VN Cooking app Free on Google Play
Get the app
VN Cooking
Home Recipes Collections Blogs
EN
Tiếng Việt English 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文
VN Cooking
Home Recipes Collections Blogs
Top rated recipes What's in my fridge? Saved recipes
Tiếng Việt English 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文
Home / Recipes / Cakes & Baking / Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)

Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)

Rate this recipe
Vietnamese Tet is at its most beautiful when the family table holds plates of banh chung, full of the flavours of home passed down through the ages. The whole family sits together, making the cakes step by step and tending the fire as they boil – all of which creates the atmosphere of a traditional Vietnamese Tet.
Content is translated using Google Translate, not properly censored, we will try to complete the translation better in the future.
Ingredients
4
Time
120 minutes
Servings
6
Level
Hard
Ingredients
Glutinous rice 500 g
Pork belly 400 g
Hulled mung beans 250 g
Banana leaves 400 g
Implementation Steps
01
- Rinse the glutinous rice clean and soak it overnight before cooking so it turns soft and sticky. In the morning, drain the rice and mix it with 2 tablespoons of salt.
- Soak the mung beans for 1 hour beforehand so they become soft and smooth. Then steam the beans until cooked and blend them with 1 tablespoon of salt. Divide the beans into 2 portions and shape each into a ball.
- Buy banana leaves that the seller has already cut to size to make things easier, and wipe them clean before wrapping.
02
Choose good-quality pork belly so the cakes are full of meaty flavour.
- Wash the pork and cut it into strips about 5 cm long and 1 cm thick.
- Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of pepper and mix well so the meat absorbs the flavour.
03
Line a mould with banana leaves. Spread a layer of rice evenly over the base, then add the beans, the pork and a final layer of rice. Cover the top with a banana leaf and fold the edges of the leaves neatly.
Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
04
Once the leaves are folded, tie the cake with string to hold it in shape.
Tie it tightly with 1 string across and 1 string lengthwise (if your string is thin, you can use 2 each way).
Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
05
Get ready to cook.
Line the bottom of the pot with a few banana leaves.
Put the banh chung in the pot and pour in enough water to cover the cakes. Bring to the boil over high heat, then turn the heat down low and simmer for about 8 hours (keep an eye on the pot and top up the water when it gets low).
When the cakes are cooked, lift them out and drain – they're ready to offer to the ancestors.
Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
Tags:

Lunar New Year

banh chung

Tet banh chung

Reviews

–
No ratings yet
Your rating
Blog related

Gas Stove Mistakes That Could Blow Up Your Home

Gas Stove Mistakes That Could Blow Up Your Home

In Vietnam, many households pay little attention to bad habits that could cause a fire or explosion at home without them even realising it.

Your 2019 Horoscope for All 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Your 2019 Horoscope for All 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

What does 2019 hold for the career, love life and health of each of the 12 zodiac signs? Read on with VN Cooking to find out and steer clear of bad luck this year!

Eat Your Way to Healthy Eyes: Foods That Care for Your Vision

Eat Your Way to Healthy Eyes: Foods That Care for Your Vision

Beautiful eyes are bright, healthy eyes. Keep them that way with careful care and good hygiene, and by always giving them the nutrients they need to stay vibrant, thanks to the foods we list below.

Da Nang Food Streets You Have to Eat Your Way Through

Da Nang Food Streets You Have to Eat Your Way Through

Da Nang is one of the cities in Vietnam most worth spending time in. Its famous scenery, bustling entertainment spots and distinctive local culture have drawn countless visitors, but what truly wins over travelers from afar is the city's incredibly rich food scene.

A Round-Up of Highly Nutritious Vegetarian Dishes

A Round-Up of Highly Nutritious Vegetarian Dishes

Are you put off vegetarian food because you think it's bland, lacking in flavour and doesn't give your body enough nutrients? Then you're seriously mistaken!

Unique Vegetarian Dishes You May Not Know

Unique Vegetarian Dishes You May Not Know

Light, wholesome vegetarian dishes don't just give you a change of taste – they're also very good for your health. Join VN Cooking to discover these unique vegetarian dishes and add variety to your family's meals!

Can You Picture Saigon's Food Scene in Our Parents' Day?

Can You Picture Saigon's Food Scene in Our Parents' Day?

Take a look at the fun foods and eateries that went hand in hand with our parents' younger years. Every era has its own culinary charm, and dishes you now take for granted were once real treats people longed for.

Touring Bangkok's Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market for Its Best Local Food

Touring Bangkok's Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market for Its Best Local Food

Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand, and no visit is complete without a trip to the delightful Khlong Lat Mayom floating market.

How to Tell Naturally Ripened Fruit from Chemically Ripened Fruit

How to Tell Naturally Ripened Fruit from Chemically Ripened Fruit

A sharp eye is all it takes to pick out fruit that is safe for your family

Recipe related
Homemade Quay (Chinese Fried Dough Sticks) for the Family

Homemade Quay (Chinese Fried Dough Sticks) for the Family

895 view
How to Make Puffy Banh Tieu (Vietnamese Hollow Doughnuts)

How to Make Puffy Banh Tieu (Vietnamese Hollow Doughnuts)

1,078 view
Ben Tre Grilled Bananas

Ben Tre Grilled Bananas

795 view
Crispy, Chewy Homemade Purple Yam Fritters

Crispy, Chewy Homemade Purple Yam Fritters

753 view
Banh Xeo, the Beloved Taste of Central Vietnam

Banh Xeo, the Beloved Taste of Central Vietnam

656 view
Traditional Vietnamese Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
VN Cooking

Vietnamese recipes and cooking tips, explained step by step for home cooks.

Explore

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Blogs

Legal

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy policy

Contact

  • [email protected]
  • Facebook VN Cooking

We welcome recipes, tips and feedback from our readers.

© 2026 VN Cooking. All rights reserved.
Terms Privacy
DMCA.com Protection Status