Hung Lo commune in Viet Tri city, northern province of Phu Tho, is believed to be the cradle of the traditional trade of making Chung cake, an integral dish of the lunar Lunar New Year (Tet).
Phu Tho (VNA) – HungLo commune in Viet Tri city, the northern province of Phu Tho, is believed tobe the cradle of the traditional trade of making Chung cake, an integral dish of lunar LunarNew Year (Tet) celebrations. In Hung Lo, Chung cake pots areboiling through the year as the locality has developed a production model forthe cakes. Nguyen Van Ninh, head of the HungLo trade village said that currently, 70 households are in the Chung cake trade,providing the cakes to almost all markets and supermarkets in the province.
On the days before Tet, the atmosphere in Hung Lo commune heatsup, literally. All family members, from children to the elderly, make the cakesin time for the festival.
Chung cake is made from glutinous rice, pork andgreen bean paste, and wrapped in a square of “dong” (arrowroot) leaves, whichgives the rice a green tint after being boiled for ten hours.
Hung Lo is the only commune in Phu Tho thatmaintains the trade of Chung cake making all year round. On festive days, thecommune seems to be covered by the green colour of dong leaves and the white ofrice.
The Hung Lo cakes are famous for their taste, aslocals very carefully choose the ingredients.
Chung cake is believed to have been invented aslong as 4,000 years ago. Legend has it that the 18th Hung King could not decideon who his successor would be.
Finally, he decided that whichever of his sonsinvented the most delicious and symbolic new food would become the next ruler.And so, Prince Lang Lieu made round and square Day cakes, representing the Skyand square Chung cakes symbolising the Earth. These were decided by his fatherto be the best creation, and Lang Lieu took the throne.
𒅌 Due to its quality, Hung Lo Chung cake isoffered to Hung Kings during the temple festival dedicated to them in the thirdlunar month every year. The worship of Hung Kings was honoured by UNESCO aspart of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2012.-VNA
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Making Chung cake (Photo: VNA) 
