Following a Facebook post appealing for help, more than 100 people from Son La city and surrounding districts volunteered to make banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to provide relief to flood victims.

Following a Facebook post appealing for donations, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Vinh from Group 4, Chieng Sinh Ward, Son La City, was surprised to find that within just a few hours, a large number of people from Son La City and neighboring districts joined her family in making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to send as relief aid to people in areas affected by floods.

From 7 a.m. onwards, the restaurant temporarily suspended its business operations and became a gathering point for wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

Some contributed rice, some contributed leaves, others contributed their labor... all working together to wrap the cakes.

The loaves of bread come in various sizes, but are mostly small to suit the needs of flood relief efforts.

After nearly a day, more than 2,000 banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) were completed.

Everyone took turns performing the tasks, wrapping the cakes, and watching over them day and night.

Along with many essential supplies donated by the people of Son La, they will soon be on their way to the flood-stricken areas of Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and other provinces.

In Phu Yen district, Son La province, people also gathered to wrap the traditional Banh It (sticky rice cake) of the White Thai ethnic group.

Traditional Bánh Ít (sticky rice cake) of the White Thai ethnic group is usually only made by the locals during the annual Tet Xip Xi festival.

At 7 a.m., her restaurant temporarily closed for business and became a gathering point for wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). More than 100 people took turns wrapping; from elderly people in residential areas, villages, and hamlets, to students, civil servants, and others, they all took advantage of their time after work and school to help wrap the cakes.

The glutinous rice cakes are wrapped in various sizes, including square and long ones, but mostly small ones... to best suit and be convenient for people in flood-affected areas facing difficult living conditions.

After nearly a day, more than 2,000 sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng) have been completed, along with many essential supplies donated by people in Son La, and will soon be on their way to the flood-affected areas of Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, and Lao Cai...

Not only in Son La city, but also in Phu Yen district (Son La province), people gathered at many locations to wrap Banh It – a traditional cake of the White Thai ethnic group, usually only made by the locals during the Xip Xi Tet festival each year.

The traditional sticky rice cakes (Banh Chung and Banh It) of the ethnic minorities in Son La province, imbued with love and solidarity, are hoped to be a source of encouragement, motivation, and support for the people suffering losses, as well as the rescue and relief forces in the flood-affected areas. We hope that the people will soon overcome the immediate difficulties and stabilize their lives in the long term.

Source: VOV4.VOV.VN