Impressed rice cooking festival in Tu Liem, Hanoi

On the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, residents of Thi Cam village, Xuan Phuong commune, Tu Liem district, Hanoi jubilantly celebrate the traditional rice cooking contest.

The festival commemorates Phan Tay Nhac. According to legend, he was the 18th General of the Hung Kings period, and organised contest of cooking rice to select the best cook to serve soldiers fighting wars. This is a unique custom of Thi Cam village every spring, a way to wish everyone a plentiful year and peace for their families.

The rice cooking contest include 3 contents: water bringing exam, fire building exam and rice cooking contest. The rice cooking contents include rice pounding, white rice choosing and rice cooking. Traditionally, there are four teams taking the test, each team of 10 people with their own costumes and colours, regardless of male or female: 4 people mill and pound the rice, one person screens the rice, one brings water, two people build fire with bamboo, and 2 cook the rice. Judges watch each stage over the total cooking time of about two hours.