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Millet cake – a speciality of Hanoi – Food – Travel

Millet cake – a speciality of Hanoi – Food – Travel
Hanoi Times – Millet cake is considered a snack in leisure time. Tiny millets are carefully sifted, sucked into lime water and boiled until it becomes solid and finally, it is spread on a piece ofgrilled pan cake.
In the era of economy integration, in order to attach customers, normal dishes needs a distinguished trademark or at least a typical geographical guide. In other words, a dish must be enclosed with name of a certain person or a place to make a strong impression on customers. However, there is a kind of simple food whose name is not attached with any brand name but wins Hanoians’favor: millet cake.
Millet cake is considered a snack in leisure time. Tiny millets are carefully sifted, sucked into lime water and boiled until it becomes solid and finally, it is spread on a piece ofgrilled pan cake,
whose size is depends on the amount of money customers wants to buy. on the millet layer is green bean layer. Green bean is spoilt, brayed smoothly and then fisted tightly. Thin yellowish green bean slices fall loosely under the knife of the vendor. Finally, the top thin layer is sugar.
The vendor uses the back of knife blade to foldthe finished millet cake. This “special sandwich” should be served immediately. The cracked piece of pancake and crunched sugar make a funny sound in the mouth. The strange taste of millet sucked into lime water is softened by the sweet of sugar and the fragrance of green bean and pancake.
In a twinkling of the eye, the cake lies still in the stomach. After getting small change money, the vendor continues strolling to other street corner. Although the customer desires to have some more, he has no choice but lick his lips and wait until the vendor comes back next time, because millet cake is not sold at any fixed food stall or restaurant. It is roadside food.
A millet cake seller travels on every street crying out with the moderate sound so that those who want to buy would call .This simple food makes people crave for in such a modest way. This food actually should have been called “sugar green bean millet cake” but customers prefer the brief name “millet cake”, like close friends often call each other by nickname without the full name.-
 
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Millet cake – a speciality of Hanoi – Food – Travel

Millet cake – a speciality of Hanoi – Food – Travel Hanoi Times – Millet cake is considered a snack in leisure time. Tiny millets are carefu...

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“Banh Duc” – Food – Travel

“Banh Duc” – Food – Travel
Hanoi Times – “Banh duc” is a simple dish of poor people. The childhood of Nam Cao author was filled with a lot of memories about this dish. “Banh duc” is made of ground flour, kneaded lime and served with stewed goby and crab sauce. In the past, country girls crowded around the basket of “banh duc” and happily enjoyed this dish on a market-day.
Gradually, “banh duc” appears in the city. Together with Thanh Tri stuffed pancake, “banh duc” becomes very popular on Hanoi pavements and brings the inspiration to a lot of writers, for instance, Vu Bang author expressed his admiration for this dish. Compared to the price of other dishes, this one is much cheaper. only with VND 5000 to VND 7000 can people enjoy this dish.
“Banh duc” tastes strange; therefore, it can attract lots of dinners. A stand on
<address>Le Ngoc Han Street</address>
is very well-known for its special “banh duc”. Dinners can feel the softness and fragrance of this dish easily and satisfactorily serve it with meat stuffing, dill and sweet and sour sauce. This stall draws quite a lot of dinners because of not only its reasonable price but also its delicious taste. It opens from 3 to 5 or 6 p.m.
No matter how long the way is, many people from Ha Dong Province seek an opportunity to enjoy this food once.
“Banh duc” itself brings the taste of the country. Those who live far from their hometown long to try this dish once they come back to Hanoi.-
 
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“Banh Duc” – Food – Travel

“Banh Duc” – Food – Travel Hanoi Times – “Banh duc” is a simple dish of poor people. The childhood of Nam Cao author was filled with a lot o...

