Rustic Banh Xi On of Lang Son - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

Ms. Hoang Thi Dong, Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city, performs the steps of making banh xi on.

Xi on is a national language, referring to a soft, round, and plump cake. The name seems to represent the shape of the small, round cake, carrying the spirit of attachment and the wish for fulfillment in the lives of the Tay and Nung people. According to the people, no one knows when the "xi on" cake was created, but it is known that this cake has been passed down through many generations. In the past, when life was still difficult and arduous, people created this cake to "treat" guests on occasions such as weddings, holidays, and Tet. Now, as life becomes more and more developed, many people make this cake to sell every day, serving the needs of many customers.

Unlike other types of cakes such as: gai cake, rom cake..., xi on cake has its own characteristics from the ingredients to the way of wrapping. The main ingredients to make the cake are sticky rice, green beans, white beans or peanut salt. In particular, the cake is wrapped in banana leaves, this is also the secret to keeping the cake fragrant and keeping the cake's elasticity for the longest time.

To learn more about how to make banh xi on, we had the opportunity to visit the house of Ms. Hoang Thi Dong, Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city, who has more than 20 years of experience making banh xi on. She shared: Since I was a child, my mother and grandmother taught me how to make traditional cakes of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Until now, I still preserve and make a living by making cakes. Unlike other types of cakes, to make a delicious and flavorful banh xi on, the baker must be meticulous from choosing sticky rice to wrapping the cake. The sticky rice I usually choose is Trang Dinh yellow flower sticky rice, with round, large grains so that when finished, the cake will be soft and fragrant.

Mrs. Dong added that the cake making process requires patience and care. “First, the sticky rice must be washed, soaked for about 8 hours, then drained and steamed for about 1 hour. When the rice is cooked, pour it out and pound it right away. If it cools down, it will not become a cake. In the past, I used to pound the cake manually by hand, each time it took about half an hour, which was very tiring. About 5 years ago, I invested in a pounding machine, shortening the time to 15 minutes. The process of making the cake filling also requires great care. Green beans and white beans must be soaked for 4 hours, the shells removed, steamed, then pounded and stir-fried with scallion oil to make it fragrant. In addition, according to customer demand, I also make peanut and sesame filling for dipping. Banana leaves must also be washed and dried one by one. Currently, on average, I sell about 100 to 120 cakes a day, at a price of 4 to 5 thousand VND/cake, bringing my family an income of about 400 thousand VND/day.”

After completing all the steps, the baker uses the dough to shape the shell, then puts the filling in the middle and rolls it into a ball. The white rice cakes, combined with the sweet, rich flavor of the filling, are a harmonious combination of ingredients that create a unique cake with its own flavor.

Ms. Hoang Thi Chi, Hoang Dong commune, Lang Son city shared: Having the opportunity to try the Xi On cake in early January 2025 made by Ms. Hoang Thi Dong, I felt that this was a very delicious and familiar cake, not greasy after eating like other cakes. Both adults and children in the family praised it as delicious. After enjoying the Xi On cake, every time my family has a party or death anniversary, I order from 30 to 50 cakes for my family and guests to enjoy.

According to our survey, there are currently about 10 households making banh xi on in Lang Son city. Not only is it a traditional dish, nowadays, banh xi on is also favored and sought after by many customers outside the province. Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared her feelings after enjoying the cake: In 2025, I had the opportunity to go to Lang Son for work. After enjoying many specialties, I was especially impressed with banh xi on. With a unique name and a fragrant, chewy taste, not greasy, more importantly, it feels warm, like sharing a part of the culture of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Since then, every now and then, I ask my family in Lang Son to order dozens of cakes to eat and give as gifts.

In the flow of modernity, when many cultural features are gradually fading away, many people are still maintaining and preserving the unique traditional cake, imbued with national cultural identity. Not only appearing on the tray of offerings but also present in culinary competitions, cultural events as a way for the Tay and Nung people to tell their stories in the most familiar way. The skillful hands, the meticulousness in each step of choosing ingredients of the people have created a unique cake, imbued with the flavor of the homeland. And perhaps, it is the fragrant, rustic, and rustic aftertaste that has left an unforgettable impression on those who have enjoyed this Xi On cake.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/dan-da-banh-xi-on-xu-lang-5047489.html