Saigon Times Daily, Vietnam – 23 hours ago
In olden times, Yen sao also known as Bird’s Nest and Swallow’s Nest, was a rare delicacy only prepared for kings and queens. Today, the dish can be enjoyed by everyone in a number of restaurants around town.
Yen sao is believed to be a nutritious dish that benefits the lungs, blood and skin. It is an especially popular dish among the wealthy who seek to flaunt their wealth and good taste.
The price tag for yen sao is especially steep because of the difficult process required to obtain the nests. Collectors risk their lives to gather the highly sought after nests in caves and on cliff ledges.
There are two types of swallow’s nests: white and “red.” The white ones are more common and less expensive, while the red ones are rarer and pricier. Experts explain that the red nests achieve their distinct color from a mixture of blood and saliva, while the white ones are constructed solely from saliva.
Swallow’s nests that are gathered in the caves on cliff ledges of Hoi An and Nha Trang are famous for their quality. This delicacy can also be harvested in many cities including HCMC.
Houses designed especially to attract swallows have been built in the cities and made the dish more accessible to everyone. The swallows live in these houses are not fed, but leave their shelters in the morning to search for food and come back in the afternoon. The owners of these houses only have to gather the nests here instead of climbing the natural cliffs.
In HCMC, one can taste a bowl of Yen sao soup starting at VND250,000.
To try this one-time royal delicacy and modern day cure-all visit:
River View Restaurant: RF Floor, 21 Nguyen Trung Ngan St., Dist.1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 910 6488.
Yen Sao Restaurant: 168 Calmette Street, Dist. 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 914 2755.
Pham Le
