Traditional Specialties Dedicated to the Hung Kings

On the occasion of the Hung Kings' Commemoration, famous craft villages such as Mo Chu Ha (Thanh Mieu Ward), Xom (Van Phu Ward), Cat Tru (Hung Viet Commune), and Truc Phe (Tam Nong Commune) are bustling with preparations to make banh chung and banh giay for the royal ancestral altars.

The annual Banh Chung and Banh Giay contest at the Hung Temple Festival helps recreate traditional cultural beauty and honors agricultural labor.

In the Vietnamese subconscious, banh chung (square sticky rice cake) and banh giay (round sticky rice cake) hold a special place as indispensable offerings in ancestor worship and the Hung King Worship Belief. These two cakes originate from the legend of Prince Lang Lieu, the son of the 6th Hung King, representing deep wet-rice agricultural values and the bond of marital fidelity. Legend has it that after defeating the An invaders, the King wished to find a talented successor. He gathered his sons during early Spring and declared he would pass the throne to whoever could find the most delicious and meaningful dish for the royal feast.

While other princes traveled far and wide seeking exotic delicacies, the 18th prince, Lang Lieu, was guided by a deity in a dream to create banh chung and banh giay from simple local ingredients. He subsequently inherited the throne. Since then, the square banh chung (symbolizing the Earth) and the round banh giay (symbolizing the Sky) have become the signature offerings to ancestors.

Throughout thousands of years, within the flow of the Hung King Worship Belief, these legendary cakes have been preserved and developed into thriving traditional crafts. Every year at the Hung Temple Historic Site, delegations and artisans offer 18 pairs of banh chung and banh giay to the Kings, symbolizing the 18 generations of Hung Kings who founded the nation.

Artisan Nguyen Thi Anh from the Chinh Anh banh chung facility in Cat Tru Village shared: "To make a cake worthy of the Kings, it must be aesthetically perfect—squarely shaped with sharp edges, vibrant colors, and a fragrant, well-cooked texture. The secret lies in long-standing experience, with the selection of ingredients being the most critical step."

Craft villages maintain traditional methods to preserve national cultural identity.

According to households producing the “Hung Lo Banh Chung” brand in Van Phu Ward, premium glutinous rice (usually nep cai hoa vang) is meticulously selected. Fresh pork belly and plump mung beans are carefully processed to retain their aroma. The village currently attracts 30 households working year-round, supplying products for festivals and provincial tourism activities.

Renowned for banh giay, the artisans of Mo Chu Ha maintain the tradition of pounding the dough with stone mortars and bamboo pestles. Artisan Do Quang Le noted: "Every January and during the Hung Kings' Commemoration, we hold contests to commemorate our traditions and prepare the most authentic cakes for our ancestors."

Offering banh chung and banh giay is the way the Descendants of Lac Hong pay tribute to the founding Kings. The annual contest at the Festival Center not only recreates cultural beauty but also honors agricultural labor. This preserved custom evokes national pride, educates future generations on moral principles, and promotes the unique culinary heritage of the Ancestral Land to domestic and international tourists.

Bui Minh