Con Son, a verdant gem in the heart of the Hau River, has long attracted visitors with its peaceful orchard scenery and rich cultural experiences of the Mekong Delta. Among the myriad of fascinating activities here, the travel experience combined with learning to make traditional Vietnamese cakes stands out as a special highlight. It offers visitors the chance not only to discover unique cuisine but also to immerse themselves in the local community’s cultural life. In Con Son, you will not only savor delicious cakes but also knead dough, shape pastries, listen to stories about the traditional cake-making craft, and fully experience the flavors of the homeland.
Con Son – Where Homeland Essence is Preserved in Every Folk Cake
Con Son, belonging to Binh Thuy district, Can Tho city, is a small, idyllic islet spanning approximately 74 hectares. This place is renowned for its unique community-based tourism model, where local residents directly participate in tourism development, providing visitors with the most authentic and intimate experiences. The special feature of Con Son is the harmonious combination of beautiful natural landscapes and traditional cultural values preserved through generations, especially the folk cake-making craft.
Cake making in Con Son is not just an economic activity but also an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of the local people. For generations, Con Son cake artisans have skillfully created dozens of different folk cakes, each bearing a unique flavor, shape, and story. Cakes are not only food but also a cultural bridge, a way for the people of Con Son to express their hospitality and introduce the traditional beauty of their homeland.
Among the passionate artisans of Con Son’s cake-making craft, Mrs. Bay Muon (real name Phan Kim Ngan) stands out as a symbol. With over 40 years of dedication to cake making, Mrs. Bay Muon is not only a keeper of ancient cake recipes but also a pioneer in combining cake making with community tourism. Her Cong Minh garden has become a familiar destination for domestic and international tourists, where they can experience making cakes, enjoy the flavors of folk cakes, and learn about the unique culinary culture of the Mekong Delta.
Cake Making Experience at Ba Bay Muon’s Garden: A Journey to Discover Traditional Flavors
Upon arriving at Mrs. Bay Muon’s Cong Minh garden, visitors will be greeted with the warm and genuine hospitality of the Mekong Delta people. The garden space is lush and green, shaded by fruit trees, creating a relaxing and nature-connected feeling. Here, visitors will participate in a special “cake-making class,” where Mrs. Bay Muon and skilled cake artisans wholeheartedly guide each step of the cake-making process, from preparing ingredients, kneading dough, shaping, to baking.
Ba Bay Muon and 17 households in Con Son working together on community tourism projects since 2016. Photo: Thanh Liem/TTXVN
Participating in the cake-making class, visitors not only learn how to make a specific type of cake but also discover many different folk cakes of Southern Vietnam. Mrs. Bay Muon is always willing to share the valuable knowledge and experience she has accumulated throughout her cake-making life. Visitors will learn about the origin, cultural significance of each type of cake, how to choose fresh ingredients, and secrets to create delicious and beautiful cakes.
One of the signature and most beloved cakes at Mrs. Bay Muon’s garden is the rolled crepe cake (bánh kẹp cuốn). This cake once won a Silver Medal at the Southern Folk Cake Festival, affirming its quality and unique flavor. Visitors will personally pour batter into the mold, roll the cake, and enjoy the hot, crispy rolled crepe cakes, fragrant with coconut and pandan leaves.
In addition to rolled crepe cake, Mrs. Bay Muon’s garden also offers many other attractive folk cakes such as honeycomb cake (bánh bò), layered steamed cake (bánh da lợn), pyramid sticky rice cake (bánh ít), jackfruit leaf cake (bánh lá mít), steamed banana cake (bánh chuối hấp), baked cassava cake (bánh khoai mì nướng), savory crepe (bánh xèo)… Each type of cake carries its own unique flavor, reflecting the diversity and richness of Mekong Delta cuisine. Visitors can choose to learn how to make their favorite cake or try their hand at making many different types for more exciting experiences.
The special feature of the cake-making experience at Mrs. Bay Muon’s garden is the craftsmanship and tradition in every step. From grinding flour with a stone mill, kneading dough by hand to baking cakes in a charcoal oven, every step is meticulously and elaborately performed, preserving the traditional flavor and cake-making methods. This meticulousness and dedication create cakes that are not only delicious but also contain the soul of the countryside and the warmth of human kindness.
Beyond Cake Making: Discovering the Full Beauty of Con Son
The Con Son travel experience does not stop at learning to make cakes. Coming to Con Son, visitors also have the opportunity to explore many other interesting things, from beautiful natural landscapes to unique cultural activities. Visitors can visit lush fruit gardens, enjoying specialty fruits of the Mekong Delta such as plums, rambutans, pomelos, longans… right in the garden.
Visitors can also experience the Mekong Delta’s riverside orchard life by boating on small canals winding through the islet, admiring the peaceful and poetic natural scenery. Another interesting activity is visiting fish rafts and watching flying snakehead fish, a unique feature of Con Son. Visitors can also try their hand at rustic activities such as ditch fishing, an experience imbued with rural charm.
During festivals, visitors also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of traditional festivals in Con Son, learning about the unique customs and traditions of the local people. Traveling to Con Son is not only a journey to discover natural beauty and cuisine but also a journey to explore the culture and people of the Mekong Delta, bringing memorable and meaningful experiences.
Con Son Community Tourism: Preserving Identity, Sustainable Development
The community tourism model in Con Son not only brings economic benefits to local people but also makes an important contribution to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. The cooperation of households in developing tourism, with each household specializing in a unique product, has created diversity and attractiveness for Con Son tourism.
In addition to preserving the traditional cake-making craft, the people of Con Son also focus on environmental protection and developing green, sustainable tourism. The intergenerational self-help club in Area 1 of Bui Huu Nghia ward, chaired by Mrs. Bay Muon, has implemented a model of not using plastic bags in tourism activities, contributing to protecting the ecological environment of Con Son.
Con Son tourism is a testament to the success of the community tourism model, where local people are the key players, directly participating in tourism development, providing authentic, intimate, and culturally rich experiences for visitors. Coming to Con Son, visitors not only experience interesting things but also contribute to supporting a sustainable tourism model, helping local people earn more income and preserve precious traditional cultural values.
Conclusion
The travel experience combined with learning to make traditional Vietnamese cakes in Con Son is a journey of discovering unique and profound culinary culture. Visitors not only enjoy delicious cakes but also make cakes themselves, learn about the traditional cake-making craft, and immerse themselves in the local community’s cultural life. Con Son is not only an attractive tourist destination but also a place to preserve the soul of the countryside and the cultural identity of the Mekong Delta. If you are looking for a unique, meaningful, and nature-and-culture-connected travel experience, come to Con Son and discover this fascinating traditional cake-making journey.