Chung cake is not strange to the Vietnamese people. On the occasion of Lunar New Year (Tet festival), almost all of the families gather to make Chung cake. Van Chung cake is much more delicious than that made in other localities because of the carefully selected materials and delicate making procedure.

Van Chung cake.

The materials to make the traditional dish include glutinous rice, green beans, bacon, Chit leaves and several spices. The used rice must be the yellow flower large-size-glutinous rice grown in the field of Thai Son commune at the same district that has a distinctive fragrant and flavor.

The cake is wrapped by Chit leaves in the local area while other localities normally use Dong leaves. After the makers cut off the leaves’ top and stalk, they are carefully washed then boiled until the water simmers. Next, the leaves are picked up to keep their soft and original flavor. Besides, the pork is selected from the safe pig breeding farms in the area.

Van Chung cake making contest in Hiep Hoa district.

According to Bui Thi Loc, owner of Chung cake making facility in Hoang Lien hamlet, Hoang An commune, all steps in making procedure must be done carefully. Particularly, boiling should follow the right technique and two steps: boil the cakes and take them out then continue boiling for 5 more hours so that they are well cooked. Next, the maker rolls them evenly on the straw of glutinous rice to make them soft and tough.

Thanks to its delicious flavor ensuring the food safety and hygiene, Van Chung cakes have been ordered by numerous customers not only from the district but also from other provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Ha Noi, Hai Duong and Vinh Phuc. Loc’s facility has to work around the clock to meet the high demand on the upcoming Tet festival.

To date, Hiep Hoa district is home to nearly 200 households who regularly make Chung cake, mostly in Hoang An and Hoang Van communes. Many families successfully obtain the well-off life from the traditional craft.

Van Chung cake is widely preferred by customers.

Ngo Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee in Hiep Hoa district said Van Chung cake is a common name for Chung cake made in Hiep Hoa district. Because it is the local signature product, the authority has paid due attention to encouraging the local residents to attach to the craft.

Additionally, trade promotion and market expansion have been well proceeded; helping introduce the products to several supermarkets in Hanoi city and Bac Ninh province.

For there recent years, the Hiep Hoa district People’s Committee has instructed the competent divisions to organize Van Chung cake making contest on the occasion of Lunar New Year to improve the skill and promote the specialty to a wider range of customers.

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