A family in Ho Chi Minh City has maintained the tradition of making banh chung (square glutinous cakes) over the past three decades whenever Tet – Vietnam’s most important holiday – is just around the corner.

Bui Thi Hong Vinh said she visited the home of a man named Kim Hoai Linh in the 1990s during the last days of the lunar year in order to learn how to make banh chung, a requisite dish for Tet typically in northern Vietnam.

From that very first meeting, the two became husband and wife and the Tet delicacy never ceases to be part of their family.

Now, after nearly 30 years of marriage, Vinh and Linh have always made banh chung when Tet draws near, considering it a family tradition that can strengthen their bond.

Bui Thi Hong Vinh and her husband prepare banh chung wrapping leaves at their home in Ho Chi Minh City, January 2019. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

This year Vinh wanted to create 180 banh chung to be given as gifts to relatives and friends on Monday, the day when Vietnamese Kitchen Gods in folk belief make an annual heavenward trip to report household conduct and well-being.

“It’s good to wrap banh chung with all your care and attention. This would make the cakes more delicious to those who receive them,” said Vinh, who lives in District 10.

She placed all the banh chung into three large pots and their cooking, lasting around ten hours, required constant attention to ensure the fire was properly moderated.

Bui Thi Hong Vinh uses her mouth to remove the midrib of a stachyphrynium placentarium leaf, locally known as la dong, used for wrapping banh chung. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Children wash stachyphrynium placentarium leaves, used for wrapping banh chung, in Ho Chi Minh City, January 2019. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Bui Thi Hong Vinh (left) and her mother-in-law prepare wrapping leaves for banh chung at their home in Ho Chi Minh City, January 2019. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Bui Thi Hong Vinh puts pork and ground mung beans onto rice to make banh chung. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

A woman puts pork and ground mung beans onto rice to make banh chung. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Bui Thi Hong Vinh wraps banh chung in Ho Chi Minh City, January 2019. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

A wrapped banh chung is pictured in Ho Chi Minh City, January 2019. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Banh chung are seen inside a pot. Photo: Ngoc Phuong & Linh To / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!