Banh chung (square cake) - Ha Noi

Banh chung (square cake) is a Vietnamese traditional dish most commonly found included with meals during Tet. Every Vietnamese family must have banh chung among their offerings to be placed on ancestors’ altars.

Banh chung is made of glutinous rice, pork meat and green bean paste, and is wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves, giving the rice a green colour after boiling. According to legend, under the reign of the Hung King, Prince Lang Lieu created banh chung and presented them to his father.

Banh chung won high acclaim from the King who awarded his son the throne. Making the dish requires care and precision. To obtain the best cakes, the rice has to be soaked in water for an entire day. The pork meat must include skin and fat, the green beans must be of the same and the bamboo leaves must be fresh. When finished, squaring off and tying the cakes with bamboo string requires skill full hands.

During Tet, banh chung are served with gio lua and hanh muoi - lean pork pie and salted sour onions.