“CHUNG CAKE & TET CAKE COMPETITION” WITH THE THEME “TET FULL OF JOY” OF FAMILY SCC IN PHODONG VILLAGE

03/02/2021

Although the environment of modern life today is busier and more dynamic, the cultural traditions hidden deep in the Chung cakes, Tet cakes still need to be preserved in the future. Therefore, on the occasion of the coming of Tet Tan Suu 2021, Spring Activity – “Chung Cake & Tet Cake Competition” – took place on January 28th, 2021 of SCC’s Grand Family in PhoDong Village, spread the warmth of a traditional Tet atmosphere, and brought it to every corner of small alley houses in PhoDong Village.

With the theme “Tet full of joy”, the festival of making Chung Cake & Tet Cake, organized by SCC’s Grand Family this time, is not only an opportunity for all employees of SCC to reunite, learn together about different types of traditional cakes of each region and maintain a long-standing traditional cultural beauty of ancestor, but also an activity of bonding, and building friendly culture at work. Therefore, the atmosphere of the contest is very bustling and joyful with the enthusiastic responses of all employees.

The SCC Grand Family members started to decorate the competition area early in the morning.

The custom of wrapping Chung cakes & Tet cakes on Tet has become a traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, handed down and demonstrated the beauty of the wet-rice culture. Chung cakes & Tet cakes not only remind everyone of the quintessential dish bearing the national cultural symbol, but also make each Vietnamese people more proud and cherished more than a sacred product on Tet holiday.

According to the ancestor’s conception, the types of cakes and foods used on Tet holiday all have the meaning of remembering ancestors, wish for the warmth and reunion of the family and give thanks to heaven and earth for a favorable rice season. Tet cake is covered with many leaves, symbolizing the mother wrapping her child, bringing together the desire of Vietnamese people to reunite on Tet. Not only that, but green Tet cakes filled with yellow beans reminds the green farmers of the countryside, evokes the dream of “living in peace” of a peaceful spring for everyone. Meanwhile, Chung cake is a traditional cake that appeared from the reign of King Hung, the square Chung cake represents the ground. The ties tied to the outside are used to cut the cake, also expressing the solidarity and attachment spirit of family members, the bond of the whole nation.

Teams prepare for their own cake-making competition area.

The cheerful atmosphere of the participating members opened the contest.

The cheerful atmosphere of the participating members opened the contest.

Members of the Grand Family enthusiastically prepare materials for the Contest.

Members of the Grand Family enthusiastically prepare materials for the Contest.

Members of the Grand Family enthusiastically prepare materials for the Contest.

Members of the Grand Family enthusiastically prepare materials for the Contest.

Members of the Grand Family enthusiastically prepare materials for the Contest.

With the 2021 Chung Cake & Tet Cake Competition, the participation of SCC, SCCI, PLC and SMC is divided into 3 teams:

– The Northern Chung cake has the number of 32 people. The team leader is Mr. Phan Ngoc Huy. The deputy is Mr. Phan Quoc Viet.

– The Central Tet Cake has the number of 29 people. The team leader is Ms. Pham Thi Thu Phong. The deputy is Ms. Nguyen Nguyen Ai.

– The Southern Tet Cake has the number of 29 people. The team leader is Ms. Ngo Thi Xuan Thanh. The deputy is Mr. Ba Minh Triet.

With the 2021 Chung Cake & Tet Cake Competition, the participation of SCC, SCCI, PLC and SMC is divided into 3 teams.

SCC’s Grand Family took a souvenir photo together to officially open the contest.

SCC’s Grand Family took a souvenir photo together to officially open the contest.

SCC’s Grand Family took a souvenir photo together to officially open the contest.

SCC’s Grand Family took a souvenir photo together to officially open the contest.

Joyful atmosphere covers the green urban area PhoDong Village.

The teams will prepare ingredients and package cakes together, cook cakes under the guidance of Vietnamese baker – Ms. Tran Thi Hien Minh and 2 instructors at each team. Ms. Tran Thi Hien Minh is affectionately called by students and culinary circles: The Cake Artist. Ms. Hien Minh shared: “Vietnamese cuisine is famous for diversity thanks to the stretching terrain and the interference of many cultures, so the cake is no exception. The more we learn, the more they find that the ancestors were very creative in taking advantage of what’s available in the home garden to make cakes. Recently, the value of traditional Vietnamese cakes has begun to be noticed with folk cake festivals, and more intensive culinary programs.”
That is why, coming to the SCC Grand Family’s SCC Chung Cake & Tet Cake Competition, Ms. Hien Minh is very excited and looking forward to sharing her experience and enthusiasm for these two ethnic quintessential cakes.

