Gia Lai coastal villages offer affordable traditional noodle dishes

In the coastal fishing villages of Gia Lai, traditional noodle dishes such as shrimp noodles and 'bun ram' (small crab noodles) have maintained stable, affordable prices for a decade. Despite rising inflation and living costs, these nutritious meals have only increased from 5,000 VND to 10,000 VND over the last ten years.

'Bun ram' is a renowned specialty originating from the Tra O Lagoon area, specifically around the communes of Binh Duong, Phu My Dong, and Phu My Bac. The dish features 'ram'—a type of brackish water crustacean similar to field crabs but with softer shells and richer, yellow roe. The preparation involves grinding the meat and serving the thick, creamy roe sauce in a separate bowl, allowing diners to pour it over the noodles and mix it with chili and crispy rice crackers.