Bánh chưng (Square Rice Cake): sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves and stuffed with mung bean paste, lean pork and black pepper, traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year (Tet). Bánh chưng is popular in the North, while its cousin version bánh tét (cylindric rice cake) is more popular in the South. Bánh tét has the same content, except cylindrical in shape and lean pork is substituted with fatty pork.

Banh chung (Bánh chưng) is one of the cuisine which cannot lack in the Vietnamese Tet Holiday.



Wraping it before cooking.



Wraping Banh chung is also one of the Vietnam ancient tradition. Each members in the family has a chance to work together.

Whole family sit together and cook Banh chung. While waiting, they share with other family members on what happened with them in the past or even they recall old stories and laugh. Ussually, Banh chung is cooked from late night to the next morning. It takes many hours to cook Banh chưng. 

Pealled Banh chưng.

Banh chung is presented on ancestral altar in Tet holiday.

Bánh chưng is usually eaten with pickled vegetables.

Tiffanie Lee