Legend has it that in the reign of the 18th Hung King, General Phan Tay Nhac was assigned to fight the enemies. When his troops went to Thi Cam village, he ordered the organisation of a cooking contest to select capable locals to work in logistics to serve the army (Photo: VNA) 
Thi Cam villagers organise the rice cooking contest every year to express their gratitude to the general (Photo: VNA) 
Participating teams are ready for the competition (Photo: VNA) 
Several tools are needed during the competition such as rice-pounding pestles, mortars and rice straw, among others (Photo: VNA) 
During the contest, teams have to husk rice, fetch water, make fire and cook rice. A jury comprised of village elders mark contestants’ works and select the winners of the contest (Photo: VNA) 
The contest begins at 11 am and lasts about an hour (Photo) 
(Photo: VNA) 
(Photo: VNA) 
They try to complete the contest in the shortest time (Photo: VNA) 
The rice pot is kept surrounded by burning straw (Photo: VNA) 
(Photo: VNA) 
(Photo: VNA) 
After the competition, participating teams provide rice for villagers as a wish for a prosperous and happy new year (Photo: VNA) 
(Photo: VNA) 
(Photo: VNA) VNA
