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DNO - In Hoi An where culinary traditions run as deep as the town’s centuries-old heritage, a young startup is sealing “mi Quang” and traditional sweet soups into ready-to-eat cans, turning local comfort dishes into products with global ambitions.
In the first days of the Lunar New Year 2026, Truong Van An, the co-founder of CaThi Food in Hoi An, invites visitors to savor bowls of sweet soup rich in traditional flavors - a gesture that reflects his ambition to take these local specialties far beyond their hometown.
CaThi Food is a young startup founded by a group of Da Nang natives determined to reimagine regional cuisine for modern consumers.
Their focus is on two culinary icons of central Vietnam: Quang-style noodles (‘mi Quang) and traditional sweet soups (che).
Instead of serving them only in local eateries, the team has developed ready-to-eat, canned versions designed for convenience without sacrificing authenticity.
“We has built and operated our start-up on a
foundation of cultural values, applying modern technology to create
high-quality culinary products. Behind each item is a story of Da Nang’s
time-honoured culture and daily life, carefully preserved”,said Truong Van An,
Co-founder of CaThi Food
An, who was born and raised in the ancient town of Hoi An, grew up with "xi ma", a black sesame sweet soup introduced centuries ago and woven into the town’s culinary identity.
The recipe of “xi ma” is closely guarded and the cooking process is more labour-intensive than many other desserts.
After months of research into recipes, sterilization technology and packaging design, CaThi Food launched its first canned products in early 2024.
Unlike powdered instant desserts that require hot water, its “xi ma” is prepared as a near-fresh sweet soup, ready to eat straight from the can.
The company has introduced what it describes as the market’s first canned instant “mi Quang” featuring real snakehead fish and real pork.
The move signals broader ambitions: to develop other Hoi An specialties such as “cao lau” (a noodle dish with thick, square, light yellow rice noodles punctuated with rice crackers, peanuts, a sultry sauce, and char siu meat) and chicken rice in similarly convenient formats.
Safety and quality are central to the brand’s positioning. The products contain no preservatives and use carefully selected local agricultural ingredients.
“My dream is that one day, “mi Quang” will be served to passengers on flights to Da Nang. Beyond that, we aim to further refine our products to meet stringent standards for export, so that people from Da Nang, wherever they are in the world, can enjoy a true bowl of ‘mi Quang’ sourced from their hometown”,
said Truong Van An, the co-founder of CaThi Food
In 2025, CaThi Food’s black sesame and corn sweet soups, along with its canned “mi Quang” lines, were recognised as outstanding rural industrial products by the Da Nang authorities.
Increasingly featured at tourism and cultural events, these bowls and cups may soon carry the flavours of Da Nang to a much wider world.
Encouraged by positive market feedback for its canned "mi Quang” line, An hopes to supply ready-made meals to tourism operators and restaurants in the near future.
