Content []

What To Do In Ben Tre ? Visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village In Ben Tre, Vietnam

When it comes to the specialty of Coconut Land, surely nobody can forget My Long rice paper - a village with a long-standing and unique tradition recognized as a national cultural heritage in Vietnam. This place is an outstanding cultural destination in Ben Tre tourism, a region seemingly dominated only by coconut. The round, beautiful, and fragrant rice paper, rich with the flavor of coconut milk from the homeland itself, has enchanted the hearts of many visitors. Let's join Autour Asia to visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village through the article below to further fall in love with the culinary culture of the coconut land conveyed through these delicious rice papers.

1. Overview of My Long Rice Paper Craft Village - Preserving Unique Traditional Cultural Traits
2. Best time to visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village
3. A piece of My Long rice paper - Simple yet encapsulating the ancestral secrets of the coconut land
4. My Long - The Craft Village Preserving Generational Traditions

1. Overview of My Long Rice Paper Craft Village

My Long Rice Paper Craft Village in Ben Tre

Address: My Thanh Commune, Giong Trom District

The My Long Rice Paper Craft Village, with a history of over 100 years, is located 10km from the center of Ben Tre city. It is where the local people diligently uphold traditions and strive for long-term stability and development.

Originally, the name "My Long" (Mỹ Lồng) referred to a small market in My Thanh Commune (Giong Trom District), where local specialties, particularly the delicious and enticing rice paper, were sold and favored by numerous visitors. Initially, only a few people made rice paper, but its reputation spread far and wide. As its taste, people began to visit Ben Tre Vietnam to buy, and soon, whenever delicious rice paper was mentioned, people immediately thought of the My Long market. Thus, the brand of My Long rice paper was born and became famous nationwide. This delicacy is not only beloved by the people of Ben Tre but also recognized by provinces in the Mekong Delta and across the country.

Now, when reminiscing about the "nostalgic specialties" of this region, people not only remember Ben Tre coconut candies but also the name My Long rice paper - one of many local products to buy as gifts, which has gradually ingrained itself in the hearts of customers.

My Long Rice Paper - A local product you should take as a gift

Despite being famous for hundreds of years, the exact origin and founding time of My Long rice paper cannot be traced. The seasoned artisans in the village humbly share: "As a traditional craft, no one knows exactly when it began. We only know that from a young age, we stumbled upon stacks of rice paper at home, and as we grew up, we followed in the footsteps of our ancestors, continuing the craft. Such is the nature of inheriting and passing down this profession."

2. Best time to visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village

Visiting My Long Village During Tet - The Joyful Season

The ideal time to visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village is at the beginning of the 10th lunar month each year, when the village is bustling with production activities to serve the Lunar New Year festival, which lasts for 3 months. It can be said that this is the most joyful season of the year in the craft village. Therefore, the last months of the year (from November to January of the following year - coinciding with the floating season in Ben Tre) are the best time for you to visit. When visiting Ben Tre during this period, from afar, you can already see along both sides of the village road, in front of the yards of households making rice paper, rows of rice paper stretched out straight, drying under the sunlight, connecting from one house to another. The fragrant aroma of the rice paper blends into the air of the days leading up to Tet, making everyone feel excited because the Spring is approaching very close. Here, regardless of age, young or old, teenagers, women, everyone participates in the meticulous and skilled work of making rice paper.

Take a look at Local products to buy while visiting Ben Tre

3. My Long rice paper - Ancestral secrets from the land of coconuts

The production process to make a piece of rice paper is not quite simple; it demands skillful craftsmanship

At first glance, a piece of rice paper may seem simple, but those who make it must be meticulous and possess their own secrets. Certainly, it requires skill and passion to produce the renowned fragrant and delicious rice paper. Unlike other regions where rice paper is produced, My Long rice paper is meticulously crafted from the very beginning, from the tools to the ingredients:

