For Vietnamese, “Bánh Chưng” (Chưng cake) is one of the indispensable things have to do on Lunar New Year. This shows the respect of the people to their ancestors and homeland. “Bánh Chưng” is an ideal occasion for all family members reunion. Let’s follow our cycling tour in Hue to Thanh Toan village and experience making Chung cake at a three-generation family. You will have a chance to immerse yourself into Vietnamese culture and taste our traditional delicacy.
The legend of “Bánh Chưng”
According to the legend, the 18th Prince of Hung King invented Chưng cake in the contest of seeking new Emperor. Prince Lang Lieu made round and square cakes to offer for his father King. The round Day cake symbolizes the sky and the square Chung cake symbolizes the Earth. Sticky rice is suitable for making the two types of cake because it is the important food of Vietnamese people. He wished all Vietnamese people could make and enjoy this cake. “Bánh Chưng” brought the happiness meaning and harmony of nature with pork meat, grain, and wrapping leaves. It deserved to become the national food and maintain to nowadays. For his love for the Vietnam nation and his Father King, he became the next Emperor. This legend aims to remind the next generations of the important role of rice in water rice culture.
Follow a cycling tour in Hue to learn how to make Chưng cake
On the journey exploring wet-rice culture, we will visit Mrs. Trang’s family. A three-generation family making Chung cake as their main income. You will see the cozy and busy atmosphere with skillful hand wrapping cakes. It is time-consuming and requires several people’s contributions. The artisans wrap all main ingredients such as sticky rice, pork meat, and green beans in a square of banana leaves. This will give the rice a green color after boiling. They soak sticky rice in water some previous day until the rice becomes good enough. Then, all members of the family will stay together to take care of the cake pan for about five hours. The “Chưng” cake has good taste when people use wood to cook and enjoy with an original tasty flavor. Join a cycling tour in Hue and taste the Chung cake with vegetable pickles that will bring you unforgettable taste!
Up to now, “Bánh Chưng” has become the most famous and irreplaceable traditional Vietnamese food on Lunar New Year. If you want to discover the local life and taste Chưng cake, a cycling tour in Hue is a good choice. Join with us at Thanh Toàn rural immersion tour to experience making “Bánh Chưng” and understand our culture on Tết holiday.
