Túy Loan Ancient Village — the thick charcoal-grilled rice cracker with over 500 years of history that few visitors to Da Nang know about

Everyone who visits Da Nang flocks to My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hills, or Con Market. But just ride about 15km further southwest, cross the Dragon Bridge and then follow National Route 14B for a little over half an hour, and you'll find yourself lost in a completely different Da Nang: Tuy Loan ancient village, a village more than 500 years old nestled beside the river of the same name. The village was settled in 1470 by five founding ancestors from the Đặng, Lâm, Nguyễn, Trần, and Lê families. In the heart of the village stands Túy Loan Communal House, more than a hundred years old — a national historical relic that still preserves as many as 20 royal decrees, with curved roofs, wooden pillars, and a thick blanket of moss. Sitting in the courtyard in front of the village communal house, listening to the river breeze, you'd hardly believe this peaceful place is just a short motorbike ride from the city center. But what I miss most about Túy Loan is the rice paper. This isn't the thin rice paper wrapped around meat that you usually see. Túy Loan rice paper is thick and nearly 30cm wide. It is made from xiệc rice, and the batter is seasoned with ginger, garlic, sugar and salt, then topped with a thick layer of white sesame seeds. The most unusual part: the rice cakes aren't sun-dried but slowly dried over glowing charcoal for about 12 hours, which gives them a truly distinctive aroma and keeps them from turning brittle and crumbly like ordinary ones. When eating, the villagers grill the rice cracker over a charcoal stove, turning it evenly until it puffs up and turns crispy, then break off one piece at a time. The most delicious way to enjoy it is to break the rice crackers over a bowl of the famous Túy Loan Quảng noodles, or wrap them around a slice of boiled pork, savored slowly with a pot of hot tea. The nutty richness of sesame, the gentle heat of ginger and garlic, crispy yet satisfyingly firm — one bite and you'll understand why this craft was just recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024. INFORMATION: - Address: Túy Loan Village, Hòa Phong Commune, Hòa Vang District, Da Nang (about 15km from the city center, via National Highway 14B) - Rice paper price: around 150,000 – 250,000 VND per ten (10 sheets), depending on whether it's pre-grilled or not — a perfect gift to take home - Best time to visit: around Tet, when the whole village fires up its stoves to make cakes; or on the 9th–10th day of the first lunar month to see the village communal house festival and the boat races on the river. Little tip: buy a few dozen cakes to take home, and whenever you get a craving, just toast them again on the stove for an instant, crispy taste of old Da Nang. Next time you visit the seaside city, try spending a "slow travel" day in Túy Loan — a very different Da Nang is waiting for you.