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“Nem chua” – Food – Travel

“Nem chua” – Food – Travel
Hanoi Times – “Nem chua” is a meat roll with a sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste and it is fermented by guava, fig leaves and powdered grilled rice.It is a specialty of Vietnam; however, no one knows exactly where “nem chua” came from.
“Nem chua” has its own flavor in each region and it appears in Lai Vung (DongThapProvince), Thu Duc (Ho Chi Minh City), Ninh Hoa (KhanhHoaProvince), Dong Ba (HueCity), ThanhHoaCity, Uoc Le Village (Ha Dong Province), Ve Village (Hanoi), Quang Yen (QuangNinhProvince).
Recipe :
“Nem chua” is made from minced pork, sliced pigskin and a mixture of powdered grilled rice, salt, pepper, sugar and garlic. These contents are mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with aromatic, fresh leaves into small, boxy rolls before being stored for the fermentation process for three to five days, and when it is ready it can be served direct or grilled on the charcoal stove. “Nem chua” is often served with chutneys or garlic and chilli soaked shrimp sauce or sometimes raw garlic. It is processed into “goi nem chua” (a dish made raw “nem chua” and vegetable) or “nem chua” grated salad and often sold in the pub.
Nowadays, people can enjoy other kinds of “nem chua” like grilled or fried ones on
<address>Hang Bong Street</address>
and 
<address>Hang Bo Street</address>
in Hanoi. All kinds of “nem chua” in Hanoi market are supplied by the workshops with famous brands, such as Hong Chien (Le Dai Hanh Street), Cong Chau ( 
<address>Tran Xuan Soan Street</address>
), Dinh Dung ( 
<address>Doi Cung Street</address>
). They are all originated from Uoc Le Village in Ha Dong Province.
 
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“Nem chua” – Food – Travel

“Nem chua” – Food – Travel Hanoi Times – “Nem chua” is a meat roll with a sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste and it is fermented by guava, f...

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Human chess in Vietnam – Festivals – Travel

Human chess in Vietnam – Festivals – Travel
The Hanoitimes – Whenever taking part in Vietnamese village and temple festivals, you will have a chance to watch a traditional game – human chess (“cờ người”), which is the favourite to a great deal of Viet people.
<div>Human chess is a variant of chess, often played by people who take on the roles of the various chess pieces (king, knight, bishop and so on). This is typically done on an outdoor field, with the squares of the board marked out on the grass. A move resulting in a piece being taken from the board will cause a choreographed fight to be played out to determine whether the piece is actually taken.
<div><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2nwKexg" /></div>
Human chess played in Vietnam follows the general rules of Chinese chess. The concept is recognizably similar to Western chess, but with a different-sized board and different pieces, including cannons and guards, each of them marked with a distinct Chinese character. In the game, there are 32 people in all. One side consists of 16 boys and the other of 16 girls. Each team wears a different colour.
The chessboard is marked by paint on flat ground. Village festivals usually use the yard in front of a communal house or pagoda or a nearby field. Organisers select players plus a referee well in advance. All should be children of families with a good reputation. The referee and the two generals should come from wealthier families so they can treat their players to food. As the selection finishes, the referee convenes the 32 people, describes the costumes, and tells each person how to move as a chess piece. Players may sit on chairs and wear hats if it is sunny. They either wear boards with the Chinese names of their pieces or carry sign poles with the characters. The generals wear traditional costumes. The two contestants who direct the pieces have their own seats outside the board.
The atmosphere often become bustling with the human chess competition. In the early morning, many people gather and wait for the competition. There is often three drum-rolls signalling the start of the game. Two players in Vietnamese traditional dresses appeared, sitting on two high platforms behind chessmen. The first player starts the game by shouting and a chessman left the position to perform martial arts techniques before reaching another position on the chessboard. The second player’s turn, he also shouts and his chessman moves and performs beautiful skills of martial arts. They in turn play the game. If one of them lost his chessmen, these have to leave the chessboard. The spectators triumphantly cheer whenever there is a nice performance, making chessmen try their best to show their skills. After nearly two hours, the human chess competition finishes. However, the spectators often do not want to go home, they would like the organising board to continue the game.
Tet holiday is coming soon and the human chess is often held on this meaningful occasion. Why don’t you participate in and enjoy the warm atmostphere? Surely that you will be attracted by the game’s quietude and delicacy, totally in contrast to some other games practiced at festivals.
</div>
 
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Human chess in Vietnam – Festivals – Travel

Human chess in Vietnam – Festivals – Travel The Hanoitimes – Whenever taking part in Vietnamese village and temple festivals, you will have...

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Da Lat flower festival scheduled in December – Festivals – Travel

Da Lat flower festival scheduled in December – Festivals – Travel
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2nZMgsA" width="500" />
Illustration photo
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The festival will coincide with the first Viet Nam-UNESCO Heritage Festival 2013, the 120th anniversary of founding of Da Lat and the announcement of the 2014 Central Highlands – Da Lat National Tourism Year.
The Central Highlands city will be embellished with the most beautiful flowers. Hundreds of basket of flowers and plants will be on display at major tourism sites including Xuan Huong Lake, Prenn waterfall, Le Dai Hanh flower road and Ong Dao bridge.
Especially, a flower and stone arrangement inspired by Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago will appear in the fifth Da Lat Flower Festival.
An impressive music space themed “Hoa Binh Night Street – Da Lat” will be held with street art performances and rock music as well as DJ shows. Meanwhile, “Da Lat – Love stories” program will perform immortal love music songs.
The first Viet Nam-UNESCO Heritage Festival 2013 will draw the participation of 10 ASEAN member states and its four partners including China, India, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Da Lat is known as one of the major tourist centers in Viet Nam, possessing a system of old mansions with unique architecture and culture. With poetic beauty, friendly and hospitable people, the city attracts a lot of domestic and foreign tourists.
According to the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province has more than 60 attractions opened free of charge to the public, which are natural landscapes, ancient architectural works, religious establishments, craft villages, indigenous villages and archaeological sites.
 