Rice: The rice used to make rice paper must be carefully selected. In My Long, it's a special type of rice from Trà Vinh, called "gạo sỏi". This type of rice is chosen because it can withstand harsh weather conditions, ensuring that the rice paper doesn't break or shrink when dried under the sun.
Sugar, salt, sesame seeds (the ingredients): The quantities of these ingredients are also meticulously measured.
Coconut: This is a key ingredient that contributes to the success of My Long rice paper. Coconuts grown in My Long have sweet water and thick flesh, richer in fats compared to coconuts from other regions. Only mature coconuts with thick husks are selected, and their flesh is scraped to extract thick and sticky coconut milk for making the rice paper. After squeezing out the coconut milk, it is boiled then reduce the heat to simmer gently until thickened before mixing with the rice and grinding into flour.

The process of mixing the flour to produce My Long Rice Paper is crucial and requires its own secret technique, often entrusted to experienced individuals. The flour must be mixed to the right consistency so that the rice paper, when dried, doesn't stick to the molds and can be easily flipped over. The rice paper makers must also have the skill to achieve an even thickness for each piece of rice paper.

The most challenging step is spreading the rice flour mixture evenly onto stretched fabric over a pot of boiling water to cook the rice paper with steam. When the rice paper changes from opaque white to translucent, it's lifted out with bamboo sticks and transferred onto coconut mats for drying in the sun. Only skilled hands can ensure that the rice paper turns round and evenly thin. Precise mixing and spreading techniques not only save flour but also result in perfectly round and beautiful rice papers.

Bring the rice paper to the mats, preparing for the drying process

Once the rice paper is made, it's placed on mats made from coconut leaves and left to dry in the sun. Weather conditions greatly affect the quality of the rice paper. If the sun is too intense, the rice paper becomes brittle and prone to breakage, while too little sunlight results in wrinkled and coarse rice paper. The rice paper is considered ready when it feels smooth to the touch without any air bubbles or bumps.

The quality of each piece depends on the intensity of the sun's heat

The grilling process also requires experience and skill. The rice paper is grilled over a charcoal fire until it turns golden brown. It must be flipped quickly as it cooks rapidly and can easily burn. Witnessing the entire process, from mixing the flour to spreading and drying, truly reveals the craftsmanship, dedication, and finesse involved in creating these rice papers.

4. My Long - The Craft Village Preserving Generational Traditions

One of the kilns in My Long Village, Ben Tre

Currently, the My Long Rice Paper Craft Village in Ben Tre has over 150 rice paper kilns. As a village with a heritage spanning hundreds of years, there are households where the second or third generation continues the tradition of making rice paper. Each succeeding generation inherits the secret of making delicious and distinctive rice paper. Every resident involved in making My Long rice paper possesses remarkable skill, akin to true artisans. As a result, the tradition of My Long rice paper has been preserved until today.

In late 2018, the traditional My Long Rice Paper craft village in Ben Tre was officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam. This recognition has contributed to the expansion of the My Long rice paper brand into broader markets.

Despite the ups and downs, the villagers continue to diligently operate their kilns, grind rice, spread the rice paper mixture, and persistently carry on through the years. The rustic and steadfast character of the craftsmen, and the authentic flavor of the coconut homeland, have truly embodied the culinary cultural heritage of the coconut land, entirely deserving of being honored as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Those who visit My Long Rice Paper Craft Village not only witness the unique aspects of the traditional craft village and the production process firsthand, and savor the rich flavor of the rice paper right at the kilns, but also have the opportunity to experience the sounds of spring, admire the rows of rice paper drying along every street, and become a part of the daily life of the local community. Rice paper is not only a traditional food of the local people but also a cherished gift presented to relatives and friends during distant travels. My Long rice paper is gradually becoming more appreciated and beloved, evolving into a special delicacy of the homeland of Ben Tre. To ensure a satisfying experience far beyond your expectations, please CONTACT AUTOUR ASIA, TRAVEL AGENCY VIETNAM now.

Take a look at
> Top restaurants in Ben Tre
> Ben Tre Travel Guide
> Mekong Delta Tours
> Southern Vietnam Tours