10 km from Thai Nguyen city, Bo Dau banh chung village was established in the 1960s and was recognized as a traditional village in 2009. Every time Tet comes, the village becomes more bustling and vibrant than ever.
From early morning, the small alleys resounded with laughter and the bustling sound of flickering fires. The rich aroma of sticky rice, pork, and green beans spread everywhere.
With over 50 years of tradition in making cakes, Mr. Nguyen Van Nguyen's Lam Quang banh chung facility is always busy these days completing batches of cakes in time for delivery to customers.
Mr. Nguyen said that his family hardly had any rest during the days leading up to Tet and had to hire 4-5 more people to complete the orders. Despite the busy schedule, they were still happy because this job helped preserve family traditions.
His hands still deftly place leaves, rice, fillings, then tie the strings firmly. He said: "We don't use molds, but wrap them entirely by hand. Pick up the cake, just by touching it, you can tell if it's tight or square enough."
What makes Bo Dau banh chung different is not only the wrapping technique but also the careful selection of ingredients. Sticky rice with silk - a specialty of the On Luong region - is always given top priority.
“The rice must be fresh, and after being washed three times, it will still retain its shine and natural aroma. We do not soak the rice because it will lose its stickiness,” Mr. Nguyen explained.
The filling consists of fragrant, cooked mung beans, combined with fresh, delicious pork belly, seasoned with pepper to enhance the rich flavor. The dong leaves from Na Ri forest (Bac Kan) are washed and dried, and the giang strings must be young, soft but firm.
Taking reporters to the area where the cakes are boiled, Mr. Nguyen said the cakes are boiled for 8-10 hours, with the fire kept steady and water added regularly. After boiling, the cakes are rinsed with cold water to keep their green color and make them more flexible.
Every day, Mr. Nguyen's family brings 6,000-7,000 cakes to the market, with prices ranging from 50,000 VND to over 50,000 VND. For him, banh chung is not just a dish but also contains passion, emotion, and preserves the traditional Tet spirit.
And so, from morning to night, the Bo Dau craft village never rests. Batches of cakes are continuously completed and sent everywhere, carrying the flavor of Tet and the pride of the people here.
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