Beyond the traditional green Chung cake, Vietnamese folks have crafted a plethora of innovative and tantalizing variations for the ancient Tet celebration. Join us at VNTRIP.VN to explore these 8 extraordinary twists on Chung cakes!
Exploring Exceptional Variations of Chung Cakes
1. Chung Cake with Glutinous Rice and Rieng Leaves from Dien Bien
2. Glutinous Rice Cake with Purple Rice
This variation of glutinous rice cake is also known as black glutinous rice cake. It is a traditional delicacy of the Tày people and is made from the purple glutinous rice grains of the Northwest region. Its most unique feature is its distinct black color, reminiscent of the deep purple hue of the rice grains. The texture is soft, chewy, and refreshingly cool.

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The ingredients for making this cake are deeply rooted in the highlands of the Northwest. They consist of large, plump, golden glutinous rice grains that are brought back and thoroughly cleaned. Subsequently, they are sun-dried, then burned into ash, finely crushed, and sifted through a piece of cloth to obtain the finest powder. The glutinous rice, once cleaned, is mixed with the fine ash until each grain is coated with the black color of the ash.
Experience the uniqueness of the filling - a tantalizing mix of pork, onions, and cracked peppercorns encased in a layer of mung beans, all wrapped in a cloak of vibrant green. The outer layer, meticulously crafted from wild dong leaves, adds a touch of authenticity to this culinary delight.
The epitome of culinary perfection lies in the art of baking bánh chưng. With the leaves intact, the cake is placed atop glowing embers, infusing the air with the aroma of sticky rice, savory pork, and fragrant herbs. Irresistible and enticing to all who encounter it.
Embrace the richness of colors with the Five-Color Bánh Chưng.
This unique variation of Bánh Chưng promises to tantalize both the palate and the eyes. With its five distinct colors - green, yellow, purple, red, and white - symbolizing the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, this dish brings luck and peace for the new year. Not only visually stunning, but these multicolored cakes also boast a fragrant aroma and a harmonious blend of five different flavors, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.
Crafting this masterpiece requires meticulous attention to detail and skill. Each step - from soaking the rice to coloring the water, to filling the molds - demands precision. Even the wrapping process requires expert hands to ensure the colors remain distinct and vibrant. The natural colors of the cakes are derived solely from ingredients such as ground pandan leaves for green, fresh turmeric for yellow, red from gấc fruit, and purple from either cẩm leaves or purple glutinous rice.
Embrace the allure of Red Gấc Bánh Chưng.
In addition to the traditional green bánh chưng, the red gấc version is also highly favored. However, this unique cake is rare and crafted by only a few. The wrapping process for the red gấc bánh chưng remains the same as usual, utilizing either dong leaves or banana leaves for wrapping.
This particular type of bánh chưng is crafted without the use of artificial coloring, opting instead for the natural red hue of gấc fruit. While the exterior retains its usual verdant hue, upon unwrapping, the rich red of gấc intermingles with the fragrant glutinous rice, producing a striking crimson hue. This color not only enhances the aesthetic appeal and flavor of the cake but also symbolizes luck, happiness, and prosperity in the new year.
The bánh chưng cốm, a variant of the traditional bánh chưng, incorporates young rice flakes (cốm) into the glutinous rice mixture, imparting a unique texture and flavor.
In Vietnamese tradition, the color red is emblematic of luck and prosperity, making it a fitting choice for celebratory occasions such as Tết.
This variant of bánh chưng presents a rare and captivating twist. Upon slicing, one is greeted with a kaleidoscope of enticing colors: vibrant reds, sunny yellows, pure whites, lush greens, and striking jade tones.
This rendition of bánh chưng is a departure from the norm, featuring an unexpected twist with the incorporation of dried cốm into the glutinous rice mixture, along with fragrant leaves. The filling, a sweet concoction of mung beans prepared akin to a luscious pudding, is enhanced with succulent pieces of pork. Savored together, it offers a harmonious blend of nuttiness and floral notes, making it a popular choice for Tet gifts.
Delicious Vegetarian Rice Cakes
This dish is a familiar favorite among vegetarians and health-conscious eaters. Made with carefully selected glutinous rice and tender mung beans, it offers a unique appeal without the usual fatty meat.
Traditional rice cakes are often made from ingredients such as fresh Momordica cochinchinensis, sesame, coconut, winter melon, green beans, lotus seeds, grapefruit blossom essence, etc. The cooked green beans are tender and golden, then mixed with fragrant mushrooms that have been stir-fried thoroughly. It is precisely these strands of fragrant mushrooms that give the square cake a unique charm, with a rich flavor.
7. Sticky rice cakes with brown rice and red glutinous rice

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This stylish variation of square cake is made from ingredients such as green beans, salt, red glutinous rice, etc. This dish is not only attractive due to its unique flavor but also because of its appealing color. Red glutinous rice is a precious type of rice, with large, round pink grains, often found in the highlands of Dien Bien province.

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This square cake has a fragrant, sweet, and chewy taste, with a vibrant pink color. The red color symbolizes prosperity, luck, and blessings for the new year. Those who follow a vegetarian diet will surely enjoy this type of cake.
8. Tet cake with New Year wishes
The final name on the list of innovative square cakes is the Tet cake with New Year wishes. Every Lunar New Year, families in the South often have a pair of Tet cakes to offer to their ancestors and relatives. It is an indispensable tradition during the Tet days. There are many types of Tet cakes: Binh Duong and Tay Ninh have Tet cakes with peanuts; Dong Nai has Tet cakes with cashew nuts; And in Ben Tre, there is a unique Tet cake with New Year wishes.

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Through this cake, people convey New Year wishes for abundant wealth, prosperity, and safety. The exquisite and unique craftsmanship, with each compartment containing a separate letter, makes each pair of cakes a set of New Year wishes. This will be a meaningful gift for loved ones during Tet.

Tet cake with New Year wishes: a unique variation of square cake from Ben Tre people (collected)
The most challenging part is when inserting the letters into the cake. If not done carefully, the letters may break or the rice may swallow the letters. The rice is spread evenly, and a circular mold is used to cut each cake into pieces. The cake pieces must be firmly shaped so that the letters can be added without breaking. Then, a letter mold is pressed deeply into the cake pieces, using the same mold to cut the letters to ensure they fit perfectly without breaking. Additionally, cakes with letter fillings are often larger and require thorough cooking to ensure they are fully cooked.