According to legend and historical accounts dating back to the early Van Lang civilisation, Prince Lang Lieu was the 18th son of the sixth Hung King (Hung Hy King) and was born and raised in the ancient land of Duu Lau, where the capital city of Phong Chau once stood.
Legend has it that during a contest to find the most meaningful offering for the ancestors and the king’s longevity celebration, Prince Lang Lieu ingeniously used glutinous rice, mung beans, pork, and dong leaves to make two cakes: the square-shaped banh chung and the round-shaped banh giay. These cakes embody the deep symbolism of “square earth – round sky”, expressing piety and gratitude to the ancestors. Since then, banh chung and banh giay have become traditional Tet offerings and culinary emblems of reunion, gratitude and community cohesion.
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| This year’s ceremony will gather 500 culinary artisans and chefs from around the country. (Photo: The Organising Committee) |
The annual incense offering in honour of Hung Chieu Vuong – Prince Lang Lieu – is held with solemnity at the dedicated temple and draws the participation of chefs from hotels and restaurants nationwide, as well as local residents and visitors. Within the culinary community and among those who cherish Vietnamese gastronomy, Prince Lang Lieu is revered as the ancestral founder of Vietnamese cuisine.
This year’s ceremony is jointly organised by the authorities and people of Duu Lau Ward, Masan Consumer Corporation, and the Viet-Lien Chefs Community — a branch of the Viet Nam Chefs Association. It features a range of meaningful activities as part of a broader programme to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of the Hung Kings’ worship, while honouring the rich heritage of Vietnamese culinary culture.
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| A record-setting 100 ceremonial trays will be presented at the event. (Photo: The Organising Committee) |
Through activities such as incense offerings, live demonstrations on the making of banh chung and banh giay, and showcases of traditional cuisine, the event fosters national pride and encourages younger generations to preserve and elevate traditional cultural values.
According to the organising committee, more than 500 culinary artisans and chefs from associations and local chapters across the country will collaborate to prepare 100 elaborately arranged ceremonial trays. These will feature banh chung and banh giay as symbols of earth and sky, honouring the ancestral figure Lang Lieu and showcasing regional culinary specialities from provinces and cities across the country, displayed on a map of Vietnamese cuisine.
This event is expected to set a national record for the largest number of ceremonial trays ever assembled, contributing to the dissemination of cultural values and the promotion of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
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| The event will also introduce a wide array of distinctive dishes and local specialities. (Photo: The organising committee) |
Throughout the festivities, locals, artisans, and visitors will join in cake wrapping, share techniques, recount the legend of banh chung and banh giay, and present traditional dishes.
A particular highlight of the festival will be the showcase of distinctive Vietnamese condiments, with a special focus on nuoc mam (fish sauce) — a quintessential element of Vietnamese culinary culture.
Additionally, various artistic and folk performances will be presented by local artists, artisans, and residents. These include singing and dancing to celebrate the homeland, with a special treat for attendees: live performances of hat xoan — a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
