Dong leaves from Trang Cat Village are favored for the being soft as well as having catchy color and odor, thanks to the local soil physical properties. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhIn addition to Banh Chung, Trang Cat’s Dong leaves are also used to wrap Banh Day (round cake made of sticky rice flour), pork sausage, and gifts, not only during Tet but also all year round. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhPlanted once, Dong trees can be harvested ‘forever’ as when the leaves are cut, the new ones will grow. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhThe farming of Dong leaves has been practiced by the people in Trang Cat since the village was founded and passed down from generation to generation. About 90% of the villagers plant the tree. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhDong leaf is an indispensable part when wrapping banh chung. Dong leaves and giang strings have to be washed carefully in order to preserve the taste of the cake. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhTrang Cat dong leaves are very popular for their beautiful natural colour, as well as long, soft, big and round leaves. Wrapping banh chung with these leaves will give an eye-catching green colour to the cake. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhDong leaf is an indispensable part when wrapping banh chung. Dong leaves and giang strings have to be washed carefully in order to preserve the taste of the cake. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn AnhTrang Cat Village is famous among many villages and provinces in the northern region thanks to its 600-year history of planting “dong” leaves. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn Anh
In the last days of the lunar year, the traditional craft village of Trang Cat (Thanh Oai, Hanoi) is bustling with local farmers busy harvesting dong leaves for making chung cake for the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. As Tet draws near, Trang Cat villagers enter their main harvesting season of dong leaves (Stachyphrynium placentarium) – used as a wrapping for various food items in Vietnamese cuisine, especially chung cake (glutinous square rice cake) – the traditional and indispensable Vietnamese dish during Tet. Chung cake is a traditional Vietnamese cake which is made from glutinous rice, mung bean, pork and other ingredients. VNA Photo: Phạm Tuấn Anh
