the meat and internal organs will be sliced ​​into small pieces to be marinated with spices. Marinating time is about 15 – 30 minutes. Marinate the meat for a few minutes, put everything in the pot of previously cooked broth. The special thing is that the water used for processing includes many typical spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, dien, fragrant grilled bar leaves…

After a few hours of boiling the horse meat, you will have a delicious pot of thang co horse. The taste of the dish may be unpleasant to many people, because of the strange ingredients used by people in the Northwest mountains. Many tourists mistake this taste for the horse’s internal organs not being cleaned, but in fact this taste is caused by special spices when cooking.

2.2 How to prepare thang co from other types of meat

In addition to cooking Thang Co Bac Ha with horse meat and organs, people also try new ways of cooking with beef, buffalo, and pork. This is considered a dish with bold culinary innovations. It is as simple as thang co horse, just replace horse meat with the meats mentioned above.

2.3 Other processing methods

Besides the traditional ways of cooking thang co, you can also enjoy the delicious Northwest thang co dish, thang co hotpot. Although the cooking process is simple, not everyone can cook it deliciously and with the right flavor!

– Step 1:: Clean the horse’s internal organs and cut them into pieces.

– Step 2: Use a blazing charcoal stove and place a large old pan on top. Add the meat, rump, and bone ingredients to the pan at the same time. Stir-fry with the horse’s secreted fat. Wait until the meat shrinks, then pour in water and simmer over high heat for a few hours.

– Step 3: Regularly scoop out dirty foam that rises to the surface to make the broth sweeter and clearer. Parts such as tripe, liver, heart… are added last and boiled.

– Step 4: Put the hot pot down and eat with typical vegetables such as bitter herbs, cardamom, cassava, etc.

3 How to make Thang Co dipping sauce

Just like when eating lowland dishes like pha lau, there is often a bowl of tamarind fish sauce next to it, many people also wonder what sauce to dip thang co in? Accordingly, because Thang Co basically has a characteristic smell and flavor, the dipping sauce is not too complicated, simply a little white salt or soup powder, adding a little spicy chili. Or if you like something more unique, mix a little soy sauce with chopped garlic.

4Enjoy authentic Thang Co dish from Bac Ha Lao Cai

In order for the meat to always be hot and flavorful, when eating thang co, the meat pan is still placed on the stove, wherever you eat, scoop it into a bowl. You can add a little Bac Ha stir-fried chili to add spiciness.

Enjoying a piece of horse meat that has been stewed, rich in the sweetness of the meat and the spicy taste of stir-fried chili, sipping with a cup of spicy Ban Pho corn wine is truly wonderful. In addition to the main flavors in the dish, you can also feel the aromatic taste of Thang Co spices.

The effective use of a cup of corn wine is to help reduce the unpleasant taste of thang co. After taking a sip of wine and eating another piece of meat, you will be surprised that the unpleasant taste has disappeared. It only leaves the faint aroma of spices, the sweetness and the spicy taste of a cup of corn wine that makes you want to eat it again and again without getting bored.

See more: 20 Northwest specialties imbued with the breath of the mountains

5Want to eat Thang Co: Where should I eat it?

Catching hot thang co while blowing and eating is so delicious and attractive! In particular, looking at the moment of sitting on the stove boiling, it will be hard for you to resist? Therefore, if you want to win, don’t forget to visit the locations below:

5.1 Bac Ha market

Thang Co dish is sold mostly at markets in the Northwestern mountainous provinces, especially at markets where this dish is always present. Speaking of Bac Ha market, this is a famous market imbued with the cultural identity of the H’mong people. Not only does this place have the best music, the most beautiful dresses, and the most delicious wine, but it is also the place with the most delicious thang co dishes among all types of thang co.

You can buy many types of Thang Co such as Horse Thang Co, Buffalo Thang Co, Goat Thang Co, Pig Thang Co, and even chicken and porcupine Thang Co. If you are a man, you must know how to drink alcohol when you win. Women and children can eat thang co with rice balls or men menen brought along.

5.2. Dong Van market

Dong Van market is held every Sunday, this is considered the largest market of the remaining district to date. Right from early morning, the market was crowded with people passing by. The special thing here is that as noon approaches, the market becomes busier with an increasing number of visitors.

The Dong Van district market gate has also been repaired and is much more spacious. Going into the middle of the market, you will see Thang Co stalls located right behind selling culinary goods. Beef and pork are skewered halfway and then hung on large hooks. For convenience, alcohol is sold right next to Thang Co selling points.

Liters of corn wine are stored in plastic cans or clay jars that horses diligently carry down the mountain from early morning or the night before. There are days when trading activities have long since ended but the monthly row is still crowded and bustling.

See more: The delicious taste of Thang Co dish in Dong Van – Ha Giang attracts the whole market

6How much does Thang Co cost?

Prices at Bac Ha market are not too expensive. Each bowl of horse thang co costs only 100,000 VND, buffalo thang co has a cheaper price of 80,000 VND/bowl. It is not only processed in large, important festivals such as the oath-taking ceremony to protect the forest, village festivals, markets… but today it is also commonly traded in markets here.

7Suggestions for delicious Thang Co restaurants in Bac Ha

To enjoy the authentic taste of Northwest thang co dishes, Vietnamtravelio will reveal to you the delicious and clean Thang Co restaurants in Bac Ha voted by most people.

Thang Co LyLy Bac Ha: Nam Cay 1 residential group, Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province – Hotline 098 781 84 60.

Thang Co Thuy Dung Bac Ha: 031 Nam Cay residential group, Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province – Hotline 096 830 46 98.

It can be said that Thang Co Bac Ha is a famous dish that attracts many diners when coming to Sapa, it contributes to making tourists love and have special affection for the Northwest region. Compared to other dishes, Thang Co dish has a very unique flavor. Therefore, if you have the courage to try and feel its charming flavor, Vietnamtravelio is confident that this dish will leave you with an extremely unforgettable impression and do not forget to share your experience. Please join us in our travel guide!