People make Banh Chung in Tranh Khuc village of Thanh Tri district, Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) -"Banh Chung" (square glutinous rice cake) is a traditional cake ofVietnamese people during Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.
For the Vietnamese, making Banh Chung is an ideal way to express gratitude totheir ancestors and homeland.
“Banh Chung” was invented by the 18th prince of Hung King in the contest oflooking for his successor.
According to the legend, 3,000-4,000 years ago, Prince Lang Lieu made round andsquare cakes, with the round Day cake symbolising the sky and the square Chungcake, the Earth (under the ancient Vietnamese perception), as offerings on theoccasion of Spring.
In the ancient conception, the Earth is square, hence Banh Chung has squareshape to reflect the Earth.
Since the cakes he offered were of special meaning and delicious taste, LangLieu was selected to be the next king.
Since then, in honor of this, Vietnamese people always make and have this forthe Lunar New Year. Chung cake has become the most famous and irreplaceabletraditional Vietnamese food in Tet holiday.
This legend aims to remind the next generations of the ancient tradition aswell as the primary of Chung cake. Besides, it emphasises the important role ofrice and nature in the water rice culture.
In contrast to the fast food in modern life, the process of making Banh Chungis time-consuming and requires the joint work of several people.
Main ingredients are glutinous rice, pork, and green beans wrapped square inbroad-blade leaves that will give the rice a green color after about 12 hours'boiling. The wrapping power must be neither too tight nor too loose.
The food has a highlevel of nutrition with an original tasty flavor and may be kept for a longtime. Eating Banh Chung with vegetable pickles will bring you unforgettabletaste.
In the traditionalconception of Vietnamese people, the process of making Banh Chung is anopportunity for the family’s reunion. Sitting around the fire, family memberstell one another the past stories and are ready for a New Year with bestwishes.
Nowadays, in somebig cities, the business lifestyle of modern society prevent people frompreparing the cake, however the habit of worship ancestors with it neverchanges. It is the evidence of the Vietnamese loyalty and deep gratitude toancestors.-VNA
Two thousand Chung cakes (a cake made from glutinous rice traditionally dedicated to Lunar New Year – Tet) will be made on February 5-7 under a charity programme to help the poor.
Tranh Khuc village in Hanoi’s Thanh Tri district is estimated to make about 468,600 banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) ahead of the 2018 Lunar New Year.
Rich or poor, Vietnamese at home or abroad carefully cook traditional dishes to put on the home altar to worship their ancestors during Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.
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People make Banh Chung in Tranh Khuc village of Thanh Tri district, Hanoi (Photo: VNA) 
