More than 100 different kinds of Vietnamese traditional cakes that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also mouth-watering are being offered to visitors at the Vietnamese Traditional Cake Festival held in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho.

Visitors to the eighth annual cuisine event, themed “Flavors of the Southern Region” and runs from April 12 to 16, will be treated to a variety of original traditional cakes and their 400 variations from the Kinh, Hoa, Khmer, and Cham ethnic people living in the Mekong Delta region.

The event houses more than 220 stalls selling such delicacies as banh bo thot not (steamed palm sugar rice cake), banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and pork), banh bo dua (coconut-flavored sponge cake), banh u (small glutinous pyramid shape cake), and banh duc (rice cake cooked with lime juice), to name just a few.

Other stalls will also display dishes from Japan, South Korea, India, Italy, France, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Different kinds of cakes are displayed at a food stall at the eighth Vietnamese Traditional Cake Festival in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Lan Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Before its opening on Friday evening, artisans and businesses from Can Tho and 18 provinces and cities across the country started firing up the stoves at their respective food stalls to make delicious cakes for diners.

On Saturday morning, despite the hot weather that is baking the southern region, visitors toured around the food stalls to watch the artisans preparing ingredients and making the dishes.

Visitors queued in lines and moved little by little towards the food stalls to buy cakes before enjoying them at a separate area arranged by the organizers.

Visitors buy cakes at a food stall at the eighth Vietnamese Traditional Cake Festival in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Lan Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Le Tan Loi, a frequent visitor to the annual Vietnamese Traditional Cake Festival, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he comes to the event every year ever since he become a student at the Can Tho University of Economics.

“There are fewer events for people to join in Can Tho than in Ho Chi Minh City, so whenever there is a festival here, I always ask my friends to come with me,” Loi said.

“You can try a lot of food here, and also get to know more kinds of dishes that you might have not known before,” the Can Tho University of Economics student added.

The eighth Vietnamese Traditional Cake Festival is taking place at the Can Tho Exhibition Fair and Trade - Investment Promotion Centre at 108A Le Loi Street in Ninh Kieu District, with free entrance.

In addition to the food stalls selling newly-delivered cakes, there are also several other activities for people to spend their time at the event.

A competition on making southern traditional cakes is held on April 13 with the participation of 83 artisans, who will show the making of 70 types of traditional cakes.

A talk seeking markets for traditional cakes and a performance showing 100 ao ba ba (traditional shirts of southern women) will be held on April 16.

Banh gung – a cake made from flour, eggs and gingers. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre

Sticky rice served with durian. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre

Banh beo – a central Vietnamese cake made from a combination of rice flour and tapioca flour stuffed with dried shrimps, crispy pork skin, scallion oil, and dipping sauce. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre

Banh da lon – a Vietnamese steamed layer cake made from tapioca starch, rice flour, mashed mung beans, taro, or durian, coconut milk and/or water, and sugar. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre

Banh bo mat ong – a honey-flavored sponge cake. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre

Banh xeo Nam Bo – a southern Vietnamese savory fried pancake made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder, stuffed with seafood and ground meat, and served with veggies. Photo: Quan Nam / Tuoi Tre