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Episode four of "Sao Chon" was themed "Rich flavors of the sacred land". |
Ngo Lan Huong and Han Sara were the two guests on episode four of "Sao Chon", which aired on the evening of 18/10.
The episode explored the distinct flavors of Thanh Hoa. During the show, MC Tran Ngoc introduced various local dishes. Ngo Lan Huong shared that these flavors were deeply connected to her childhood. Han Sara, a South Korean singer, expressed her delight at trying dishes like goi ca nhech (fermented fish salad) and eel porridge for the first time.
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The two singers made one bowl of eel porridge according to their own measurements. Before that, they fried eel together, testing their skills to get crispy, cooked ingredients. |
A highlight of their culinary journey was preparing eel porridge. The two singers fried eel together, showcasing their skills to achieve crispy, cooked ingredients before assembling their own bowls of porridge according to their preferences.
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Han Sara tasted the dish. She was impressed by the rich broth and how locals cleaned the ingredients, ensuring the eel had no fishy smell. |
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Han Sara's humorous expression while preparing goi ca nhech. |
Their culinary exploration continued with another traditional dish. At the next destination, the two singers experienced deboning the nhech fish, carefully removing the flesh from both sides of the backbone and slicing it thinly for the goi ca nhech.
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Tho Xuan is Ngo Lan Huong's paternal hometown. Therefore, banh gai was a part of her childhood. On "Sao Chon", the singer was happy to introduce her hometown's rustic dishes to the public. |
For the final leg of their journey, Ngo Lan Huong chose an ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to visit the Lam Kinh historical site in Tho Xuan. There, she and Han Sara enthusiastically learned about Tu Tru banh gai, a traditional sweet cake over 600 years old. They both practiced wrapping the cakes, creating a cheerful atmosphere with each completed piece.
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The program offered Han Sara an opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine, culture, and beauty, particularly in Thanh Hoa province. "Sao Chon" is a reality show about culinary culture and one of 17 initiatives for Vietnam's cultural industry development in 2026.
The show takes artists to 10 provinces and cities to discover unique dishes. It delves into the stories behind the ingredients, preparation methods, the people preserving traditional crafts, and local lifestyles. "Sao Chon" is part of Vietnam iContent 2026, organized by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, VnExpress newspaper, FPT Online Joint Stock Company, and the Vietnam Chefs' Vocational Training and Employment Association (VICA). Techcombank OneU is the strategic partner, and T Production is the production unit.
Upcoming episodes will air throughout november, every sunday at 21h on the program's website and VnExpress's YouTube channel, and at 20h40 on VTV8.
Phuong Linh
Photos, video: Vietnam iContent
