Banh Chung

Chungcake was invented by the 18th Prince of Hung Emperor in the contest oflooking for new Emperor. According to the legend, 3,000-4,000 yearsago, Prince Lang Lieu, made round and square cakes, the round Day cakesymbolizing the sky and the square Chung cake symbolizing the Earth(under the ancient Vietnamese perception), to be offered on theoccasion of Spring.

In the ancient conception, theEarth is square, hence Chung cake's shape is square, too, to reflectthe Earth shape. Since the cakes he offered were of special meaning anddelicious taste, Lang Lieu was selected to be the next Emperor. Sincethen, in honor of this 18th Prince, Vietnamese people always make andhave Chung cake in the Lunar New Year. Up to now, Chung cake has becomethe most famous and irreplaceable traditional Vietnamese food in TetHoliday. This legend aims to remind the next generations of the ancienttradition as well as the primary of Chung cake. Besides, it emphasizesthe important role of rice and nature in water rice culture.

How to make a "Banh Chung"?

Incontrast to the fast food in modern life, the process of making Chungcake is time-consuming and requires the contribution of several people.Main ingredients are glutinous rice, pork meat, and green beans wrappedin a square of bamboo leaves that will give the rice a green colorafter boiling. The

In the traditional conceptionof Vietnamese people, the process of making Chung cake is theopportunity for family to come together. Sitting around the warm fire,all members in the family tell one another the past stories and areready for a New Year with wishes of best things. Nowadays, in some bigcities, the business lifestyle of modern society prevent people frompreparing the cake, however, the habit of worship ancestors with Chungcake never changes. It is the evidence of the Vietnamese loyalty anddeep gratitude to ancestors.