HCM CITY — Visitors to the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang can enjoy the local specialty, mixed papaya salad, freshly prepared by ethnic Khmer living in the area.

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

Other vegetables like spinach, cowpeas and carrots are then placed in a large mortar and pestle along with mắm ruốc or mắm ba khía (special fermented sauce), sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, red onion, garlic, chili, and lime. — VNS