Besides the better known ubiquitous stir fried rice, the chicken rice of Hội An town and the rice cooked with coconut typical of the south, cơm lam is a feature of traditional festivals of several ethnic groups. These long-distance trips could take several days, and the men would bring along rice, salt and a knife as basic necessities. Nature’s pride: A cơm lam cooking contest held in Sơn Dương District in the northern province of Tuyên Quang. The bamboo tubes must be new and fresh so that when rice is cooked, the aroma of bamboo is well absorbed into rice grains. Chicken raised in mountain areas are often known as "hill chicken" (free-range chicken) and they taste better than chicken grown in cages.

Source: Viet Nam News March 28, 2017 03:39 UTC