Weaving the "country soul" from Southern folk cakes

VHO - The flow of regional culture and society highlights a Southern region that is both rustic and modern: Traditional cakes were "woven" into a fashion language by designer Nguyen Minh Cong in the Mien Cu Lao exhibition, while Ho Chi Minh City paid tribute to the generation of artists who lived and created in the Southern Central Bureau Base Area. Two slices of the past and present intersect, affirming the vitality of the river identity, awakening community memories, opening the way for creative economy and inspiring the preservation of the "countryside soul" in today's life.

Designer Nguyen Minh Cong and his designs at the opening night of "Cu Lao Region"

Traditional cakes on stage

Amidst the hustle and bustle of contemporary fashion , designer Nguyen Minh Cong chose an emotional path, returning to the land of memories to tell the story of the “countryside soul” of the South through the language of sophisticated tailoring. After many years of nurturing, when he was “ripe enough in technique and creative thinking”, he elevated familiar traditional cakes such as banh xeo, banh da lon, banh tam khoai cassava, chè sương sa hat luoc… into splendid “haute couture” creations. There, catwalk aesthetics intersect with local cuisine, transforming the flavors of the homeland into regional cultural symbols told through fashion materials.

Miet Cu Lao is not just a show but a multi-sensory cultural slice of the Mekong Delta, where community memories are awakened through the countryside, roofs, wharves, and Tet markets. The orange-red tones evoke the alluvial sunset, creating a setting that is both poetic and elegant, yet rustic and intimate; the experience is staged like a “symphony of senses” leading viewers through layers of emotions.

Memory Zone displays 13 designs between old houses, banana gardens, and suspension bridges; Ancient Kitchen invites you to enjoy traditional cakes and lotus tea to feel the warmth of a Vietnamese family. The exhibition is open free of charge at the Southern Women's Museum from October 15 to November 15, welcoming the public who love Vietnamese culture and fashion, thereby connecting culinary heritage with urban life.

Before launching to the public, in 2021 Nguyen Minh Cong created a "stepping stone" with a mini collection made from Southern folk cuisine, which was recognized as a Vietnamese record. In his 10 years of working, he has developed 20 designs from mini models into full-size evening gowns and performance costumes, imbued with Vietnamese identity. The journey of transforming the rustic image of the cake, from the elasticity of sticky rice flour, crispy crust, natural color, into the language of "couture" requires patience and meticulousness: The team tested dozens of materials to find a fabric surface that both evokes the structure of the cake and maintains elegance. Each shape is edited many times to maintain a spirit of intimacy without being ostentatious.

“Through each design, I want to bring in memories and the soul of the homeland,” he said. Therefore, Miet Cu Lao is not just a performance, but an intimate dialogue about regional culture and society : So that when entering that space, everyone can see the shadow of their childhood in the familiar cakes - the homeland of him and many Vietnamese people, speaking together.

A bridge between regional cultures

Miet Cu Lao goes beyond the framework of a fashion exhibition, becoming a remarkable effort in expanding the creative boundaries associated with the story of Southern culture and society. Here, Nguyen Minh Cong creates an art space as a miniature cultural area of ​​the river region: He "translates" emotions into exhibition spaces, "translates" indigenous cultural capital into delicate aesthetic materials. Experts have highly appreciated the project for the way it connects contemporary art with community memories and the lives of residents in the delta region.

Indeed, Miệt Cù Lao operates as a regional cultural manifesto. The core value is to elevate Southern folk cuisine - a part of social life - to high artistic standards. With sophisticated design thinking, familiar dishes are transformed into splendid designs, both beautiful and "telling stories" about the land, water and people of the South.

This symbolic action affirms that traditional cuisine is not only food but also a living heritage and an endless source of artistic inspiration. The act of “bringing traditional cakes to the stage” creates a new ripple effect, promoting Southern culture to domestic and international audiences, contributing to affirming the regional identity of Vietnam in the global creative flow.

Besides its aesthetic value, Miệt Cù Lao is also a space to connect emotions and awaken community memories. The staging is like a “slice” of the West with Memory Zone and the cozy Old Kitchen corner, allowing viewers to recapture the rhythm of working life - rivers - water wharves - the countryside kitchen.

Those familiar images touch on childhood memories and hometown, turning the exhibition into a close dialogue between the designer and the local community. Nguyen Minh Cong puts his “whole hometown soul” into each shape and material, thereby nurturing love for his roots and awareness of preserving traditional culture in modern life, especially for the young urban generation.

In particular, Miệt Cù Lao affirms the creative vitality of Vietnamese identity in the international fashion village. The upgrading of the mini cake collection that once set a Vietnamese record into high-end fashion works shows the seriousness and perseverance of a young designer. Experts see this as a transition “from record to heritage”, creating symbols with Vietnamese spirit.

Notably, the Vietnam Record Organization plans to nominate him for the World Record list - a recognition for his journey to turn local stories into global creative materials. Dr. Nguyen Van Vien - Director of the Vietnam Intellectual Property Institute, assessed Nguyen Minh Cong as "a rare example of connecting folk spirit with contemporary fashion with sophistication and pride in origin".

From these layers of meaning, Miet Cu Lao is a living proof that: Fashion does not only stop at beauty or trends, but is also an effective cultural and social bridge between regions and the world. The humanistic project honors heritage, awakens memories and brings the beauty of Southern cuisine - customs - lifestyle to a new level, thereby contributing to firmly positioning contemporary Vietnamese culture on the international creative map.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/giai-tri/det-nen-hon-que-tu-banh-dan-gian-nam-bo-176246.html