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Da Lat flower festival scheduled in December – Festivals – Travel

Da Lat flower festival scheduled in December – Festivals – Travel Illustration photo The festival will coincide with the first Viet Nam-U...

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Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival – Festivals – Travel

Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival – Festivals – Travel
The Hanoitimes – Vietnamese traditional martial arts have been learnt in 100 countries and territories by hundreds of thousands of followers. It is now one of the world’s most popular sports.
<div>Central Binh Dinh Province is the cradle of Vietnam’s martial arts and recognised as the birthplace of traditional martial arts in Vietnam from the time of the Tay Son-Binh Dinh martial arts school in the 18th century. It has proudly continued the tradition of producing some of the country’s best talent in the discipline.
The traditional martial arts festival begins with performances at Quy Nhon Town, the capital of Binh Dinh, and surrounding areas including King Quang Trung Museum, Hoang De (Emperor) Citadel and Nhon Hoi Economic Zone – which is symbolic of central Vietnam’s economic development.
Spectacular martial arts displays
With the will of a free independent country and their invincible patriotism, the Vietnamese have developed a strong fighting spirit, which can be seen in the decisive wars : “To escape from the humiliating misery and hardships of slavery. They have to win the enemies”
The Vietnamese traditional martial arts which is very rich in forms, was developed based on the bloody experiences acquired during the courageous fights to protect their country and people .
Binh Dinh Province is famous for Vo Tay Son, also known as Vo Binh Dinh, an ancient martial art that was developed in the area. Ten out of 11 districts in the province have established martial arts training centres with nearly 100 clubs. The provincial traditional martial arts association manages 80 masters and attracts approximately 1,000 students in regular training courses.
Coming to Binh Dinh and attending the festival, you can join local teams and witness the showcase for their talent in martial arts, as well as Binh Dinh’s scenic beauty and distinctive, appealing culture. Participants demonstrated their various performances at the villages, allowing everyone to imbibe the unique aspects of martial arts in different cultures.
Moreover, the participants can also visit the province’s martial arts villages such as An Thai and An Vinh, where they can learn about the time-honored arts from successors of martial arts forefathers. The festival features enthralling events including battle drumming, international martial arts competitions and a beauty pageant with some of Vietnam’s most dangerous women.
Battle drum
Tay Son battle drumming has always been close to locals hearts. It is said that during battle, Nguyen Hue, who later became Emperor Quang Trung, used a 12 drum system, which symbolized Asia’s 12 zodiac signs, to give battle commands, boost his soldiers’ morale and convert his enemies to good causes.
According to Tran Dinh Ky, director of King Quang Trung museum in Quy Nhon Town, Tay Son battle drumming is a special genre which blends military and artistic elements and is based on the traditional sound systems such as ho, xang and xe.
It is extremely difficult to express the “soul” of Tay Son battle drumming, which explains why few artists can perform it well.
A member of the King Quang Trung museum’s martial music troupe, Hoang Mai, a girl in her early twenties, has been selected as the main festival drummer and an icon to popularize the genre.
</div>
 
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Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival – Festivals – Travel

Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival – Festivals – Travel The Hanoitimes – Vietnamese traditional martial arts have been learnt in ...

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The noodle dishes bring the breath of Hanoi

