Rice paper making is an interesting thing to do in Cam Kim Island of Hoi An. This island is known as vast rice fields thanks to fertile soil and abundant source of water. Local inhabitants here have been using the rice they grew, to produce rice papers (Vietnamese: banh trang) to sell and earn for living. In tours to Cam Kim, visitors will have the chance to meet local artisans and try hand at making the first rice paper in life. The experience is absolutely suitable for families with kids. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all the information that you need to know about rice paper making in Hoi An.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Better to Know about Rice Paper (Banh Trang)
Rice paper (Vietnamese: banh trang) is a traditional and typical Vietnamese food (wrapper). It originated from thousands-years-old rice cultivation civilization in the country, particularly the Red River Delta. Later, Vietnamese people moved southwards and brought the craft of rice paper making to central and southern regions. In the 15th century, the earliest Vietnamese families came and settled down in Hoi An within the Thu Bon River Delta.
In Vietnamese language, ‘banh trang’ means ‘coated cake’ because people will make a thin layer of rice milk before steaming.
In the 17th century, rice paper (banh trang) was changed to banh da because its name trang was the same to lord Trinh Trang who ruled northern Vietnam from 1623 to 1657. In southern Vietnam, known as Dang Trong or the Inner Circuit, people have kept this name because of not living under his power.
Dishes in which rice paper (banh trang) is main ingredient, are banh cuon or fresh rice paper rolls, goi cuon or fresh spring rolls, rem ran or cha gio or fried spring rolls, banh trang tron or rice paper salad, banh trang nuong or grilled rice paper, banh trang cuon thit heo or pork belly rice paper roll (specialty of Da Nang), banh dap or smashing rice paper (specialty of Hoi An), banh uot or rice paper sheet eaten with pork, pork sausage, herbs and etc, banh uot thit nuong or grilled pork skewers served with rice papers and raw vegetables, banh trang nuong me or grilled sesame rice paper (one of ingredients in Mi Quang noodle, local style banana flower salad, hen xao or stir-fried baby clams, oc hut or sucking snails).
Steps to Make Rice Paper in Hoi An
Local people in Hoi An will use the common rice to make rice papers. Some other ingredients are also added, depending on the recipe of each artisan, each family or each village. Here are steps to produce rice papers:
Step 1 (preparing the rice): The most suitable kind of rice to make rice papers is gao xiet or gao 13/2, a variety of rice cultivated in the area. In the summer-autumn crop, local farmers need 120-125 days to harvest it, and in the winter-spring crop, it’s 140-145 days. The average yield is 55-60 quintals per hectare. Although this kind of rice becomes dry (harder to eat) when cooking, it’s perfect to produce rice papers because its texture will help them be more flexible.
Step 2 (soaking the rice): Local artisans will soak the rice in fresh water for 3 to 8 hours, and this soaking time is never over 24 hours. In Hoi An, water from Ba Le Well, a 1000-years-old well, is used because it’s always clean, free from alum. In traditional rice paper making villages, well water is still more preferred than tap water. For convenience, the rice is soaked at night, and local people will finish around 2-3 AM. After that, they make rice papers (or noodles), to deliver them on time for market sellers and local restaurants (for serving breakfast).
Step 3 (grinding the rice): Local artisans will use the soaked rice (that has softened already) to grind by machine, and produce rice milk. In the past, they had to use a stone grinder and it took lots of time. Today, electric machines not only help them to save time, but also to save labor. Women also can join, instead of only men before. If using the manual grinder, people have to do it slowly and carefully, to have a good rice milk. After that, it takes them 7 to 10 hours to wait for the flour in the rice milk to settle down and stay in the bottom of the pot. Above this flour layer, there is a water layer and it’s needed to release it (because it’s sour and useless). To have the best rice milk (for making rice papers), local artisans will mix the remaining flour with fresh water, by a moderate proportion. For sure, experiences are required. With a machine, they can skip the above steps.
