Eating on the Phu Yen coast
Phu Yen, the former province that is now part of Dak Lak, is a fishing coast, and the local dishes show it. Tuna, squid, shellfish and fish turn up in soups and noodles. Rice noodles and a few rich sauces fill the rest of the menu. Some dishes use offal, so read before you order.
This is an independent guide. It names dishes, not restaurants, and it is not run by any restaurant, tour company or authority. The prices below are rough orientation values from travel articles, in Vietnamese dong with a rounded US dollar value, and they change. Your own menu decides.
Phu Yen dishes and rough prices
Prices in 2026 are orientation values per portion or plate, not a menu.
| Dish | What it is | Rough price |
|---|---|---|
| Mat ca ngu dai duong | Tuna eye, often steamed in a water bath with Chinese herbs | VND 65,000 to 80,000 (about $2.60 to $3.20) |
| Banh hoi long heo | Fine rice noodle mats with boiled pork offal, scallion oil and a strong sauce | VND 30,000 to 40,000 (about $1.20 to $1.60) |
| So huyet O Loan | Blood cockles from the O Loan lagoon | VND 100,000 to 150,000 (about $4 to $6) |
| Banh canh he | Thick noodle soup with chives and fish | – |
| Bun muc | Rice noodles with squid | – |
| Com ga | Chicken rice | – |
The prices come from travel articles and are not a promise for your meal. Ask for the price before you order shellfish or anything sold by weight.
Food and coast tours in Phu Yen
Day trips along the Phu Yen coast that can include a seafood meal, with live prices and availability.
The dishes in detail
What to expect on the plate.
Tuna eye
The regional cuisine lists tuna eye, cooked in a water bath with Chinese herbs, as a coastal specialty. Do not order it for a health effect: this guide makes no medical claim.
Banh hoi with pork offal
Thin rice noodles are pressed into mats and served with boiled pork offal, scallion oil and a strong sauce. It is not a vegetarian dish, so say so if you avoid meat.
Noodle soups and rice
Banh canh he uses chives and fish, bun muc uses squid, and com ga is chicken with rice. These are everyday dishes and easy to find in town.
Tuy Hoa city guide →Cockles from O Loan
So huyet O Loan are blood cockles and the specialty of the lagoon. Eat them where the shells are cooked in front of you or served hot. If you have a shellfish allergy, skip this plate and tell the kitchen.
O Loan Lagoon →Oysters are not cockles
Visitors often mix up two shellfish from the lagoon. So huyet are blood cockles. Hau are oysters. An older regional description of the lagoon area lists oysters as a lagoon specialty as well, so you may see both on a menu. They are different dishes with different prices.
Oyster prices vary by place, so ask before you order. This guide names no restaurants. Look at where locals eat, at how busy a place is and at how the seafood is stored.
Ordering tips
Small habits that save money and trouble.
Ask the price first
Seafood is often sold by weight or by plate. Ask what a plate costs before the kitchen starts, and check the bill against that number.
Say what you avoid
Tell the staff about shellfish allergies and about meat. Offal appears in more dishes than the names suggest.
Mind raw seafood
Choose cooked dishes if you are unsure. Cooked shellfish served hot is the safer choice for most travelers.
Food is one reason to stay in the city. The accommodation page shows where to sleep, and the things to do page adds sights for the day between meals.
Phu Yen food: frequently asked questions
What is Phu Yen known for eating?
Tuna eye, banh hoi with pork offal, banh canh with chives and fish, squid noodles, chicken rice and blood cockles from the O Loan lagoon.
What is the difference between so huyet and hau?
So huyet are blood cockles and hau are oysters. Both are linked to the O Loan lagoon in regional descriptions, but they are different shellfish and different dishes.
Is banh hoi long heo vegetarian?
No. It is served with boiled pork offal. Ask for another dish if you do not eat meat.
How much does a meal cost?
Rough values in 2026 are VND 30,000 to 40,000 (about $1.20 to $1.60) for banh hoi, VND 65,000 to 80,000 (about $2.60 to $3.20) for tuna eye and VND 100,000 to 150,000 (about $4 to $6) for blood cockles. Actual prices depend on the place.
Does tuna eye have health benefits?
Do not count on any. It is a local specialty cooked with herbs, and this guide makes no medical claim.