A seafood restaurant in Hue lagoon that only opens during fair weather

Chuon Lagoon restaurant is a floating bamboo stilt house in the Chuon Lagoon in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, about 10 kilometers from Hue city center. This destination is recommended by many locals who enjoy fresh seafood dishes, since it has an amazing view for admiring the scenery and enjoying a peaceful space in the countryside of Hue.

You will need to travel by boat to reach the restaurant. A sign board will guide you to the pier at the Chuon Lagoon Market. On this free passenger boat you can enjoy wonderful views of the lagoon and watch the fishermen earning their livelihood. The boat takes about 10 minutes to reach the restaurant.

Whether you are a solo diner or you are coming as a group of a few dozen people, you will all be welcomed by the warm and friendly staff. The restaurant is only open in the dry season, from January to August. From September to December, it rains a lot in Thua Thien Hue. Because the restaurant sits in the middle of the Chuon Lagoon, where there are strong and cold winds, it is closed during the wet months because most customers are afraid of the rough weather. Many local guests are used to this, so they will simply wait for good weather to come and enjoy fresh seafood.

The highlight of the restaurant is the diverse menu that includes fish, oysters, shrimp, crab, sentinel crab, and squid caught in the lagoon.

A spotted scat fish is priced at VND750,000 ($31.98) per kilogram including preparation service. Each spotted scat fish weighs about 150 grams.
Spotted scat fish, grouper, rabbit fish, and white-spotted rabbitfish are suggested fish dishes at the Chuon Lagoon Restaurant. Depending on the number of guests, the restaurant will prepare just enough dishes or according to the diners’ preference.

The dish you should not miss is “banh khoai” – Hue-styled pancake with rabbitfish or white-spotted rabbitfish. The pancake is already seasoned with alluring spices, and is lightly fragrant with the smell of scallions. In the center of the pancake is a rabbitfish or white-spotted rabbitfish. It is firm and has a naturally sweet flavor. To enjoy this cuisine, customers can eat it with fresh herbs and a dipping fish sauce.

Spotted scat fish, which has a fatty skin and a soft layer of fat, is steamed with malabar spinach, which has a sweet flavor and is richly seasoned. In addition to steaming, this fish can also be cooked in a porridge.

Diners at the Chuon Lagoon Restaurant sit on small cushions at a low bamboo table. Sitting in such a unique location while enjoying the food, guests can feel relaxed and admire the scenery of the lagoon.