A Dong Nai-based maker of Banh Chung – a type of traditional rice cake for New Year celebrations in Vietnam – has completed procedures to ship abroad 40 tons of the cake to serve the Overseas Vietnamese community, during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Besides the cakes, Tran Gia company in Bien Hoa city, in the southern province of Dong Nai, will also export 5 tons of “dong” (arrowroot) leaves – which are used as the wrapping for the cake – to the US and several European countries.

(Photo for illustration)

During Tet this year, the company plans to supply 150 tons of Banh Chung and Banh Tet via the supermarket chains Metro, Big C, Coopmart, Vinatex, and Maximart.

The vacuum-packed cakes can keep for six months.

Banh Chung (a square glutinous rice cake) is a traditional cake eaten by Vietnamese people during the Tet holidays.

It is made from glutinous rice, pork and green bean paste, and then wrapped in “dong” leaves, which gives the rice a green tint after being boiled for ten hours.

Meanwhile, Banh Tet (round glutinous rice cake) is a traditional cake enjoyed by southern Vietnamese people. It is considered a variant of Banh Chung, which is more popular in the northern region.

For the Vietnamese, making Banh Chung and Banh Tet is an ideal way to express gratitude to their ancestors and homeland.

Source: VNA