August 12, 2026
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Crafting Tradition: Moon Cake Artisans Safeguard Authentic Flavors for the Mid-Autumn Festival

Viet Explorer Editorial Team557 views

As the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near, the quaint craft village nestled in Xuan Dinh commune, Hanoi, springs to life with a flurry of activity. Skilled artisans meticulously prepare an array of moon cakes, their hands moving with precision and care to meet the soaring demand from eager customers in the capital and surrounding areas. This annual tradition not only showcases their craftsmanship but also brings a vibrant energy to the village, making it a hub of cultural and culinary delight.

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Each cake has different weight, requiring the filling ingredients to be weighed exactly.
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A traditional moon cake is filled with a harmonious blend of sliced lemon leaves, salted egg yolk, lạp xưởng (sausage), roast chicken, melon seeds, and almonds. This unique combination is the secret that sets traditional moon cakes apart from their modern counterparts and attracts many customers. Each ingredient is carefully selected, then skillfully mixed and cooked to ensure that every bite delivers the distinct flavours of each component.
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According to Dung, the owner of the facility, his family makes their own lạp xưởng (sausage) to optimise costs, helping each cake have competitive price in the domestic market. The quality is always given priority, he stresses.
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The moon cake-making process involves multiple steps, including preparing the ingredients, crafting the crust, and mixing the filling.
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Every step of the process is carefully monitored to ensure proper execution and maintain food safety standards.
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All of the ingredients needed to make moon cakes are processed by hand.
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In modern society, a large number of customers continue to purchase traditional flavoured moon cakes which are made using natural ingredients.
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After the filling is added, each flattened circle is pressed in the mold in order to form the moon cake shape.
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Each step must be done meticulously to avoid breaking the cake crust.
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The cake is baked at moderate temperature so that the crust is hard enough and retains the aroma of mung beans.
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Moon cakes are an indispensable part of Vietnamese people’s celebrations of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is held annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
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There are two types of moon cakes – bánh nướng, known as brown baked cake, (L) and bánh dẻo, also known as snow skin sticky cake. Prices of these cakes hover around VND35,000-75,000 each.
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Viet Explorer Editorial Team

Exploring Vietnam through travel stories, local culture, destinations, and practical guides.