Trade villages in the northern province of Ha Nam are bustling with activity for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
The most famous of the craft villages numbering hundreds are Dam village and Phu Van flower village in Phu Ly city, and Dai Hoang village in Ly Nhan district.
Dai Hoang is an ancient village in the Hoa Cau commune of Ly Nhan district. It is known for its famous poached dish served in clay pots, which is highly sought-after during Tet.
The braised fish, which has “solid meat but soft bones”, is a village specialty.
According to villagers, the fish must be cooked in earthenware pots from central Nghe An or Thanh Hoa province to make the dish correctly. The juice added to the pot must be made from ground freshwater crab following a recipe passed down through generations.
Specifications are even made about the cooking fire; the wood should be sourced from longan trees to ensure the unique flavour resulting from a half day of simmering.
The key is to mix the ingredients and adjust the fire just right to allow the fish to simmer for 14 to 16 hours. Experienced cooks can tell how much water is left in the pot just by listening to the sound of it boiling and whether it’s salty enough just by smelling it.
The dish has brought fame to the village, becoming very popular across Vietnam. Today, many of the villagers are involved in this trade, selling their product in domestic and international markets.
In last days of the lunar year, people in Dam village in Phu Ly city are feverishly cooking Chung Cake – a typical savoury cake for the Lunar New Year festival – to meet domestic consumption and export during the largest holiday of the year.
Dam is famous for its traditional Chung Cake, made from sticky rice, green beans, and pork. The trade turns the village into a popular destination for connoisseurs.
Hoang Van Hien, a villager, said Dam village’s Chung makers only use Hai Hau sticky rice and high-quality green beans for the cake, which is then boiled in rainwater.
Locals said the village boils cakes every day from the 15th until the 30th day of the last lunar month. Thousands of cakes are brought to the market each day.
As in other craft villages, the famous Phu Van flower village has an exciting atmosphere as Tet nears.
Traders from different localities nationwide are flocking to the village to find flowers for Tet, while locals busy themselves caring for the flowers.
Phu Van is the flower hub for Ha Nam and the neighbouring provinces of Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, and Thai Binh.
The village is also well-known for its kumquat trees, valued at millions of VND.
Almost all trade villages in Ha Nam have vibrant atmospheres in anticipation of the New Year. The boost in business contributes to generating stable jobs for a large number of local labourers and improving local income.-VNA
The most famous of the craft villages numbering hundreds are Dam village and Phu Van flower village in Phu Ly city, and Dai Hoang village in Ly Nhan district.
Dai Hoang is an ancient village in the Hoa Cau commune of Ly Nhan district. It is known for its famous poached dish served in clay pots, which is highly sought-after during Tet.
The braised fish, which has “solid meat but soft bones”, is a village specialty.
According to villagers, the fish must be cooked in earthenware pots from central Nghe An or Thanh Hoa province to make the dish correctly. The juice added to the pot must be made from ground freshwater crab following a recipe passed down through generations.
Specifications are even made about the cooking fire; the wood should be sourced from longan trees to ensure the unique flavour resulting from a half day of simmering.
The key is to mix the ingredients and adjust the fire just right to allow the fish to simmer for 14 to 16 hours. Experienced cooks can tell how much water is left in the pot just by listening to the sound of it boiling and whether it’s salty enough just by smelling it.
The dish has brought fame to the village, becoming very popular across Vietnam. Today, many of the villagers are involved in this trade, selling their product in domestic and international markets.
In last days of the lunar year, people in Dam village in Phu Ly city are feverishly cooking Chung Cake – a typical savoury cake for the Lunar New Year festival – to meet domestic consumption and export during the largest holiday of the year.
Dam is famous for its traditional Chung Cake, made from sticky rice, green beans, and pork. The trade turns the village into a popular destination for connoisseurs.
Hoang Van Hien, a villager, said Dam village’s Chung makers only use Hai Hau sticky rice and high-quality green beans for the cake, which is then boiled in rainwater.
Locals said the village boils cakes every day from the 15th until the 30th day of the last lunar month. Thousands of cakes are brought to the market each day.
As in other craft villages, the famous Phu Van flower village has an exciting atmosphere as Tet nears.
Traders from different localities nationwide are flocking to the village to find flowers for Tet, while locals busy themselves caring for the flowers.
Phu Van is the flower hub for Ha Nam and the neighbouring provinces of Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, and Thai Binh.
The village is also well-known for its kumquat trees, valued at millions of VND.
Almost all trade villages in Ha Nam have vibrant atmospheres in anticipation of the New Year. The boost in business contributes to generating stable jobs for a large number of local labourers and improving local income.-VNA
