The legend of Banh Chung and Banh Giay (Bánh Chưng, Bánh Giầy) is a Vietnamese folk tale that explains the origin and meaning of two traditional cakes that are eaten during the Lunar New Year (Tet Holiday) in Vietnam. Banh Chung is a square-shaped cake made of glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, wrapped in banana leaves or dong leaves. Banh Giay is a round-shaped cake made of glutinous rice dough, sometimes filled with beans or meat, and cooked on a griddle. The legend goes as follows:
Long ago, there was a king named Hung Vuong, who had many sons. He wanted to choose one of them to be his successor, so he decided to test their skills and wisdom. He asked each of his sons to bring him the most delicious and meaningful food to offer to their ancestors on Tet. The sons went to different places to look for the best ingredients and recipes. Some went to the mountains to hunt for wild animals and fruits. Some went to the sea to catch fish and shellfish. Some went to the market to buy exotic spices and herbs.
However, the youngest son, named Lang Lieu, was poor and humble. He had no money or resources to find fancy food. He decided to use the most common and basic ingredient in Vietnam: rice. He thought of his ancestors, who had worked hard to cultivate the land and grow rice. He wanted to honor them by making something simple but meaningful with rice. He came up with two kinds of cakes: one was square and the other was round.
He explained to his father that the square cake symbolized the earth, and the round cake symbolized the sky. He said that he wanted to express his gratitude and respect to both heaven and earth, and to show the harmony and balance of nature and life. The king was very impressed and touched by Lang Lieu’s cakes. He tasted them and found them delicious and satisfying. He praised Lang Lieu for his creativity and sincerity, and declared him the winner of the contest. He named the square cake banh Chung, which means “cake of loyalty”, and the round cake banh Giay, which means “cake of prosperity”. He also announced that Lang Lieu would be the next king of Vietnam
Since then, banh Chung and banh Giay have become the traditional and essential food for Tet in Vietnam. They are made and eaten by Vietnamese people of all regions and backgrounds, as a way of celebrating their culture and identity, and of remembering their ancestors and origins.
The legend of Banh Chung and Banh Giay serves as a heartwarming reminder of the importance of family, tradition, and respect for our natural world. And with each bite of these delicious rice cakes, we connect with generations past and the values that continue to shape Vietnamese culture.
Vietnam warmly welcomes you to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine and culture and to make your trip go smoothly as the very first step, make your plan into reality by obtaining a Vietnam visa at https://www.vietnam-evisa.org.