Though no bigger than a shirt button, button tops which are known in Vietnam as oc ruoc, oc le, or oc gao won the hearts of many for their rich, addictive flavor.

Small in shape, bold in flavor

In the central city of Da Nang, vendors selling button tops gather along streets like Ong Ich Khiem and Le Van Hien, offering various sizes from large to tiny.

At Con Market, prices range from VND60,000 to 80,000 per unit of condensed milk can, and in some places go up to VND100,000. (US$1 = VND25,880)

According to vendor Tran Thi Bich Thuy, 47, customer demand for the dish has grown significantly in recent years. On a regular day, she can sell more than 100 cans.

Button tops are simple to prepare.

They must be soaked thoroughly to remove all sand, then boiled with lemongrass, ginger, and a pinch of salt for 10–15 minutes.

Once cooked, the snails are mixed with basic seasonings such as salt, fish sauce, MSG, and lemongrass.

When eating the snails, diners use a small, pointed stick to pull out the meat from the shell.

According to Thuy, what sets her dish apart is the jar of ginger fish sauce she makes herself.

“Whenever a customer shows up, I reheat the snails and add a spoonful of my house-made ginger fish sauce,” Thuy said.

“It gives the dish a bolder taste and fragrance. A true serving of button tops has to be mixed with chili flakes for a perfect spicy kick.”

Button tops the snack of memories and joy

Button tops win the heart of diners with their rustic simplicity, and the slightly rich taste brings many back to their childhood.

For Pham Thi Thu Hong, 25, now living in Ho Chi Minh City, button tops are a humble hometown dish she often longs for.

“Born and raised in Quang Nam central province, I’m very familiar with the taste of button tops,” Hong said.

“During the season, my family would sit together and shell them. It’s a memory I will never forget.

Now working far from home, Hong sometimes craves that familiar flavor.

“I do see vendors selling them in Saigon, but they never taste as fresh or delicious as the ones from back home,” she said.

Many believe button tops taste best when shared, which is why they're often enjoyed during friendly chats and hangouts.

In the afternoons, under the Thuan Phuoc Bridge in Da Nang’s Son Tra District, it’s not hard to find groups of friends gathered to shell button tops and catch up.

“Shelling button tops while talking with friends is such a fun experience,” Tran Thi Phuong Kieu, 21, from Thanh Khe District, said.

“Once you start, it’s hard to stop. You don’t stop until you’ve shelled the last one.

“They’re small but incredibly addictive. My back might hurt a bit from sitting so long, but if not, I could finish a few cans in one sitting,” she added.

Meanwhile, every few days, Nhu Quynh, 33, from Hai Chau District, heads to the market for her favorite snail snack.

For her, button tops are a seasonal dish she can’t miss.

“I love the feeling of shelling them while chatting with friends and family. We can sit and do that for hours,” she said.