For the locals of Da Nang, a plate of rice paper rolls with pork is not just a meal – it’s how we invite friends and welcome distant guests. Some jokingly call this dish "edible origami," as just one thin slice of rice paper can hold an entire garden of Tra Que vegetables, a piece of boiled pork belly cooked just right, and a bowl of dipping sauce that is thick and flavorful.

What makes the rice paper rolls with pork from Quang Nam special is the pork belly – the meat from the grass-fed pig that has two layers of skin sandwiching a thin layer of fat, boiled in water mixed with a bit of salt and crushed ginger until the water is clear. The meat is sliced very thinly, arranged to look like flower petals. The dipping sauce must be fermented anchovy sauce made naturally, mixed with minced pineapple, garlic, and bird's eye chili – a salty, fragrant taste that is not as pungent as in many other places. The accompanying vegetables include lettuce, Vietnamese coriander, basil, green bananas, cucumbers, green mangoes, and chives – the people of Quang humorously call it "a platter of vegetables in seven colors."

On their first try, tourists often feel confused by the unfamiliar smell of the fermented anchovy sauce. But just after the first bite, the richness of the pork, the sourness of the mango, the fragrance of the vegetables, and the salty aftertaste of the sauce blend into a unique flavor – indescribable yet very addictive. This dish is perfect for a group of friends, family, or couples wanting a leisurely lunch; international guests should try it with crispy grilled rice paper if they are not used to the thin and chewy texture of the wet rice paper.

I suggest three places that tourists can confidently visit: Mau Restaurant (35 Do Thuc Tinh, Cam Le) open from 9 AM to 9 PM, with ample parking, busiest from 6 PM to 8 PM; Tran Pork Rice Paper Rolls (4 Le Duan, Hai Chau) has a clean air-conditioned space, with an English menu suitable for foreign guests; Ba Huong Restaurant (364 Nguyen Tri Phuong) offers affordable prices, outdoor seating, and is busy on weekend afternoons. The common price is 80,000–150,000 VND for two people.

A meal of rice paper rolls with pork is the quickest way to understand the character of Da Nang people: straightforward, rich, and always room for one more friend at the table.

Content generated by AI. Illustration: iVIVU.com (ivivu.com). Reference information: https://www.ivivu.com/blog/2022/08/thom-ngon-mon-banh-trang-cuon-thit-heo-da-nang/.