Despite the price of banana leaves tripling, people are still happily buying them to wrap banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes).

Tran Quy Cap Market (Dong Da District) is the oldest traditional market in Hanoi specializing in selling banana leaves. Banana leaves are sold here year-round, but the busiest time is during the period leading up to the Lunar New Year, from the 17th to the 29th of the 12th lunar month. Shops open from 5 am until late at night.

The banana leaves at the market are sourced from various places. Wild banana leaves originate from the provinces of Lao Cai and Tuyen Quang, while local banana leaves are imported from Thanh Oai (Hanoi) and Phu Ly (Ha Nam)... Tran Quy Cap Market offers banana leaves of all sizes, from small to large, to meet the diverse needs of customers.

Ms. Ngo Thu Ha, a vendor who has been selling banana leaves for many years at Tran Quy Cap market, said that the amount of banana leaves coming from other provinces is less than the same period last year, causing prices to triple. Currently, wild banana leaves cost 150,000 VND/100 leaves, while locally grown banana leaves cost 120,000 VND/100 leaves, and the strings used to tie the cakes are sold for 10,000-20,000 VND/bundle.

To give the banh chung (Vietnamese rice cake) a natural green color, choose fresh leaves that are firm and not brittle. Select leaves that are dark green and of a moderate size so they can completely wrap the filling inside.

From 6 am each day, many people flock to Tran Quy Cap banana leaf market to choose their favorite bundles of leaves to take home for wrapping cakes and sausages.

Ms. Luong Thi Thuy (Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) shared that her family has maintained the tradition of making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) for Tet (Lunar New Year) since her father also worked in this profession. Even after his death, she occasionally makes them herself to preserve the Tet atmosphere, even though the cost is sometimes higher, because it ensures quality and deliciousness.

Ms. Do Mai Loan, who has been selling banana leaves at Tran Quy Cap market for nearly 50 years, shared that although the price and scarcity of banana leaves this year are higher than in previous years, demand remains strong. A bundle of 40 leaves costs 160,000 VND at Ms. Loan's shop.

The prices are higher than in previous years, but there are still many buyers because the demand for making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and gio (Vietnamese sausage) during the Lunar New Year remains high.

Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy (Kim Ma, Ba Dinh district), after half an hour of choosing, excitedly shared with two bundles of banana leaves in her hands: "Before, I used to have to ask acquaintances to wrap the rice cakes, but for the past 6 years I have been wrapping them myself to give to my family, relatives, and friends. This year the price of banana leaves is quite high, but that's okay, I chose to buy 60 beautiful banana leaves to wrap about 15 rice cakes."

The strings used to wrap banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes) are also sold at prices ranging from 12,000 to 20,000 VND per bundle.

Bundles of banana leaves are tied to the back of the vehicle, ready to bring the spirit of Tet to restaurants and households.

Besides dong leaves, many stalls at Tran Quy Cap market also sell banana leaves to serve customers who need them for wrapping pork sausage.

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/tet-2024/la-dong-dat-gap-3-nguoi-dan-van-phan-khoi-mua-goi-banh-chung-20240205103147944.htm