Travellers must try the mixed papaya salad freshly prepared by ethnic Khmer when they visit the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Travellers should try the mixed papaya salad freshly prepared by ethnic Khmer when visiting the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang.

The salad is called gỏi đu đủ in Vietnamese and bok lahong in Khmer. It originated in Cambodia, but its intriguing flavors meant it quickly became popular.

Thinly sliced papaya is the star of this dish. The papaya is carefully selected since it needs the right amount of ripeness to give the dish the correct texture and sweetness.

A food vendor who has been selling this salad for over 10 years in Tri Tôn District said the sliced papaya should be soaked in saltwater and kept on ice to retain its crispness.

Visitors can try this dish at Rina, an eatery on Provincial Road 955B in Tri Tôn District. It is always packed with customers in the evenings. — VNS