A festival in Ha Long City of Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam set a record for making the largest round chả mực (squid cake) in the country, weighing 210 kilograms, using 4,400 liters of cooking oil, last weekend.

The record was confirmed by the Vietnamese record organization VietKings during the Beer and Squid Cake Festival, held in the Ocean Park area, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province at 5:00 pm on Saturday. 

The squid cake weighed 210 kilograms, measured 3.4 meters in length, and stood 0.5 meters high, equivalent to about 4,000 normal squid cakes. 

The frying pan was square-shaped, measuring over 3.4 meters on each side, and standing 60 centimeters high. 

To fry it, the festival organizers utilized 18 gas stoves and 4,400 liters of Neptune Light cooking oil. 

The mold for making the squid cake was round, 2.6 meters in diameter and 30 centimeters thick. 

To flip the cake while frying, the organizers employed an overhead crane. 

This feat required 25 people's participation and took up to four hours to complete. 

After being displayed, the giant squid cake was sliced into pieces for diners to enjoy.

Squid cake is a delectable dish that many tourists crave when visiting Quang Ninh Province, and it is recognized as one of 50 famous Vietnamese specialties by VietKings. 

Despite its name, the dish is made from cuttlefish caught in the waters of Ha Long City or Van Don District in Quang Ninh Province.

The cuttlefish is processed, cleaned, pounded, shaped into cakes, fried, cooled, and vacuum-sealed immediately by production facilities to preserve its freshness. 

Ha Long squid cakes are crispy, delicious, and seasoned with just the right amount of seasoning, suitable to pair with bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls), xôi (sticky rice), or plain boiled rice. 

This dish is a staple in feasts and a favorite treat among Ha Long locals and visitors alike.

Nguyen Tuan Minh, deputy chairman of the Ha Long City People’s Committee, expected that Saturday’s festival would help Ha Long’s seafood products, particularly squid cakes, gain further recognition among tourists, according to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper. 

The event aimed to enhance the city’s tourism brand, serving as a bridge to connect businesses. 

Ha Long set a target of welcoming 10 million visitors this year, including two million international tourists, with total tourism revenue reaching VND22 trillion (US$868 million).

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