VI
EN
Chinese dishes have been introduced and become "specialties" of Hanoi.
Tangyuan, also known as glutinous rice balls in sweet soup.(tāng yuán)This dish has been introduced to Vietnam a long time ago and has gradually become an indispensable part of the cuisine on cold winter afternoons in the Old Quarter. According to records, this dish originated in Southern China under the name sui din (tāng yuán) and was introduced to Vietnam by the Chinese community. When it arrived in Hanoi, it was adapted to suit local tastes, while still retaining the structure of a glutinous rice flour shell, sesame or mung bean filling, and topped with hot ginger syrup.
Three glutinous rice balls with soft, chewy wrappers, two with mung bean filling and one with black sesame filling, drizzled with spicy ginger syrup.
Unlike the glutinous rice balls eaten cold during the Cold Food Festival and drizzled with refreshing pomelo blossom water, the Chinese-style glutinous rice balls are served hot in spicy ginger broth, becoming a familiar "warm-relief" dish whenever Hanoi experiences a change in weather.
The secret to making a delicious bowl of glutinous rice balls lies in meticulous attention to detail: the dough must be made from soft, sticky glutinous rice, the filling consists of finely ground mung beans or black sesame seeds mixed with coconut milk, and topped with ginger syrup made from molasses, creating a reddish-brown color and a subtly sweet, not overly intense, flavor.
Black sesame glutinous rice balls have a rich, nutty flavor and a soft, chewy outer layer.
The sweet and savory filling, combined with the chewy outer layer and the warm, spicy ginger syrup, creates a comforting sensation that dispels the biting cold of winter. Perhaps it is this feeling that makes glutinous rice balls with ginger a "winter ritual" for the people of Hanoi.
33 years of keeping the tradition of making glutinous rice balls in the Old Quarter alive.
Amidst the bustling Hang Dieu street, Bich Beo's glutinous rice dumpling stall has been consistently busy for over three decades. No fancy sign, just a steaming pot of dumplings, a few low plastic tables and chairs, and a constant stream of customers coming and going.
Ms. Bich said she has been selling glutinous rice balls in the style of "banh troi tau" (a type of sweet dumpling) on Hang Dieu street for 33 years, open from 8:30 am to 11 pm. "We make the dumplings on the spot, shaping and cooking them simultaneously, so customers always get hot dumplings," she said with a smile, her hands still busily scooping dumplings for customers. She opened her shop around the early 1990s, at which time she only sold glutinous rice balls in the style of "banh troi tau," not many other dishes like she has now.
The cakes are shaped and cooked continuously throughout the day at the shop.
At her shop, the rice dumplings retain their authentic flavor with three soft, chewy dumplings, two with mung bean filling and one with black sesame filling, all drizzled with a spicy ginger syrup. They don't follow the trend of "modern rice dumplings," but it's precisely this simplicity that makes them memorable.
Familiar spots for glutinous rice dumpling lovers
Besides Hang Dieu Street, Hanoi has many other long-standing shops selling glutinous rice balls with unique flavors. Pham Bang (Hang Giay Street): Maintaining the traditional flavor, with only black sesame and mung bean filling, and pure ginger syrup that is subtly sweet and spicy. Ba Thin (Hang Can Street): Popular with office workers and tourists, the rice balls are perfectly round, the ginger syrup is thick, and there's a sprinkle of grated coconut and roasted peanuts.
Amidst the city's changes, glutinous rice dumplings (bánh trôi tàu) remain a symbol of warmth and the memories of old Hanoi. The image of a steaming pot of dumplings, small plastic chairs hastily arranged on the sidewalk, the slurping sounds of diners in the cold weather—all create a picture that is very Hanoi, very ordinary yet no less romantic.
According to her, the glutinous rice balls in sweet soup not only warm the body but also the heart. And it is these small shops, like those on Hang Dieu Street and Ba Thin Street, that are quietly preserving the "warmth of memories" in the heart of a Hanoi that is changing every day.
