Keeping the tradition of making rice paper and rice vermicelli alive.

To preserve the traditional craft of making rice paper, many programs providing support in terms of machinery and equipment have been implemented.

Ms. Duong Thi Om, from Tam An commune, Long Dat district, is making rice paper.

Committed to the profession

At 4 a.m., Mrs. Duong Thi Om, from Tam An commune, Long Dat district, wakes up to prepare a new batch of rice paper. Having made rice paper for over 50 years, she makes 1,500 sheets a day. According to Mrs. Om, making rice paper is easy with practice, but to make delicious rice paper, you need to know how to choose the right rice. Rice paper makers also need to pay attention to the drying technique. When the sun is strong, the sheets only need to be dried for half an hour; when it's cloudy, the drying time is from 2 to 4 hours.

"Previously, we had to make rice paper year-round over a very hot wood-fired stove, but since the government provided electric rice paper making ovens, it's much easier. Making rice paper is faster and more convenient, contributing to maintaining the quality and value of traditional An Ngãi rice paper," Ms. Om shared.

Ms. Dang Thi Son, from Tam An commune, Long Dat district, is also continuing her family's rice paper making tradition. In 2024, she was one of the households engaged in rice paper making that received support from the Provincial People's Committee in the form of a rice paper making oven and drying racks.

Ms. Son stated: "This support has helped craftspeople improve product quality and secure more stable outlets for their products."

The An Ngãi rice paper making craft has over 50 years of history and development. Currently, 160 households in the commune participate in the craft, scattered across five hamlets: An Hòa, An Bình, An Phước, An Lộc, and An Thạnh. In 2013, the An Ngãi rice paper making craft (now Tam An commune) was recognized as a traditional craft by the Provincial People's Committee. Since then, the An Ngãi rice paper making craft has continuously improved quality, diversified products, and stabilized the market. In 2022, An Ngãi rice paper was again recognized as a traditional craft village by the Provincial People's Committee. This is also the first traditional craft village in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu province.

Rice paper production at An Ngãi Traditional Rice Paper Village, Long Đất District.

Promoting traditional crafts

Among the six traditional craft villages recognized by the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the An Nhut rice noodle making village and the An Ngai rice paper making village are recognized. In 2024, the agricultural sector coordinated with relevant units and localities to provide support in terms of materials and equipment to households in the An Ngai rice paper making village. This support contributes to the shift in economic structure towards industrialization and modernization, rapidly increasing the production value of industries and services, creating jobs, increasing income for rural residents, contributing to environmental protection, preserving rural spaces, and promoting national cultural identity.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Dang, Deputy Head of the New Rural Development Coordination Office and Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the support for machinery and equipment aims to preserve traditional crafts passed down from ancestors. At the same time, it contributes to the development of craft villages and traditional crafts by applying science and technology to reduce labor, improve production efficiency, lower input costs, and increase adaptability to the market.

“To further promote the development of rural industries, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and localities to survey needs, organize meetings for selection and evaluation, submit proposals to the Provincial People's Committee for approval, and implement support in terms of raw materials, machinery, equipment, and production lines for rural industry production facilities. At the same time, we will strengthen trade promotion activities, including e-commerce promotion for traditional crafts and local specialties; and protect the environment in conjunction with the development of agricultural and rural tourism, focusing on diversifying tourism types and prioritizing the development of agricultural and rural tourism,” said Mr. Vu Ngoc Dang.

Text and photos: DONG HIEU

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/kinh-te/202506/giu-lua-nghe-banh-trang-banh-hoi-1045682/