Mentioning Tay Ninh often brings to mind the majestic Ba Den Mountain, the solemn Cao Dai Holy See, or famous specialties like Trang Bang noodle soup. However, hidden in this sunny and windy land is a unique cultural beauty, deeply rooted in the countryside spirit: the Trang Bang rice paper making village. This place is not only famous for its soft, chewy, and fragrant sun-dried rice paper but also an attractive destination for those who want to explore and experience the traditional culinary culture of the Southern region of Vietnam. Let’s explore the interesting things at Trang Bang rice paper village with “Discovery Around The World”, a place preserving the culinary essence of Vietnam through generations.
Introduction to Trang Bang Rice Paper Village
Geographical Location and History
Trang Bang rice paper village is located on National Highway 22, in Loc Du Quarter, Trang Bang town, Tay Ninh province. It is about 40km away from Tay Ninh city center towards Ho Chi Minh City. With a history of formation and development spanning hundreds of years, the village is not only a place for rice paper production but also an indispensable part of the cultural and economic life of Trang Bang people.
According to elderly artisans in the village, the craft of making rice paper in Trang Bang originated from the land of Ngu Quang, Binh Dinh. Around the 18th century, people from this Central region came to reclaim land and establish villages in Tay Ninh, bringing with them the traditional rice paper making craft. Initially, the village only produced simple types of grilled rice paper and dipped rice paper. However, with creativity and adaptation to the special natural conditions of Trang Bang, the local people gradually perfected and created the unique and famous sun-dried rice paper.
Trang Bang is famous for its unique climate: scorching sun during the day, and cool and foggy nights. This natural condition, combined with family secrets, has created a special flavor for Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper, unlike any other. Through ups and downs, Trang Bang rice paper village is still bustling, preserving and promoting traditional cultural beauty, becoming an attractive destination on the Tay Ninh tourism map.
The Uniqueness of Trang Bang Sun-Dried Rice Paper
Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper is not just a dish but also a work of art, the crystallization of meticulousness, skillful hands, and dedication of artisans. The most special thing about this type of rice paper lies in the elaborate and unique processing, especially the “sun-drying” stage.
To create delicious sun-dried rice paper, artisans must go through many meticulous stages, from choosing rice, grinding flour, steaming rice paper, grilling rice paper to sun-drying. Each stage requires skill, experience, and unique secrets. The rice for making rice paper must be a good type, usually Nang Mien rice or Khang Dan rice, soaked thoroughly and ground into a smooth batter. The batter is mixed in a certain ratio, with a little salt to create a savory taste and elasticity.
The steaming stage is also very important, requiring the artisan to have skillful hands to steam the rice paper evenly, thinly, and without tearing. Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper is steamed with two layers of batter on top of each other, creating a moderate thickness and characteristic chewiness. After steaming, the rice paper is dried in gentle sunlight until it is set, then grilled over a peanut shell charcoal fire. Peanut shell charcoal helps the rice paper cook evenly, have a distinctive aroma, and not burn.
The difference and fame of Trang Bang rice paper lies in the sun-drying stage. After grilling, the rice paper is taken out to be sun-dried at night or early morning. The night dew helps the rice paper become naturally soft and chewy, without being dry and hard. The sun-drying time must also be precisely controlled to ensure the rice paper reaches the desired softness; if dried for too long, the rice paper will become soggy, and if not dried enough, it will be dry.
Trang Bang rice paper village, a traditional cultural beauty of Tay Ninh
Trang Bang rice paper village, a traditional cultural beauty of Tay Ninh
Trang Bang rice paper village has gone through hundreds of years of history, preserving traditional cultural beauty.
The Process of Making Sun-Dried Rice Paper in Trang Bang Village
Selecting Ingredients and Preparing Rice Paper Batter
To make the famous delicious sun-dried rice paper, the ingredient selection stage plays an extremely important role. Trang Bang villagers often use Nang Mien rice, a specialty rice variety of this land, famous for its round, sticky, and fragrant grains. After harvesting, the rice is carefully sifted, impurities removed, then washed and soaked in water.
The rice soaking stage also requires meticulousness and experience. Rice is usually soaked for about 2 days, during which time the water must be changed regularly to prevent the rice from souring and ensure the rice paper has a natural white color. According to the experience of artisans, for every 5kg of rice, a small cup of salt is added during the soaking process. Salt not only helps the rice soften quickly but also creates a savory taste for the rice paper.
After soaking for enough time, the rice is ground into a smooth batter. In the past, people used to grind batter with a stone mortar, but nowadays, to increase productivity, many households have switched to using batter grinders. However, regardless of the grinding method, the batter must reach a sufficient smoothness and viscosity. The ground batter is left to settle, and the clear water is drained to obtain the thick batter, ready for the steaming stage.
Steaming, Grilling, and Sun-Drying Stages
The steaming stage is an art that requires the skill and experience of the artisan. The steaming stove is usually made of brick or soil, with a large pot of boiling water placed on top. A cloth stretched over the mouth of the pot is used as a steaming mold. The artisan scoops each ladle of batter, pours it onto the cloth mold, and skillfully spreads the batter evenly over the surface of the mold.
Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper is characterized by being steamed with two layers of batter. The first layer is steamed thinly; after it is just cooked, a thicker second layer of batter is steamed on top. Steaming two layers helps the rice paper have a moderate thickness, and when sun-dried, it will be soft and chewy without tearing.
