Yum: Hai Duong green bean cakes are among eight traditional specialities from the country's three regions, that have been recognised by the Asian Records Organisation. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HA NOI (VNS)  — Eight traditional specialities from the country's three regions, typically given as gifts, have been recognised by the Asian Records Organisation.

The Northern specialities were Hai Duong green bean cakes – sweet rectangular cakes made with green beans, sugar, fat and grapefruit oil, and Thai Nguyen tea – famous for its honey colour and unique taste.

The Central region was represented by Tra Bong cinnamon from Quang Ngai Province, Ngoc Linh ginseng from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and renowned Buon Ma Thuot coffee from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

Specialities selected from the Southern region were Trang Bang rice paper from Tay Ninh Province, Ben Tre coconut milk crackers and Phu Quoc peppercorns.

According to the Viet Nam Record Book Centre (Vietking), the recognition will help to promote Vietnamese cuisine around the world.

The Asian Record Organ-isation previously recognised 12 Vietnamese dishes as Asian Records: pho (rice noodle soup), bun cha (rice vermicelli with barbecued pork), bun thang (rice vermicelli with chicken), banh da cua Hai Phong (rice vermicelli with fried crab from Hai Phong), com chay Ninh Binh (crispy rice crackers from Ninh Binh); mien luon Nghe An (glass noodles with Nghe An eel); bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup from Hue); mi Quang (turmeric noodles with shrimp and pork from the Central region), pho kho Gia Lai (mixed rice noodles from Gia Lai); banh khot Vung Tau (small fried pancakes with shrimp from Vung Tau), goi cuon Sai Gon (fresh spring rolls from Sai Gon) and com tam Sai Gon (Sai Gon broken rice).

However, these recognitions mean nothing without a long-term strategy to promote the products, said Vu The Long, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Gastronomy.

"Together with the registration of intellectual property rights, the State should implement suitable protection for those speciality trademarks," he said.

Long added that the specialities could only shine if they had the appropriate space to do so.

To make this point, he cited the example of Ha Noi's speciality cha ca La Vong (La Vong charcoal-grilled fish), which MSNBC mentioned on its list of "10 places to see before you die".

A few years ago, even though many people visited the restaurant, it retained its "traditional atmosphere and cosiness", Long said. But the venue's current popularity makes it "impossible to enjoy the food and the atmosphere".

Cultural marketing specialist Nguyen Dinh Thanh agreed: "The State should set up and intensively implement development strategies for Vietnamese gastronomical trademarks." — VNS