The jury of the competition consists of:

– Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh – General Director of SMC Saigon

– Ms. Tran Thi Hien Minh – Culinary artist

– Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Cat Tuong – Head of Supervisory Board

After the examination is completed, the representative of the Organizing Committee – Ms. Tran Thi Huyen Nga will synthesize the test scores and the Organizers will announce the results to the teams on the 2021 Year End Gala night which takes place the next day.

Mr. Tran Viet Anh – General Director of SCC Company, Ms. Tran Thi Hien Minh, together with the Board of Directors take souvenir photo.

Unique, creative, imbued with national identity of the two cakes also in the way of wrapping and cooking. That’s why in Vietnam there are so many villages with a traditional profession of wrapping cakes. The leaves are washed thoroughly each leaf, green a fresh color of spring. The rice is soaked carefully, the green beans are just cooked, the pork is seasoned with seasoning. These 3 things are the “soul” of the cake, the main ingredients to make a full Tet.

Ms. Tran Thi Hien Minh instructs how to tie the Chung cake skillfully.

The finished Chung cake was born in just ten minutes, neatly wrapped by the hands of the Vietnamese Bakery Artisan.

Next, Ms. Hien Minh instructs how to pack the Tet cake.

Tet cake is skillfully wrapped by green banana leaves with the philosophy of mother hugging children.


Tet cake gradually formed.

Not only cleverly wrapping the cake, Ms. Hien Minh also meticulously instructed how to braid the Tet cake to be firmer and more beautiful.

The team received the finished Tet cake from Ms. Hien Minh.

After teaching, Ms. Hien Minh came directly to each team to guide how to create the most beautiful cakes.

Just like that, for thousands of years, Chung Cake & Tet Cake are still indispensable dishes in Tet trays. The moment the whole family packed the cake together, the children were guided by the adults, both profusely and constantly told stories of the old days, stories about Lang Lieu dreaming and then the birth of Chung cake which represents the earth… Those are unforgettable memories of the nights of sitting to look after the cake, gathering with relatives, gossiping, talking together about the joys and sorrows of the past year, and together burying sweet potatoes in warm pink kitchen ash. A hot pot of cake spreads with love that makes winter also warm, making Lunar New Year full and prosperous.

The teams started to wrap the cake.

The teams started to wrap the cake.

The teams started to wrap the cake.

The teams started to wrap the cake.

Fresh, hot ingredients were quickly molded by members of the SCC Grand Family.

Fresh, hot ingredients were quickly molded by members of the SCC Grand Family.

Fresh, hot ingredients were quickly molded by members of the SCC Grand Family.

People speed up to soon make as many beautiful products as possible.

People speed up to soon make as many beautiful products as possible.

People speed up to soon make as many beautiful products as possible.

Mr. Tran Viet Anh, and Ms. Hien Minh, and members of the jury together observed the teams.

The eye-catching beautiful Tet Cakes have been formed.

The eye-catching beautiful Tet Cakes have been formed.

The teams also embarked on decorating their finished cake display area.

Lunar New Year is approaching and a cheerful atmosphere is spreading throughout PhoDong Village.

Mr. Tran Viet Anh examined the fineness of the cakes.

Mr. Tran Viet Anh examined the fineness of the cakes.

The Southern Tet Cake display area has been completed.

The Central Tet Cake display area is very eye-catching.

Members of the jury took a souvenir photo with the Southern Tet Cake team.

The guys from the Southern Tet Cake team were honestly showing off their Tet cakes.

On this side, the beautiful girls of the Northern Chung Cake team are equally impressive.

The contest of making Chung Cake & Tet Cake is temporarily closed with pictures of beautiful cakes which were guided by Ms. Hien Minh for each team to put in a boiling pot. Hopefully, the happy and warm moments when we join this meaningful activity will help us strengthen our work cohesion at SCC Grand Family.

The contest of making Chung Cake & Tet Cake is temporarily closed with pictures of beautiful cakes.

The contest of making Chung Cake & Tet Cake is temporarily closed with pictures of beautiful cakes.

The contest of making Chung Cake & Tet Cake is temporarily closed with pictures of beautiful cakes.

The beautiful cakes were guided by Ms. Hien Minh for each team to put them in a boiling pot.

Hopefully, the happy and warm moments when we join this meaningful activity will help us strengthen our work cohesion at SCC Grand Family.

On the coming of the Lunar New Year, the Organizing Committee would like to wish the Board of Directors as well as all employees of SCC Company healthy and reaping great success in work and life.

SCC.