Rice paper making village of Cu Lao May

The traditional rice paper making village of Cù Lao Mây in Vĩnh Long has existed for nearly a decade, passed down from father to son, sustaining many generations in the area. Every year, the village supplies hundreds or thousands of tons of various types of rice paper to the market, providing an additional source of income for local residents. With its delicious flavor, soft texture, and high quality, the rice paper from Cù Lao Mây village is increasingly popular, attracting many visitors who want to experience the craft firsthand.

The traditional rice paper making village of Cu Lao May boasts a history spanning nearly a century. Known for its delicious and high-quality products, Vietnam.vn invites you to visit this village in Vinh Long through the photo series "Cu Lao May Rice Paper Making Village." You will discover many interesting things and grow to appreciate the traditional values ​​that Vietnamese people have preserved for many years. This photo series was created by the Communication Team of Vinh Long University of Technology and Education and submitted to the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications. If you want an experiential trip to better understand the lifestyle and people of Vinh Long, you should visit the Cu Lao May rice paper making village. Here, you will witness the work process firsthand, hear interesting stories, and experience the friendly smiles of the locals.

Cu Lao May rice paper is made from ingredients including rice, water, sugar, salt, coconut, etc., depending on the type of rice paper. The making process is done manually, meticulously and carefully. The rice paper is thinly and evenly spread. After spreading, the rice paper is dried in the sun until dry. The rice is carefully selected and then soaked in water for about 8 hours. After soaking, the rice is ground into flour and mixed with spices such as salt, coconut, sesame seeds, milk, cane sugar, etc., depending on the type of rice paper the baker makes.

Rice paper is spread on a mesh cloth stretched over a pot, cooked by steam in just 10 to 15 seconds. Once cooked, the worker handles the rice paper very gently because it is very thin, wet, and easily torn or curled up. It is then placed on a rack and dried in the sun. The chewiness of Cu Lao May rice paper comes from the way the workers mix the ingredients, giving it a unique flavor, and it has been selected as an OCOP product of Vinh Long province.

Making rice paper in Cu Lao May is a hard but also very interesting profession. Rice paper makers have to wake up very early to prepare the ingredients and begin making the rice paper. The work must be done continuously throughout the day, and currently, the profession still depends on sunlight, so productivity is limited. Despite the hard work, the rice paper makers love their profession and always want to preserve the traditional craft of their homeland.

Cu Lao May is best known for its traditional rice paper making village. Besides the common spring roll rice paper, the locals constantly create new dishes to please consumers, such as coconut-grilled rice paper, pandan leaf spring roll rice paper, and dried shrimp-grilled rice paper. The Cu Lao May rice paper making village is busiest when the Mekong River begins to recede, which is the peak production season leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). You can buy this traditional Vinh Long food as a gift for your family. When you visit, you will witness firsthand the process of making these delicious rice paper and the bustling work of the artisans. Despite the hard work, their love for their craft always radiates optimism and joy.

In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest continued to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website.   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The competition aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, its achievements in ensuring human rights, and working towards a happy Vietnam.

Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values:
– 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND
– 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND
– 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND
– 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND
– The most voted-for entry: 5,000,000 VND
The winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, which will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

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