Small Octopus

Small Octopus ( Ruốc ) is a species of octopus, but only it is as big as your thumb. Quang Ninh people call it “Ruốc”. These "mini octopus" living nestled under the mangrove beach in Quang Ninh. People catch it for food.

Referring to Halong cuisine, people will think of specialties such as handmade fried squid ball, deep-fried devotees, and crab. Besides, there is “Ruốc” which not many people know about. Ruốc season is from July to October lunar calendar. To catch “Ruốc”, people use long net.

There are many way to cook Ruốc. The common dish is boiled Ruốc”. This small octopus is boiled with Allospondias lakonensis leaves. When cooked, it turns into pink color, fringe octopus curl into small circles which looks like a flower. The dish is served with shrimp paste of lemon juice, sugar, pepper and garlic.

It will be more attractive when small octopi bear egg. A dish of boiled octopi is really attractive with cool green color of five-star fruits, white color of green banana, pale purple color of apricot leaves, green color of arilia leaves, and fale pink color of octopus, especially white color of octopus egg. All shall be dipped with pepper chili shrimp paste. It can be served with roasted rice cake

Octopus as you see is more available but ruốc is not many, even rare. Therefore, ruốc becomes a specialty. There is a restaurant selling the dish in Hoanh Bo, just 400 meters from Troi bridge, then turn Le Loi commune, then walk about 100 meters.

Ruốc in Hoanh Bo is boiled with guava leaves or “chùn mũn” leaves that are wild trees in forest. Ruốc lỗ Hoanh Bo owns sweet and fragrant flavor.

Tourist can try this special dish by booking 3 day tour of Grayline Halong Cruise - one of the top famous brand tour supplying Halong Bay junk cruise tours in Halong Bay. This cruise serves many Halong bay specialties.