Vibrant Chung Cake and Giay Cake Competition at the 2026 Con Son – Kiep Bac Spring Festival

On March 4, at the courtyard of Con Son Pagoda, the organizing committee of the 2026 Con Son – Kiep Bac Spring Festival officially opened the Chung Cake and Giay Cake Competiton.

This year’s contest attracted more than 150 artisans from 16 communes and wards across the city, including: Le Thanh Nghi, Nguyen Dai Nang, Mao Dien, Le Dai Hanh, Nam Sach, Ha Tay, Thanh Mien, Phu Thai, Lai Khe, Gia Phuc, Ha Bac, Gia Loc, Bac Thanh Mien, Nam Thanh Mien, Ke Sat, and An Thanh.

Among them, 15 teams competed in wrapping Chung cake while 6 teams took part in pounding Giay cake.

In the Chung cake wrapping competition, each team consists of five artisans dressed in their locality’s traditional festival costumes and must complete the task within 15 minutes. Each team is required to make 10 cakes, including five savory Chung cakes (filled with green beans and pork, tied with six bamboo strings) and five vegetarian chung cakes(filled with green beans, tied with four bamboo strings).

All ingredients and tools are provided by the organizing committee. After the wrapping stage, the cakes are boiled continuously for six hours to ensure they are fully cooked, sticky, and retain their distinctive flavor.

On the same afternoon, the Giay cake pounding competition took place with the participation of six teams, each consisting of six artisans. Within 50 minutes, the teams carried out the full process—from steaming sticky rice and pounding the dough to completing five Giay cakes with a round shape, uniform size, and smooth appearance.

The sticky rice used must be large, round grains, free of impurities, and carefully soaked before processing.

After completion, each giay cake is decorated with the red Sino-Vietnamese characters “Phúc” (Blessing), “Lộc” (Prosperity), and “Thọ” (Longevity), expressing wishes for peaceful, prosperous, and enduring lives.

The judging panel evaluated the entries based on several criteria, including technical execution, product appearance, uniformity, completion time, and compliance with food hygiene and safety standards.

Outstanding products will be selected by the organizing committee to be offered in rituals to the Buddha and revered saints, and used in ceremonial processions and incense offerings at Nguyen Trai Temple, Tran Nguyen Dan Temple, and Kiep Bac Temple, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and the well-being of the people.

The Chung Cake and Giay Cake Competition has been held for many years as part of the Con Son – Kiep Bac Spring Festival, aiming toward the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, while also honoring historical figures such as Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai, and the Three Patriarchs of the Truc Lam Zen sect.

Beyond being a competition, the event also serves as an opportunity for artisans and local people to interact, exchange experiences, and pass on traditional skills of wrapping Chung cake and pounding Giay cake—cultural practices closely associated with the Vietnamese tradition of ancestor worship.

Amid the sacred spring atmosphere of Con Son – Kiep Bac, the lively sound of pestles pounding rice, along with the fragrance of dong leaves and newly harvested sticky rice, created a vibrant highlight, leaving a lasting impression on both local residents and visitors from across the country.

On March 5, the organizing committee will present a total of 30 awards for the two competitions, with 15 prizes for each category.

Hai Hau