Banh thuan is a traditional specialty gift of the people of Central Vietnam, especially popular during the traditional Tet holiday.
During the last days of the year, the banh thuan shops are always full of hot cakes to make cakes in time to serve the traditional Tet holiday. Dong Nai market is a familiar place for Nha Trang people, where rustic gifts from the countryside are sold.
The family of Ms. Tran Thi Tu, living in Nha Trang City, has preserved the tradition of making banh thuan through many generations. Ms. Dao shared that with about one kilogram of flour, the baker can make more than 100 banh thuan.
From 5am, bakers set up their stalls on the sidewalk, making cakes and selling them to people who buy them as Tet gifts.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the days before Tet, a street corner in Dong Nai Market always exudes the fragrant aroma of batches of banh thuan being grilled over a red fire.
There are many ways to understand the name of the cake, among which many people in Nha Trang agree that the craftsman molded it in an oval shape (like a shield). When cooked, the cake blooms with 5 petals like apricot blossoms, so the ancients considered this a symbol of a peaceful new year with lots of luck.
The flour used to make the cake is tapioca starch and tapioca starch mixed together, beaten with eggs and sugar. Although it sounds simple, not everyone can make the cake rise evenly and turn golden yellow like apricot blossoms.
To make the cake delicious, beat the dough continuously to let it rise, helping the cake to rise evenly when put into the mold.
The dough was done, the mold was hot, and the charcoal was filled from the bottom to the top. After applying a layer of cooking oil to the mold, the worker began pouring the dough into the mold, moving slowly but firmly. The rest was simply waiting for the cake to cook. Wait until you could smell the faint aroma, blending into the cool air of a drizzly December night.
While young people make banh thuan to make a living during Tet, many older people still keep this job as a long-standing habit.
As in the case of Mrs. Tran Thi Lan (77 years old, Phuoc Long ward) who is still healthy enough to make cakes to serve everyone. Mrs. Lan has been making cakes for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Lan remembers the old days when Tet came, poor or rich people all bought banh thuan as gifts for their children and grandchildren.
Although it is no longer a luxury gift like before, the cake still retains the characteristics of the homeland. Eating the cake reminds us of a time gone by, a time of hardship and difficulty.
The weather in Nha Trang these days is not cold but chilly. Customers sit for 10-15 minutes waiting for Mrs. Lan to finish making the cakes.
After completing the steps, each package of cake is divided into packages of about 12 pieces and sold for 25,000 VND. Because of the reasonable price, many people come to buy to enjoy and give to each other during Tet.