After steaming, the rice paper is removed from the mold with a thin bamboo stick and placed on a bamboo rack to dry. The drying stage is also very important, directly affecting the quality of the rice paper. Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper is only dried in gentle sunlight, usually early morning or late afternoon sun. The drying time is about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the weather. When the rice paper is just set and slightly peels off the rack, the artisan will quickly remove the rice paper and take it for grilling.
The grilling stage determines the characteristic flavor of sun-dried rice paper. The rice paper grilling stove in Trang Bang is usually quite simple, just an earthenware pot or a tilted metal pot, with charcoal burning underneath. What is special is that local people often use peanut shells as fuel to grill rice paper. Peanut shells burn with a low flame, not too hot, helping the rice paper cook evenly and slowly and have a distinctive aroma.
The rice paper griller must continuously flip the rice paper so that it does not burn and puffs up evenly. The rice paper only needs to be grilled until just cooked, when it is still slightly soft and chewy. Grilling it too much will make the rice paper dry and hard, losing its deliciousness.
The final stage, and also the secret to making the difference of Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper, is sun-drying. After grilling, the rice paper is taken to be sun-dried at night or early morning. The ideal sun-drying time is from 9-10 pm or 2-3 am, when the dew is heavy and the air is cool.
The rice paper is stacked on bamboo racks or trays and placed in a cool, airy place to catch the night dew. The night dew will slowly seep into the rice paper, making it naturally soft and chewy. The sun-drying time depends on the humidity of the air, usually lasting about 1-2 hours. When the rice paper reaches the desired softness, the artisan will quickly collect the rice paper, stack it again, and put it in a sealed plastic bag to retain moisture and prevent the rice paper from drying out.
Stages of making sun-dried rice paper in Trang Bang village
Stages of making sun-dried rice paper in Trang Bang village
Artisans in Trang Bang rice paper village are meticulous in each stage of making rice paper.
Enjoying Trang Bang Sun-Dried Rice Paper the Right Way
Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper can be enjoyed in many different ways, each bringing a distinct flavor and experience. The most popular way, and also the way to fully enjoy the characteristic flavor of sun-dried rice paper, is to roll the rice paper with boiled pork, fresh vegetables, and dip it in fermented fish sauce (mam nem).
Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper rolls with boiled pork is a famous specialty, loved by many diners. Soft and chewy rice paper, delicious boiled pork, fresh vegetables combined with rich fermented fish sauce create a harmonious and unforgettable flavor.
In addition, sun-dried rice paper can also be used to make spring rolls, shredded bì rolls, or simply grilled crispy and served with tamarind sauce or chili sauce. Each way of enjoying brings interesting and unique culinary experiences.
When coming to Trang Bang rice paper village, visitors not only witness the elaborate rice paper making process but also have the opportunity to enjoy the specialty sun-dried rice paper right at the workshop. Many rice paper making households in the village have combined production with tourism, opening their doors to welcome visitors to visit and experience. Visitors can participate in the stages of making rice paper, steaming rice paper themselves, grilling rice paper, and sun-drying, while enjoying specialty dishes made from sun-dried rice paper.
Developing Tourism in Trang Bang Rice Paper Village
Trang Bang rice paper village is not only a place to preserve traditional culinary cultural values but also an attractive tourist destination in Tay Ninh province. With efforts to promote and develop tourism, the village is increasingly attracting domestic and international tourists to visit and experience.
In recent years, local authorities and tourism businesses have had many activities to develop tourism in Trang Bang rice paper village. The Trang Bang Sun-dried Rice Paper Craft Culture – Tourism Festival is held annually, attracting thousands of visitors to participate. At the festival, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history, rice paper making process, enjoy specialty dishes, and participate in traditional cultural and artistic activities.
Besides, many tours to explore Trang Bang rice paper village have also been formed, combining village visits with other famous tourist destinations of Tay Ninh such as Ba Den Mountain, Cao Dai Holy See, Lo Go – Xa Mat National Park… Rice paper making households also invest in developing on-site tourism services, such as opening their doors to welcome visitors to visit, experience, sell rice paper products and specialty dishes.
However, for tourism in Trang Bang rice paper village to develop more sustainably and effectively, more methodical investment and planning are needed. It is necessary to upgrade tourism infrastructure, improve service quality, diversify tourism products, and strengthen tourism promotion and marketing. At the same time, it is necessary to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the village, ensuring that tourism development does not affect the environment and the lives of local people.
Culture – Tourism Festival of Trang Bang Sun-dried Rice Paper Craft contributes to promoting the village
Culture – Tourism Festival of Trang Bang Sun-dried Rice Paper Craft contributes to promoting the village
The cultural and tourism festival contributes to promoting and developing Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper village.
Conclusion
Trang Bang rice paper village is not only a traditional rice paper production site but also a treasure of culinary culture of Tay Ninh and the Southern region of Vietnam. This place not only offers visitors delicious and unique sun-dried rice paper but also an opportunity to explore, experience, and learn about the cultural beauty and life of local people. Come to Trang Bang rice paper village to feel and appreciate the traditional values, the culinary essence of Vietnam preserved and developed through generations. Surely, this will be a memorable travel experience in your journey to discover Tay Ninh.