The beautiful cultural tradition of collective rice cake making in Vinh.
(Baonghean.vn) - Instead of each household wrapping and cooking banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), residents in alleyways and apartment complexes contribute rice, beans, and meat, and organize collective banh chung wrapping, taking turns watching over the pots, creating a warm and lively atmosphere during Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
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| Rice, beans, and meat were contributed by the families. Mothers and sisters woke up early to soak the rice in preparation for wrapping the cakes. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| Long tables are arranged along the spacious courtyard, and women sit around them wrapping the rice cakes. This collective rice cake wrapping activity in neighborhoods is a long-standing tradition from the old residential complexes. Today, not only neighborhoods but also many agencies and organizations maintain this activity. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| Under the skillful hands of the mothers, each square-shaped banh chung (Vietnamese rice cake) is formed. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| The communally wrapped banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) is still generously filled with meat and beans. Some families even adjust the amount of filling according to their preferences. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| Meanwhile, the men prepared firewood, set up the stove, and placed pots to boil the cakes. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| Young people in the neighborhood take turns watching over the pots of rice cakes, adding water throughout the night. The steaming pots of rice cakes, emitting a fragrant aroma over the crackling fires, are a beautiful image, imbued with the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in every street corner. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| The cooked cakes are divided equally among each family in the neighborhood. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| The Locomotive Factory's residential complex organized a communal cooking of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) for all 24 households. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| A small mat is spread out at the end of the alley for the mothers and sisters to wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). The communal banh chung, after being distributed to each household, will be used for a communal feast on the evening of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Hoang Tuan |
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| Children are the most excited of all when Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around; the whole neighborhood starts wrapping and cooking banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) together. Photo: Hoang Tuan |
