Bánh Trung Thu

Fact: In 2023, two bánh trung thu were created, each weighing 200 kilograms (440.9 lbs), setting the record for the largest mooncakes in Vietnam.

Bánh Trung Thu: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/bahn choong too/

Alternative Name(s)

No

Dish Type

Cakes and pastries, and desserts

Course

Dessert

Mealtime

Anytime

Bánh Trung Thu: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified

Popular Bánh Trung Thu Variations

Bánh Trung Thu Nướng

Baked mooncake with a firm, golden-brown crust
Traditionally filled with lotus seed paste, mung bean paste, or mixed nuts, and often includes a salted egg yolk
The savory versions include barbecued meat, ham, Chinese sausage, and various elements

Bánh Trung Thu Dẻo

Sticky mooncake with a soft texture
Has a variety of sweet fillings

Bánh Trung Thu Con Heo

The pastry is shaped into a mother pig with its pack of piglets
The filling is usually sweet bean paste

Bánh Trung Thu Chay

A vegetarian version of bánh trung thu
Usually has a sweet filling

Bánh trung thu is a Vietnamese mooncake that is often enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. While Vietnamese cake is a fusion inspired by traditional Chinese mooncakes, bánh trung thu in Vietnam typically comes in two varieties: baked or sticky.

Typically available in square or round shapes, bánh trung thu fillings range from sweet (such as nuts or seeds) to savory (like sausage or ham). Normally, the filling is also joined by a salted egg yolk in the middle.

Interestingly, Vietnamese mooncakes are also shaped into animals, like a pack of piglets with their mother or carp. Like regular mooncakes, bánh trung thu is also pressed with mold to have some Chinese characters on the surface.

In Vietnam, bánh trung thu is easily spotted during the Mid-Autumn Festival, with numerous stores selling this pastry around two months ahead of the festival’s actual date. Vietnamese locals often buy bánh trung thu as a gift between families.

When you’re ready, jump into the cultural signature of mooncakes to the Vietnamese and its variants before discovering the traditional and modern fillings of this cake.

Then, uncover the process of making this Vietnamese mooncake. Also, you should know more about the positive and negative features of eating this cake.

In addition, I suggest diving into the differences between traditional and modern versions of bánh trung thu, along with a few inquiries relating to it. Then, explore some specialties that are like bánh trung thu.

Bánh Trung Thu Images

Round baked bánh trung thu with a golden brown color.

Bánh trung thu serves with a cup of tea.

A bánh dẻo version of Vietnamese mooncake.

Vietnamese bánh trung thu sliced open with a salted egg yolk in the middle.

Mooncake dough being shaped using a mold.

What Is The Cultural Significance of Bánh Trung Thu During the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Bánh trung thu holds significant importance in the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, particularly in Vietnamese culture. The aspects of eating mooncakes, drinking tea, and the Mid-Autumn lantern culture are central to this festival.

• Eating bánh trung thu: Bánh trung thu is the hallmark of the festival. These pastries symbolize reunion and completeness, reflecting the full moon’s shape. Families and friends share mooncakes as a gesture of unity and harmony.
• Drinking tea: Accompanying the mooncakes with tea is a traditional practice. Elders often munch on the small pieces of cake accompanied by a sip of tea to balance the palates.
• Mid-Autumn lantern culture: The lantern parade is a vibrant and joyful activity, especially significant for children. Lanterns, often in the shape of animals, stars, or the moon, are often used. Nowadays, electric lanterns flood the market but the original versions still hold a crucial role.

Once you’ve grasped hold of the role and traditions that revolve around bánh trung thu, discover its many variants that will surprise you.

What Are the Variants of Bánh Trung Thu?

In Vietnam, bánh trung thu has endless variations that are made using all sorts of ingredients. However, I’ll keep it simple by introducing you to 3 most popular variants of bánh trung thu in Vietnam:

Bánh Trung Thu Nướng

Baked mooncake with a firm, golden-brown crust
Traditionally filled with lotus seed paste, mung bean paste, or mixed nuts, and often includes a salted egg yolk
The savory versions include barbecued meat, ham, Chinese sausage, and various elements

Bánh Trung Thu Dẻo

Sticky mooncake with a soft texture
Has a variety of sweet fillings

Bánh Trung Thu Rau Câu

Made with jelly
Has a similar filling like the baked mooncake
The filling is usually softer

Bánh Trung Thu Con Heo

The pastry is shaped into a mother pig with its pack of piglets
The filling is usually sweet bean paste

Bánh Trung Thu Chay

A vegetarian version of bánh trung thu
Usually has a sweet filling

Next, don’t forget to explore the popular filling of bánh trung thu to expand your options of this pastry.

