Lang Lieu sticky rice cake - An OCOP product of the Ancestral Land

Every year on the 10th day of the third lunar month, the offering tray for the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary must include sticky rice cakes. This humble yet meaningful offering not only expresses respect for ancestors and filial piety towards parents but also embodies love for the homeland and the nation.

Delicious sticky rice cakes were served to visitors at the Hung King Temple Historical Site.

For the Vietnamese people, the mention of banh chung and banh giay immediately brings to mind the legend of “Banh Chung, Banh Giay” associated with Prince Lang Lieu. He was the son who offered these fragrant cakes as a tribute of gratitude and filial piety, ultimately earning the throne from the Sixth Hung King. According to legend, the sticky rice cake was created during this period. After defeating the An invaders, the king sought to pass his throne to one of his sons and declared, "Whichever son can find the most delicious and meaningful food to prepare a feast, I will pass the throne to him."

Lang Lieu, the 18th son of Hung Vuong, was known for his gentle and devoted nature. One night, he dreamed of a deity who advised him to use sticky rice to create round and square cakes, symbolizing the heavens and the earth. "For in heaven and earth, nothing is more precious than grains of rice..." From that moment, banh giay became an integral part of Vietnamese culture, not just as a dish but as a symbol of history and tradition. To this day, banh giay is still offered during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day as a gesture of gratitude to our ancestors.

Sticky rice is being steamed over a wood stove.

Sticky rice is pounded by machine and mixed into a smooth dough.

Visitors to the Hung King Temple Historical Site have the opportunity to taste Lang Lieu banh giay, made by local artisans. Mr. Dao Van Long, owner of the Lang Lieu Banh Giay production facility in Hy Cuong Commune, Viet Tri City, operates a shop near Gieng Temple. He shares, "This is a delicious, chewy, smooth, white cake rich in meaning. To this day, banh giay is still offered to the Hung Kings during their death anniversary as a tribute to our nation’s legendary founders."

Crafting these cakes is a meticulous process that requires great skill. The outer layer must be smooth, non-sticky, soft, and fragrant with the aroma of sticky rice, subtly infused with the scent of dong leaves. This results in a traditional delicacy deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. Lang Lieu banh giay comes in three varieties: savory with mung bean filling, sweet with mung bean filling, and plain (no filling). In 2024, Lang Lieu banh giay was officially recognized as a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) item.

This distinction has solidified the brand of Lang Lieu banh giay. To achieve this quality, the production facility at Hung King Temple places great emphasis on selecting the finest ingredients. The primary component is yellow sticky rice, which is carefully cleaned, soaked, and then steamed over a wood stove to ensure optimal stickiness and firmness. The filling is made from high-quality mung beans with golden centers, meticulously chosen to enhance the cake’s flavor.

Visitors can choose from three flavors of banh giay.

Lang Lieu banh giay has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product.

Mr. Long explained that while his family once pounded the cakes by hand, modern machines have now taken over the process. However, the traditional flavor remains unchanged. On regular days, his facility processes about 10 kilograms of rice. However, during the early months of the year, especially around the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and Hung King Temple Festival, production increases significantly, ranging from 300 to 500 kilograms of sticky rice per day.

Every banh giay sold to visitors comes with a label providing complete information, including the production facility’s address, ingredients, contact details, production date, and expiration date. Ms. Hoang Thi Lan from Viet Tri City shared, "Every year on the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, I come here to buy a few pairs of banh giay to offer to my ancestors. The cakes are freshly made, still warm, chewy, and delicious with a unique flavor. I also buy some as gifts for family and friends."

Visitors to the Hung King Temple Historical Site are not only captivated by the scenic beauty but also delighted by the rustic specialties of the ancestral land. Lang Lieu sticky rice cakes are more than just a fragrant delicacy - they embody the spirit of unity, gratitude, and reverence that Vietnamese people hold for their ancestors, who devoted their lives to building and defending the nation over thousands of years.

Phuong Uyen