Western people make rustic cakes to eat when they have free time, now they are proud of their traditional cakes.

Các loại bánh từ bột ở phiên chợ quê Tân Thuận Đông, TP Cao Lãnh - Ảnh: ĐẶNG TUYẾT — Various types of cakes made from flour at Tan Thuan Dong rural market, Cao Lanh city - Photo: DANG TUYET

Since March 2022, the Tan Thuan Dong countryside market in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province every Saturday afternoon has attracted over 140,000 visitors to visit and enjoy rustic cakes and Southern-style food and drinks.

Traditional cakes at the country market

Diners visit Tan Thuan Dong rural market at the end of the day tour from neighboring provinces to Dong Thap.

In the morning, visitors go to craft villages, flower villages, historical sites..., in the afternoon, visitors choose the countryside market, immerse themselves in the cool, fresh countryside atmosphere in the middle of the Tien River and cannot help but be overwhelmed by the array of cakes of all kinds and colors, painstakingly prepared by the ladies.

Bánh ít trần thương hiệu Cô Ba - Ảnh: ĐẶNG TUYẾT — Co Ba brand steamed rice cake - Photo: DANG TUYET

It is difficult for visitors to resist the temptation of attractive local gifts. When stepping through the market gate, an old village space appears before their eyes with rustling bamboo groves, one side casting shade on the river, the other side shading the road.

Stalls made of bamboo and thatched roofs sell cakes in a variety of types and colors.

Currently, in addition to the Tan Thuan Dong rural market every Saturday afternoon, there is also the Go Thap rural market (Thap Muoi district), the Long Thuan rural market (Hong Ngu district) which are interesting destinations for those who love rustic cakes with rich hometown flavors...

Bánh bột báng ngũ sắc nhân đậu xanh - Ảnh: ĐẶNG TUYẾT — Five-color tapioca cake with green bean filling - Photo: DANG TUYET

From the story of every house, when mothers and grandmothers have free time from farming, they grind rice flour and scrape coconut to make cakes for their children and grandchildren to eat.

If there is too much cake left over, we will sell it at the market or exchange it for something else. Nowadays, cakes are becoming more popular and loved by many people. Selling cakes has become a good source of income.

Bánh bột lọc nhân tôm thịt - Ảnh: ĐẶNG TUYẾT — Tapioca dumplings with shrimp and meat filling - Photo: DANG TUYET

There is no general recipe for rustic cakes with only two main ingredients of flour, sugar and additional ingredients including coconut, peanuts, sesame, bananas, green beans... but to make dozens, hundreds of types of cakes that are endless.

Country cakes also have a very proud common name called folk cakes, including cakes made from rice flour such as: sponge cake, banana cake, water fern cake, lot cake, pancake cake, pig skin cake, orange cake, cong cake... with very cheap prices.

Bánh đậu xanh trái cây nhiều màu sắc công phu - Ảnh: ĐẶNG TUYẾT — Elaborate colorful green bean and fruit cakes - Photo: DANG TUYET

5,000 VND/small portion is enough for children to eat until they are full, 10,000 VND for a large box of all kinds of cakes so that diners can feel a little different in terms of softness, chewiness, flexibility, and sponginess.

Not only at the rural markets, when coming to the West, tourists can easily find and buy them at any market from the rural markets with a few stalls on the roadside to the majestic markets such as Chau Doc, Long Xuyen, Tan Chau markets ( An Giang province), Cao Lanh, Sa Dec, Hong Ngu markets (Dong Thap).