The noodle dishes bring the breath of Hanoi
<div>The Hanoitimes – Bun Cha, bun Thang, bun Oc… the noodle dishes when eat, you’ll remember about Hanoi.</div>
<div>
<div>Bun Cha
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Bun Cha - one of the most streets food popular in Hanoi" src="http://bit.ly/2nKXAH9" width="500" />
Bun Cha – one of the most streets food popular in Hanoi.
</div>
Bun Cha was only popular in Hanoi, because in other cities, even Saigon, people had never heard about it. After the visit of former U.S. President Barack Obama to Vietnam in 2016, bun Cha (noodles with grilled pork) stirred up a social media frenzy, and now the dish is renowned among international visitors.
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Former President of U.S Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain eat at a bun cha restaurant in Hanoi." src="http://bit.ly/2nO0GeW" width="500" />
Former President of U.S Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain eat at a bun cha restaurant in Hanoi.
</div>
Unlike other favorites that contain secret spices like Pho, the ingredients for bun Cha are easy to find and the recipe is not that complicated. All you need is sweet and sour smoky broth, barbecued minced pork patties and soft white rice noodles, along with a lettuce, cilantro and herb garnish. 
Bun Dau mam tom (Fermented shrimp paste with fried tofu and rice vermicelli)
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Bun Dau." src="http://bit.ly/2nL95OO" width="500" />
Bun Dau.
</div>
Bun Dau is one of the most popular morning street foods in Hanoi. in the old quarter. If eating right on the street, you will be served bún đậu in a medium-size tray, with everything on it! Just squeeze some drops of kumquat to your sauce, dip rice noodles, piece of tofu or ham into the sauce, don’t forget the herbs! 
The simple combination of various flavors: hot, tasty tofu, cold, fresh noodles, strong, spicy, sour, a bit sweet dip sauce and nicely smell from herbal Vietnamese balm…makes bun Dau very unique in the cold weather in Hanoi. 
Bun Thang 
Bun Thang originally from North, but already found a new home in many places in South, Vietnam. in Saigon where has been considered as the largest food hub. Easy to find bún thang around the city.
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Bun Thang." src="http://bit.ly/2nO2vbG" width="500" />
Bun Thang.
</div>
In Hanoi in the old days bun Thang traditionally prepared on the fourth day of our Lunar New Year, when we have a meal to see off our ancestor. All the left-overs in the kitchen from ham, chicken, shrimp, pork to some veggie have been used for this bún thang! That’s why everything has been cut into shreds! 
Today bun Thang seems simplified a lot, from the ingredients to the cooking process. in South, where is far away from the origin place. Bun Thang requires long preparation. How to keep the soup clear, how to make thin omelette, to cut it and Vietnamese pork ham into super thin shreds. Otherwise our color picture would look nicer with red shrimp floss, yellow egg shreds, pink pork ham strips, green Vietnamese mint and ivory chicken floss. 
Soup for bun Thang is chicken soup base, to keep it clear during cooking process would take time and patience to do so. Among different kinds of soup for rice noodles I probably prefer the taste of chicken soup than the others, pork or beef. 
Bun Rieu
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Bun Rieu." src="http://bit.ly/2nL8fBD" width="500" />
Bun Rieu.
</div>
Bun Rieu is a traditional Vietnamese meat rice vermicelli soup, this dish is well-known in the country and in the world. Bun Rieu cua is served with tomato broth and topped with freshwater crab. 
In this dish, various freshwater paddy crabs are used, including the brown paddy crab found in rice paddies in Vietnam. The crabs are cleaned by being placed in clean water to remove dirt and sand. The crabs are pounded with the shell on into a fine paste. This paste is strained and the crab liquid is a base for the soup along with tomato. The crab residue is used as the basis for crab cakes. 
This dish is rich in nutrition: calcium from the ground crab shells, iron from the congealed pig’s blood, and vitamins and fiber from the vegetables. Bun Rieu has a fresh sour, so Vietnamese like to enjoy it in summer. There are many restaurants in Vietnam that sell this dish. 
Bun Oc (snail vermicelli soup) 
Bun Oc is a dish of Hanoi, Vietnam. Roasted snails, ốc luộc, may be eaten first as an appetizer. Snail congee is called chao oc, and canh oc chuối đậu, is a thin snail soup with green banana, fried tofu.
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Bun Oc (snail vermicelli soup)." src="http://bit.ly/2nO6B3F" width="500" />
Bun Oc (snail vermicelli soup).
</div>
To prepare a delicious bun Oc, makers have to be careful to choose a good snail that is very fat and not soaked in the water too long. Then they choose the best bun (rice noodle). Spices for bun oc include many things, including tomato, vinegar, oil, pepper, salt, sugar and many kinds of aromatic vegetables together with salad and banana flowers in small slices. 
The method of making bun Oc is rather simple like bun oc in other places where makers have to boil the snail first then take out the snail meat and fry it with oil, fish sauce and sugar. The soup will be boiled with pig bone to increase the sweetness and added with tomato and main spices.</div>
</div>
<div>Ha Phuong</div>
 
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The noodle dishes bring the breath of Hanoi

The noodle dishes bring the breath of Hanoi The Hanoitimes – Bun Cha, bun Thang, bun Oc… the noodle dishes when eat, you’ll remember about ...

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