‘Dong’ leaf village in northern Vietnam (photos)

A well-known “dong” leaf village in northern Vietnam is getting ready for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on February 19.

The “dong” leaf has long been used for wrapping “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake), an indispensable type of food Vietnamese people eat during Tet, the Vietnamese term for the Lunar New Year.

Trang Cat Village in Thanh Oai District, Hanoi is famous for its large, green “dong” leaves, which usually measure some 25-35cm in width and 50-60cm in length.

These leaves have been used to wrap “banh chung,” which is made of a compressed mixture including glutinous rice, green beans, and fatty pork.

The cake is later put in a large container and boiled for several hours before being served.

Trang Cat Village is famous among many villages and provinces in the northern region thanks to its 600-year history of planting “dong” leaves. Photo: Vietnamplus

“Dong” leaves are sold not only during Tet but all round year for wrapping “banh chung” and “gio cha” (Vietnamese traditional ham). Leaves dedicated to the Lunar New Year are carefully taken care of to ensure quality and color. Photo: Vietnamplus

Growers often leave young “dong” leaves so they can continue to grow and can be served in the next growing season. Photo: Vietnamplus

It does not take much time to grow “dong” plants but forming such a big, long-standing traditional village as Trang Cat is not an easy task. “Dong” leaves are classified by color and size after the harvest. According to a villager, “dong” leaves grown in Trang Cat Village have beautiful color and an irresistible taste. Photo: Vietnamplus

For 3-4 weeks before Tet, locals start harvesting “dong” leaves to provide for other provinces. The leaves are soaked in water to maintain freshness. Photo: Vietnamplus

Nguyen Thi Nga, 83, a Trang Cat villager, said she has grown “dong” leaves since she was young and now helps her children harvest leaves. Photo: Vietnamplus

“Dong” leaves are tied together as a bundle of 100. A big bundle costs VND100,000 (US$4.6) while a small one is priced from VND40,000 ($1.86) to VND50,000 ($2.33). Photo: Vietnamplus

These days, Trang Cat Village is always bustling and crowded as people are rushing to distribute “dong” leaves to other regions. Photo: Vietnamplus

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