Bun thang (vermicelli noodles with assorted toppings) in Mau Tai village (also known as Mao village) in Cam Dien commune, Cam Giang district, is a rustic dish imbrued with the traditional cultural character and only cooked by locals on the 7th day of every 1st lunar month.

As soon as peach and apricot blossom, Mao villagers from everywhere return to their native land for family reunion.

To many people, their return on Tet (Lunar New Year) occasion also aims to enjoy bun thang – a dish that has been in their mind since childhood.

Bui Xuan Muc, 65 years old, is one of those still keeping the recipe for bun thang in Mao village.

He said ingredients are very close to the countryside, which are anabas, pig bones, vermicelli, spices, and herbs.

Anabas is cleaned and boiled with a little fresh ginger. Pig shinbones are stewed to make broth. Dried onions are sliced, and lettuce, an indispensable ingredient, is shredded.

After anabas is cooked, its bones and head are separated from flesh, pounded, filtered with water, and poured into the pot of broth.

The next steps are frying pork fat in a pan and steadily stirring dried onion slices in it until they turn golden brown.

Anabas is put in the pan, sprinkled with a little fish sauce, pepper, monosodium glutamate, and dill, and simmered until shrinking.

Vermicelli is shredded. Shrimp paste is mixed with sugar, monosodium glutamate, fresh chili, and lemon juice.

A bowl is lined with a little bit of lettuce, on top of it are vermicelli, half a spoonful of shrimp paste, and golden-simmered anabas. Finally, hot broth is poured into the bowl.

The dish can be served with lemon and fresh chili.

In the past, people even added a little ca cuong (Lethocerus indicus) attar, forming the typical scent of Mao village’s bun thang.

“It is difficult to fully describe the deliciousness of this bowl of vermicelli. I have eaten bun thang in several places, but this one has richer and more delicate taste”, said Nguyen Van Thanh - a friend of mine in Hai Duong city - when enjoying bun thang in Mao village for the first time.

TIEN MANH