Banh muot (steamed rice rolls) from Gam Market are a popular specialty and expensive during the September 2nd holiday.
During the September 2nd holiday, the famous rice noodle production facilities in Gam Market, Quan Thanh commune, were overwhelmed with demand. Customers sometimes had to wait for an hour or more to buy their noodles.
Ms. Le Thi Na, one of the long-time bánh chưng makers at Gam Market in Quan Thanh commune, said: "For the September 2nd holiday, we wake up at 3 a.m. every day to wash the rice and grind the flour. Normally, we only make about 100 kg of bánh chưng, but this year for September 2nd, we have to make over 200 kg each day. There are so many customers that sometimes we don't even have time to rest and eat; we have to take turns working continuously."
According to Ms. Na, to make delicious rice noodles, the baker must be very meticulous from the rice selection stage - usually Khang Dan rice, with evenly sized grains that are neither too dry nor too sticky. The rice is soaked thoroughly in cold water, washed many times until the water is clear, and then ground into a fine paste.
When making the rice pancakes, the cook must be skilled and observant, pouring the batter evenly and quickly so that the pancake doesn't tear, is neither too thick nor too thin. The heat under the stove must also be kept steady, allowing the steam to cook the pancake perfectly. Once cooked, when removed from the mold, the aroma of fresh rice blends with the fragrant fried onions, the pancake is soft, smooth, and translucent white, dotted with a few strands of scallions – just looking at it makes you hungry.
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Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, owner of a large bakery in Gam Market, shared: “During this holiday, customers are placing orders from all over, from within the commune to neighboring communes, and some even send orders to Hanoi. Those who order in advance get their cakes, otherwise they have to wait for an hour or more.” With nearly 20 years in the business, Ms. Nhung understands the hardships of this job: sitting for hours amidst steaming pots, working non-stop, but the reward is the joy of seeing her cakes appreciated, praised as delicious, and providing extra income for her family.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh from Quan Thanh commune happily shared: “It has become a tradition that on National Day, September 2nd, my children and grandchildren in the city return to the countryside for a reunion. The first thing they always mention is the sticky rice cake from Gam Market, served with chicken stew. They earnestly beg me to buy it for them. Every year, I wake up early and rush to the cake shop in Gam Market to buy a few kilograms to treat the whole family. My children and grandchildren all praise the cake for its soft texture and fragrant aroma, and how delicious it tastes when mixed with chicken stew.”
Previously, bakers had to work hard using charcoal stoves and burning firewood amidst pungent smoke. Now, with electric steam boilers, the process of making rice paper has become much easier. Not only does it save effort, but the new equipment also increases productivity, ensures evenly cooked, visually appealing, and hygienically safe rice paper.
The craft of making rice noodle rolls not only provides a stable income for many households in the region but is also a source of pride for the local farmers, as they diligently preserve the flavors of their homeland through each soft, fragrant, and pristine white rice noodle roll. Today, the rice noodle rolls from Gám Market have transcended the boundaries of the commune and district, carefully packaged and transported by passenger bus, reaching as far as Hanoi – carrying with them the rich flavor of the rice-growing countryside.
