The romantic and airy atmosphere of the restaurant with a view overlooking the Hậu River. VNS Photo Hồng Linh

Hồng Linh

It's been a while since I last travelled to the wonderful Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ. The city still amazes me as it used to in my memories.

The city is well-known for its high level of development while still preserving some of its Southern traditional sites, such as Cái Răng Floating Market, Ninh Kiều Wharf, and a rice noodle craft village.

After visiting some locations in the morning here, I decided to have lunch at Lúa Nếp Restaurant, a popular stop for tourists.

The restaurant is part of the Lúa Nếp complex of resorts and restaurants, famous for its distinctive Southern Vietnamese dishes and massive view by the Hậu River.

It is located in a peaceful spot, separated from the city centre.

The path from the entrance to inside is shaded by two rows of tall green trees, providing a very cool and ideal environment, especially at noon when the sun is harsh.

The first thing you see when you walk in is an open kitchen. Here you can witness all the processes a dish goes through as it is prepared and presented before being served.

Then you notice the two dining areas.

The first one was a huge dining area beneath a charming dome-shaped thatched roof, a very traditional southern style. This was where I chose my seat because it was the only table left.

The second part consists of a row of long tables placed next to the picturesque Hậu River, from which you can see the Cần Thơ Bridge not far away.

It would be best to choose a place next to the river, where there is a beautiful view and it's cooler with the natural breezes, giving a greater sense of connection with nature.

The menu features all types of Southern dishes, from savoury items like fermented fish hotpot and braised fish to a variety of desserts such as red bean sweet soup, cassava cake, and steamed layered cake. Each serving here is quite generous, suitable for three to four people.

I made my order as any traditional Southern local would: sweet and sour soup with fish balls (VNĐ195,000), salty caramelised pork ribs (VNĐ175,000), and a bowl of rice (VNĐ40,000).

Traditional Vietnamese Southern sweet and sour soup with a beautiful yellow broth and eye-catching green garnishes. VNS Photo Hồng Linh

The golden clarity of the broth in the sour soup is a highlight for me about the sweet and sour soup. It carries all the essential flavours of the dish, with a mild sourness from the tomato and tamarind blended with a subtle sweetness from the pineapple and sugar.

The other ingredients are also handled quite well. The okras, bean sprouts and elephant ear stems are cooked enough, which is not too soft, still retaining a bit of crunch and the distinct flavour of each.

The accompanying herbs, such as sawtooth coriander and rice paddy herb, combine to create a fragrant and refreshing aroma that enhances the overall taste of the dish.

The tomato is soft and it feels like it melts in your mouth. The slices of chilli, on the other hand, seem to serve mainly as decoration because I couldn't detect any spiciness from them.

The fish balls are quite large, with a taste of basa fish and well-seasoned. They are chewy, and I believe they are made in the restaurant rather than being frozen.

Salty caramelised pork ribs arrived with golden-coloured ribs and a glossy caramel sauce, garnished with a bit of coriander on top, arranged in a metal wok. VNS Photo Hồng Linh.

Then, the salty caramelised pork ribs arrived with golden-coloured ribs, white onions and a glossy caramel sauce, garnished with a bit of coriander on top, all arranged in a metal wok.

The ribs offer a salty flavour with a slightly sweet aftertaste and a hint of fish sauce aroma. The meat remains tender, and you can still taste the umami flavour, thoroughly absorbing the savoury caramel sauce.

Moreover, the sweet white onions help to balance and mitigate the salty taste of the dish, contributing to an overall harmonious flavour of this dish.

These are the two best dishes to enjoy with white rice or otherwise. You might find their flavours to be quite intense if eaten on their own.

This is a great restaurant for families, tour groups, or gatherings with friends. It includes a riverside photo area, a playground for children, and a Southern-style lotus pond with single-trunk bridges.

However, on holidays or weekends, the place is often fully booked, and the service can be a bit slow. But when I asked a local about the service on a weekday, they said everything was fine.

So if you need an eatery with traditional Southern flavours in Cần Thơ, this might be the place for you. – VNS

Lúa Nếp

Address: The embankment area along Sông Hậu Street, Cái Khế Ward, Ninh Kiều District, Cần Thơ City

Opening hours: 10am to 10:30pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luanep.ct/?locale=vi_VN

Phone: 0973 606 979 & 0852 280 089

Comment: A destination for Southern traditional flavours with a beautiful view of the Hậu River.