What Are Popular Fillings of Bánh Trung Thu?

Bánh trung thu in Vietnam takes on various forms of fillings, giving it multiple options in terms of flavors. Typically, bánh trung thu has a few traditional and modern fillings that you should know.

Traditional Fillings

To get to know bánh trung thu, the traditional fillings are a great place to start with 8 common options:

Bánh Trung Thu Hạt Sen

Smooth, sweet, luxurious, made from lotus seeds, classic mooncake filling

Bánh Trung Thu Đậu Xanh

Creamy, sweet, made from mung beans, a popular choice in Vietnamese mooncakes

Bánh Trung Thu Đậu Đỏ

Earthy, sweet flavor, made from azuki beans

Bánh Trung Thu Thập Cẩm Hạt

Rich, textured mix of various seeds

Bánh Trung Thu Khoai Môn

Sweet, smooth, made from taro root, offers a unique flavor.

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Thập Cẩm Mặn

Savory, sweetened pork floss with barbeque meat and Chinese sausage

Afterward, make sure not to miss the delightful adaptations in terms of filling for the modern versions of bánh trung thu.

Modern Fillings

Aside from the classic options, modern versions of bánh trung thu with interesting fillings still attract much attention from Vietnamese:

Bánh Trung Thu Sầu Riêng

Strong aroma, distinctive taste

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Sô Cô La

Rich chocolate ganache or chocolate bits, offering a modern, sweet twist

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Trà Xanh

Infused with green tea or matcha powder for a subtle, aromatic flavor

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Lava

Has a liquid sweet sauce filling

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Phô Mai

Cream cheese or soft cheeses for a creamy, savory-sweet filling

Bánh Trung Thu Tiramisu

Inspired by the Italian dessert, with ladyfingers in the filling

Bánh Trung Thu Nhân Trà Sữa

Tapioca pearls and tea-flavored fillings, inspired by the popular bubble tea drink

After discovering the fillings of bánh trung thu, dive deeper into the treat by looking into the process of creating this cake.

How to Make Bánh Trung Thu?

Bánh trung thu can be produced in various ways; for that, I’d like to show the process of creating a basic Vietnamese bánh trung thu:

Step 1: Dough Preparation

Combine all purpose flour with a mixture of baking elements and sweeteners, including peanut butter if you’re looking to make the baked version.

Step 2: Filling Preparation

Cook and mash lotus seeds or red beans into a paste, then thicken with sugar and oil. For fillings with salted egg yolks, wrap the paste around the yolks.

Step 3: Assembling Mooncakes

Divide the dough into portions, flatten each, add a ball of filling in the center, wrap the dough around the filling, and shape it using a mooncake mold.

Step 4: Cooking

Baked mooncakes are brushed with egg wash and baked until golden.

Sticky mooncakes are simply cooked until the dough is translucent.

Step 5: Cooling and Serving

Let the mooncakes cool completely before serving, with baked varieties often benefiting from a day or two of resting for flavor development.

In case you have any dietary restrictions, make sure to check out the good and bad benefits of consuming Vietnamese mooncakes.

Pros and Cons of Eating Bánh Trung Thu

These are some of the features that usually influence your decision for consuming bánh trung thu:

Remember, you can always find out more information about bánh trung thu by looking into a comparison between modern and traditional versions of this pastry treat.

How Is Traditional Bánh Trung Thu Different from the Modern Version?

Traditional bánh trung thu and modern adaptations of the cake have many differences in Vietnam. Therefore, let me guide you through some of the notable features that set traditional and modern mooncakes of Vietnam apart:

Traditional Bánh Trung Thu

Fillings: Lotus seed paste, red bean paste, salted duck egg yolks
Flavors: Classic, focused on balance and harmony of traditional flavors
Health Options: Generally richer in sugar and fats

Modern Bánh Trung Thu

Fillings: Mung bean, salted duck or chicken eggs, crab roe, vegetarian options like mung beans with colored oil
Flavors: Innovative, including chocolate, green tea, durian, and other contemporary flavors
Health Options: Trend towards healthier options like less sweet, lower-calorie, or vegan alternatives

That’s not it for bánh trung thu, since this pastry has many more interesting things to offer, with many answers for common concerns of readers.

Bánh Trung Thu FAQs

Bánh Pía

Bánh pía is a Vietnamese treat featuring a flaky pastry crust and various sweet or savory fillings.