Gam market's wet rice cake is a specialty that is expensive on September 2nd.

Ms. Le Thi Na, one of the long-time cake makers in Gam market, Quan Thanh commune, said: “On this September 2nd holiday, we get up at 3am every day to wash rice and grind flour. Normally, we only make about 100kg of cakes, but on September 2nd this year, we have to make over 200kg each day. There are so many customers that sometimes we don’t have time to stop for a meal, so we have to take turns working continuously.”

According to Ms. Na, to make delicious banh muot, the baker must be very meticulous from the stage of choosing rice - usually Khang Dan type, the grains are evenly expanded, not too dry and not too sticky. The rice is soaked thoroughly in cold water, washed many times until the water is clear, then ground finely.

When making the cake, the maker must be familiar with it, pouring the batter evenly and quickly, so that the cake does not tear, is not too thick or too thin. The fire under the stove must also be kept steady, so that the steam cooks the cake just right. When the cake is done, lift it out of the mold, the smell of new rice blends with the fragrant smell of fried onions, the cake layer is soft, smooth, white, dotted with a few strands of onion, just looking at it is delicious.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, owner of a large bakery also at Gam market, shared: “On this occasion, customers place orders from everywhere, from the commune to neighboring communes, and some even send their vehicles to Hanoi. Those who order in advance will get cakes, otherwise they have to wait for an hour. “With nearly 20 years of experience in the profession, Ms. Nhung understands the hardships of this job: having to sit for hours in the middle of steaming pots, working without rest, but in return is the joy when the cakes she makes are welcomed by everyone, praised as delicious, and bring in more income for the family.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh in Quan Thanh commune excitedly said: “It has become a tradition that on the occasion of National Day September 2, children and grandchildren in the city return to their hometown to reunite. The first dish they always mention is Gam market's sticky rice cake served with chicken soup. They always insist that I go buy it. Every year, I get up early, go to Gam market's bakery to buy a few kilos to treat the whole family. All the children praise the fragrant sticky rice cake, served with chicken soup, it is really delicious.”

If in the past, bakers had to use a charcoal stove, light firewood with difficulty amidst the pungent smoke, now with the electric boiler system, the work of making cakes has become much easier. Not only does it save effort, the new equipment also helps increase productivity, ensuring that the cakes are cooked evenly, look beautiful and are safe for food hygiene.

The job of making Banh Muot not only brings a stable income to many households in the region but is also the pride of the farmers here, when they diligently preserve the flavor of their homeland through each soft, fragrant, white Banh Muot. Today, Banh Muot Cho Gam has gone beyond the boundaries of communes and districts, is carefully packaged and transported by passenger vans, reaching as far as Hanoi - bringing with it the rich flavor of the rice countryside.