Pounding glutinous rice cake contest adds festive flair to Mu Cang Chai

Happy Vietnam

The fire must be strong so the water boils evenly, creating ample steam to make the sticky rice soft and well-cooked. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
The organizing committee evaluates the pounding sticky rice cake (banh giay) competition. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Each member has a role, with female team members preparing leaves to wrap the sticky rice cakes after pounding. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
To make soft and delicious banh giay, it requires the strength of strong young men to pound the rice. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Each team member performs a specific task, all striving to pound the sticky rice finely in time to meet the competition’s deadline. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Banh giay is made through the skillful hands of Mong women combined with the strength of men during the pounding process. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA
Pounding glutinous rice cake contest adds festive flair to Mu Cang Chai
Drumbeats echoed across the highlands as the traditional glutinous rice cake pounding contest burst into life at the Mu Cang Chai commune stadium in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai. Photo: Quy Trung – VNA