Step 4 (making rice papers): In this step, artisans need to boil a pot of water and when it’s boiled, a piece of white fabric is used to cover its mouth. The fire is always kept even, to ensure that the water is hot all the time (for steaming).
To make a rice paper, they will use a ladle to stir the rice milk first (contained in a pot). After that, take one full spoon, pour it on the surface of the white cloth, and spread it around to shape a circle sheet. To steam this sheet, a lid is used to fully cover it. Steaming time is around 1 minute. To pick it up, local people use a bamboo stick, put it aside the rice paper, roll and lift it up quickly. Those who don’t have experience may pick up the sheet when it’s too soft and tore it.
Step 5 (drying rice papers): Local artisans will place the fresh rice paper on a long bamboo rack. Each rack should have many rice papers (as long as rice papers cover its surface). A short time, like 2-3 minutes, is required to cool down hot and wet rice papers. After that, they bring the rack to an open yard or somewhere the sunshine is strong. To have moderately dried rice papers, they must check them usually, to know the right time to carry inside and pack.
Where to Find Rice Paper Making Experience in Hoi An?
In Hoi An, visitors can participate a cooking class or a countryside tour to try hand at making a rice paper. Both of these tours are available daily. In cooking classes, the experience often is in the restaurant (or cooking school). In countryside tours, the guide will take visitors to local artisan’s house in the village. If just look for a quick experience, a cooking class should be chosen, while a countryside tour is more proper to those who want to have a long, meaningful experience.
In and around Hoi An, Dien Phuong and Cam Kim are two areas with most rice paper making ‘workshops’ or ‘factories’. Cam Kim, an island to the south of the Hoi An Ancient Town, is more popular for tourists. Here, it’s easier to find them if going with a local guide. In our experience, should not ask or search ‘rice paper workshop/factory’, and instead, ‘rice noodle workshop/factory’. The reason is that local artisans will make fresh/wet rice papers first and then cut them into noodle sticks. Later, those noodle sticks are used to cook Mi Quang noodle, one of the popular dishes to eat in the area. ‘Dried’ rice papers are a secondary product after sun drying fresh rice papers.
To go to Cam Kim Island, visitors need to cross Cam Kim Bridge or Kim Bong Bridge (spanning Thu Bon River). After that, it’s needed to go along major roads in villages and ask the location of a rice noodle making workshop/factory. Again, everything is easier with a local guide. About transport, bicycle or motorcycle will be better than others due to their flexibility. Browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/cam-kim-island for further information.
Top 5 Reasons Why Rice Paper Making Worth It
You are still unsure to do a rice paper making experience? Here are five reasons why you should add it into your travel plan in Hoi An:
Reason 1: Learn about how to make a new kind of food ingredient. Rice paper is a wrapper that is specific to Vietnamese cuisine.
Reason 2: Interact with local artisan who has made rice papers for such a long time through watching her/him working and then following his/her instruction.
Reason 3: Rice paper making is a fun experience. During it, visitors have joy while trying hand at making the first rice paper ever in their life as well as great photos.
Reason 4: Learn how to cut fresh rice papers into noodles by hand. On tours, the artisan’s family will use these noodles to prepare a local style noodle dish, and then guests can try.
Reason 5: Set foot on a peaceful village where scenery and lifestyle of people are unspoiled, an authentic slice of Vietnam.
Guided Tours to Cam Kim Island in Hoi An
Here are guided tours to Cam Kim Island, Hoi An:
– Cam Kim Tour by Bicycle: Woodworking, Rice Paper, Mat, More
– Cam Kim Tour by Motorbike: Local Crafts & Rice Field Cafe
– Thanh Ha Pottery Village & Cam Kim Island Tour
– Hoi An Old Town & Cam Kim Island Tour by Boat
– Tra Nhieu Village Tour by Bike with Basket Boat Ride
– Duy Vinh Island Tour by Bicycle (Through Cam Kim Villages)
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD organizes guided tours and transfers everyday to Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours & make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Rice Paper Making in Hoi An
Here are beautiful photos and videos about rice paper making in Hoi An:
