On February 12, within the framework of the Vietnamese Tet - Street Tet 2026 program, activities to wrap banh chung and banh tet took place at the 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Art Center. The event attracted a large number of people, tourists and especially young people to come and experience wrapping banh chung.
The activity of wrapping banh chung is not simply preparing a traditional dish for Tet, but also has profound cultural and family meaning.
The square cake symbolizes land, associated with the legend of Lang Lieu in ancient times. When making banh chung by hand, generations have the opportunity to chat, share and pass on old values to each other.
For young people and students today, seeing and personally washing leaves, measuring rice, tying bamboo strings is not only a simple dish-making action but also the most authentic way to touch the traditional Tet, to understand that Tet is not only in the full feast but in the reunion and loving bond.
Sharing with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Le Hoang Bao Trang said that although this is the first time experiencing wrapping banh chung, she feels extremely excited and meaningful.
Making a cake with her own hands not only brings indescribable joy, but also helps Trang connect and make many new friends in the bustling atmosphere of the days leading up to Tet.
Although I came here alone, I feel very happy and happy to be enthusiastically guided by the teachers and friends to complete this cake myself.
I find the program really meaningful, helping young people understand and appreciate the traditional values of Vietnamese national culture," said Bao Trang.
Not only Trang, many young people are also very excited to make it themselves and listen to shares from previous generations.
To make a round Tet-flavored banh chung, not only sticky rice, green beans, fatty meat or green dong leaves are needed, but also teachers who silently ignite the fire.
For Ms. Vu Mai Tho, each cake wrapping guide is a particularly meaningful occasion. Through each operation of folding leaves, measuring rice, tying bamboo strings, she not only guides techniques but also tells stories about the origin, about the legend of banh chung associated with national culture.
For her, that square cake is a bridge for the younger generation to understand more, love more and be more proud of Vietnamese tradition.
Green banh chung cakes are not only the result of ingenuity but also proof of the connection between generations. Through each layer of dong leaves, each tightly tied bamboo string, traditional values are conveyed naturally and emotionally.
When young people complete their own cakes, it is also when Tet becomes closer, and national culture is preserved and spread in the most sustainable way.
