Making banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes) in Truong Sa (Spratly Islands).

Since the beginning of January, military transport ships of the 4th Naval Region have departed from Cam Ranh base, carrying essential goods to serve the military and civilians on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago (Truong Sa District, Khanh Hoa Province) in celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit.

The banana leaves used to wrap the cakes were carefully selected and brought to the island.

Phan Ngoc Duc

Among the Tet (Lunar New Year) supplies for the island, special attention is paid to the ingredients for making traditional banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes). Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Quang, Head of Logistics of the 4th Naval Region, said: "The glutinous rice is carefully selected and transported from the North. The banana leaves used to wrap the cakes are the 'banh te' variety. The bamboo strips used for tying the cakes are the 'giang' variety..."

"The standard New Year's gift for soldiers on the islands is four sticky rice cakes per person, so the amount of ingredients needed to make them on the islands is enormous. We have to start preparing well in advance of the ship arriving at the islands, a whole month beforehand," said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Quang.

The cake molds were made by soldiers on the island from repurposed wooden crates.

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Thanks to thorough preparation on the mainland, the ingredients for making banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes) brought to the island are of very good quality and meet food safety and hygiene standards.

Some images show soldiers of Brigade 146 (Naval Region 4) and affiliated forces, along with local people on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago (Truong Sa District, Khanh Hoa Province ), making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) in preparation for the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao 2023.

The banana leaves being transported from the boat to the island must be wrapped in plastic to prevent them from getting wet from the seawater.

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Check the quality of the glutinous rice after soaking it overnight.

Phan Ngoc Duc

Officers on Sinh Ton Island guide young soldiers in practicing wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

Phan Ngoc Duc

Women from the Women's Association of Sinh Ton island commune (Truong Sa district, Khanh Hoa province) participate in making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) with soldiers on the island.

Phan Ngoc Duc

The square-shaped banh chung (Vietnamese rice cake) has taken shape.

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Soldiers on Sinh Ton Dong Island wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

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On Truong Sa Island, the activity of making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) is always considered a festival of the island because of the participation of the garrison forces and the island's residents.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/goi-banh-chung-o-truong-sa-1851544029.htm