Traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes: Preserving the spirit of the countryside, winning over young people.

Without straying from her roots, Ms. Tran Thi Le Uyen has given Southern Vietnamese folk cakes a new look by harmoniously combining traditional values with a contemporary feel.

Báo Thanh niên•04/06/2026

Ms. Uyen (32 years old, residing in Ninh Kieu Ward, Can Tho City) recounts that, driven by her passion for traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes, she constantly learns techniques from experienced artisans. After each lesson, she continuously experiments to find her own path, blending traditional values with contemporary creativity.

Giving a 'new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 1.

Ms. Uyen "gives a new look" to many types of traditional cakes.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Starting with just pork skin cake, beef cake, and taro cake, Ms. Uyen has now developed more than 20 lines of traditional cakes with diverse and unique flavors and designs, such as cassava and banana cake, durian pork skin cake, roasted pork skin cake, etc.

'Giving a new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 2.

Ms. Uyen created jobs for 20 employees.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

"Traditional pork skin cake only has pandan leaf and mung bean filling. Later, I added colors from purple basil and butterfly pea flowers to make the cake more visually appealing. Every durian season, I create durian-flavored pork skin cake to suit the tastes of young people; or taro cake shaped like roasted pig for a unique look, or cassava and banana cake shaped like flowers to increase customer enjoyment," Ms. Uyen shared.

'Giving a new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 3.

To date, she has developed more than 20 lines of traditional Vietnamese cakes with diverse flavors and unique designs.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Besides focusing on product quality, Ms. Uyen also leverages social media to spread the story of traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes. Videos and images documenting the cake-making process and the cultural value behind each dish have attracted the attention of many viewers, helping to bring the products closer to customers.

'Giving a new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 4.

Rice cake shaped like a pearl shell containing a pearl.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Currently, Ms. Uyen's traditional cake business has expanded to two branches in Can Tho, attracting a large number of customers, both locals and tourists. The number of customers increases significantly on weekends and holidays.

The development of the facility not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to creating livelihoods for about 20 workers, mostly women and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Here, they receive vocational training, have a stable income, and are gradually improving their lives.

Giving a 'new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 5.

Taro cake with ribbed texture, shaped like roasted pork.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

After trying the cakes at the shop for the first time, Mr. Tran Minh Khoa, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "I was quite surprised because the traditional cakes here have a very modern and beautiful appearance while retaining the traditional flavor. The durian-flavored pork skin cake and taro cake are especially impressive in their shapes."

Meanwhile, Pham Ngoc Han (21 years old, residing in Ninh Kieu ward) said: "Previously, I rarely ate traditional cakes because I thought they were a bit monotonous, but the products here have beautiful colors and diverse flavors, making them very accessible to young people. I often buy them as gifts for friends."

'Giving a new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 6.

Pork skin cake

PHOTO: DUY TAN

According to Ms. Uyen, making traditional cakes requires a lot of effort and meticulous attention to detail in every step. Despite the hard work, her greatest joy comes from receiving appreciation and praise from customers. This is also the motivation for her to continue creating and staying committed to the craft.

'Giving a new look' to traditional Southern Vietnamese cakes - Photo 7.

Rice cake

PHOTO: DUY TAN

"Making cakes by hand is much more difficult, especially traditional cakes, because it requires meticulous attention to detail in every step. But when customers love my products, I feel that all the hard work is worthwhile. I hope to continue creating more new types of cakes so that traditional cakes can reach younger generations," Ms. Uyen expressed.

Through perseverance and a love for traditional cuisine, Ms. Uyen has gradually elevated Southern Vietnamese folk cakes beyond the realm of a familiar local delicacy. Today, the products are not only popular with locals but also attract many tourists who seek them out when visiting Can Tho.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/banh-dan-gian-nam-bo-giu-hon-que-chinh-phuc-gioi-tre-185260604095704377.htm