The cake is not only made during the Tet holiday of the ethnic Cao Lan group but has also become a popular dish at festivals, fairs, and local markets both inside and outside the province.

'Chim gau' cake of the Cao Lan people.

The Cao Lan people call it 'chim gau' cake because the outer layer of the cake is made from wild pineapple leaves, which are knitted into the shape of a spotted dove, or ‘chim gau’ in Vietnamese.

They believe that the wild pineapple leaf is a medicine, thereby, it can add both fragrance taste and herbal remedy aspects to the cake.

The main ingredient of the cake is sticky rice mixed with a little salt in order to create a bold flavour. However, depending on taste and preference, some families also mix in green beans, colour the rice with magenta plant or purple rice, or soak the sticky rice with ash water. Then, they stuff the rice into the pre-woven spotted dove-shaped leaves until the rice fully fills the form. Finally, the leaves are tightly knitted shut.

During the boiling process, it is necessary to maintain the heat and keep the cake submerged under water. The cake is well cooked after 1 hour, then let drain and cut it in half to taste.

'Chim gau' cake is linked to the legend of the spotted dove’s motherhood. Therefore, the Cao Lan people make the cake to convey the message of the motherhood and the attachment among family members.

Bac cake reflects Giang Xa villagers soul and culture

Giang Xa Village in Hanoi’s Hoai Duc District is famous for its delightful ‘bac’ cake (fried cake made from sticky rice, ‘gac’ fruit and green bean), a delicacy which has existed for more than a hundred years.

Le Hong Van gives up thousand-dollar job to start business with dry pancake

(BGO) - Quitting a thousand-dollar job, Le Hong Van (born in 1988) in Tang Tien commune (Viet Yen district) has come back to her hometown to start a business. Currently, Joy Vietnam Co., Ltd., owned by Van, is producing thousands of dry pancakes every day. The products are available in many clean food chains and major supermarkets in Hanoi and some northern provinces.

Shrimp cake

No trip to Hanoi is complete without a visit to the city's iconic West Lake. But have you tried one of its traditional delicacies? These crispy shrimp cakes are the perfect complement to a day by the water's edge.

Story of Cay cake in Thai Binh

Thai Binh is commonly known for its immense rolling fields, but a tastier treat it is home to is the Banh Cay, or Cay cakes, made of sticky rice, sugar, Gac (gardenia fruit), sesame seeds, carrots, mandarin peel and lard.

Thanh Tri steamed roll rice pancakes made from red dragon fruit

With the aim of creating a new taste for the traditional dish “banh cuon Thanh Tri” (Thanh Tri steamed roll rice pancakes) as well as to help farmers consume dragon fruits, the owner of a famous “banh cuon” restaurant at 26B Tho Xuong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, made special steamed roll rice pancakes from red dragon fruit.

Source: NDO