Binh Dinh rice paper

(GLO) - Rice paper can be found anywhere in the country, including in Vietnamese communities abroad. However, for some reason, I keep thinking about and remembering Binh Dinh rice paper. Perhaps it's because nowhere else is rice paper as diverse and suitable for any occasion as in Binh Dinh.

A shop specializing in Binh Dinh-style rice paper on Nguyen Trai Street, Pleiku City. Photo: Nguyen Vo

Binh Dinh rice paper is made from various ingredients. Besides the common rice flour, it can also be made from wheat flour, sweet potato flour, or even wheat flour, and can be combined with sesame seeds or shredded coconut. People in Binh Dinh make rice paper in many different sizes and thicknesses, suitable for various ways of eating. Rice paper can be grilled, dipped in water, used to wrap spring rolls, eaten with vegetables, meat, shrimp, eggs, or simply dipped in fish sauce.

I don't know exactly when rice paper first appeared. According to local legends, rice paper was once part of Quang Trung's army's swift march north to fight the Qing army on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year in the year of Ky Dau (1789). People from Binh Dinh, whether at home or far from home, want to preserve their culinary traditions. Perhaps that's why rice paper appears in almost every aspect of life.

A traditional offering or memorial service in Binh Dinh would be incomplete without rice paper. The rice paper used for offerings is grilled evenly on both sides, ensuring no part is burnt or undercooked. After the offering, the act of breaking the rice paper when serving the food is also very special, requiring carefulness and reverence to ensure it is broken into even pieces without crumbling. I often see the elderly, especially the clan leaders, placing the rice paper on their heads to break it, a tradition they say is "done in the past" to show respect.

People in Binh Dinh eat rice paper rolls regularly and in all circumstances. If you have steamed fish, boiled meat, or fried eggs wrapped in rice paper and dipped in fish sauce or fermented fish paste, and you gather with family or friends to eat, it's wonderful – simple yet heartwarming.

Rice paper is often a quick snack to stave off hunger. In the morning, people just dip a few sheets in water to eat before going to school or work; throughout the day, they can grab a few sheets whenever they feel hungry. Because of its common use, almost every household in Binh Dinh has several bundles of rice paper. If unexpected guests arrive during mealtime, they can simply dip a few sheets of rice paper, wrap them with vegetables and eggs, and that's it. The people of Binh Dinh are hardworking, simple, and unpretentious, so their eating habits reflect the region's characteristics.

I didn't grow up in Binh Dinh, but the area where I live is mostly inhabited by people from Binh Dinh who came to settle and start businesses. They still maintain the traditional lifestyle and dishes of their hometown. After the rice harvest, the rice paper ovens start to light up. The ovens are covered with mud, just big enough to fit a pot with a clean white cloth stretched over it.

When the water boils, the rice paper maker carefully pours ladlefuls of batter onto a cloth and quickly spreads it thinly from the inside out into a circular shape. Once the batter is cooked and the rice paper is formed, a large chopstick is used to lift it out and place it neatly on a drying rack to dry. Rice paper needs to be made on a sunny day to ensure it is dry, crispy, and fragrant. In the past, before electricity and with limited technology, making rice paper was mainly done manually and heavily dependent on the weather.

In Binh Dinh and Gia Lai – areas where many people originally from Binh Dinh live – rice paper is ubiquitous, found everywhere from large and small markets to grocery stores and supermarkets. People in Binh Dinh have a saying: "Wherever you go, remember to bring some money with you in case you break a piece of rice paper and need to compensate someone." This is a piece of advice for future generations, but it also demonstrates the widespread use of rice paper.

This is also one of the gifts that people from Binh Dinh often give to relatives and friends. Students studying far from home also bring along rice paper to eat whenever they are hungry and to satisfy their homesickness. Rice paper can be bought anywhere, but Binh Dinh rice paper has its own unique flavor, and that's why people from Binh Dinh still prefer to eat their hometown rice paper.

With the cultural exchange between different regions, Binh Dinh rice paper has become available almost everywhere, both domestically and internationally. However, eating rice paper the Binh Dinh way remains a unique cultural feature and an indescribable source of pride for this "land of the Central Highlands".

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/banh-trang-binh-dinh-post324023.html