Mamas bakery

The Caishen Day (God of Wealth Day or Than Tai in Vietnamese) occurs on the 10th day of the first lunar month (Feb. 21 this year). The common belief is that people can invite luck into their lives by buying gold and gold-related products on that day. At least one bakery is catering to this trend literally with cakes looking like real pots of gold. A bakery on Lo Duc Street in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District has been selling these cakes for five years now. Customers place them on the altar as an offering for Caishen before consuming them. This year, the number of pre-orders for the cake was much higher than usual, its owner said. A golden jar cake costs VND300,000- 480,000 ($13-21) depending on its size. It has to be consumed within three days. The cake has several layers. It has fresh cream and mango sauce inside and the outside is covered with golden cream before being topped off with golden chocolate coins. Duong Vu Khanh Ly, a 22-year-old resident of Dong Da District, said she buys the cake every year to invite fortune for the family, but this year, she is also gifting it to others for luck. "The cake is very eye-catching and looks amazing, so it is a very suitable gift. It is also a more practical choice for me because buying real gold does not match my budget right now," she said. In addition to the golden jar shaped cake, customers can choose cakes that look like ancient currency. The filling inside is custom modified, but the most popular ones are pineapple and mango. The cakes shaped like ancient currency are also in high demand on Caishen Day. Photo courtesy of Sam De Gatêaux Most bakeries say the number of customers this year is higher, and there has been a surge in the number of online orders. Khanh Vy, who runs an online bakery, said: "This year, the number of cakes sold has tripled compared to other years." …

[Read more...] about ‘Pots of gold’ sell like hotcakes for Caishen Day celebrations

The God of Wealth Day (Caishen Day or Than Tai in Vietnamese) is the 10th day of the first lunar month (Feb. 21 this year). The common belief is that people can invite luck into their lives by buying gold and gold-related products on that day. At least one bakery is catering to this trend literally with cakes looking like real pots of gold. A bakery on Lo Duc Street in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District has been selling these cakes for five years now. Customers place them on the altar as an offering for the God of Wealth before consuming them. This year, the number of pre-orders for the cake was much higher than usual, its owner said. A golden jar cake costs VND300,000- 480,000 ($13-21) depending on its size. It has to be consumed within three days. The cake has several layers. It has fresh cream and mango sauce inside and the outside is covered with golden cream before being topped off with golden chocolate coins. Duong Vu Khanh Ly, a 22-year-old resident of Dong Da District, said she buys the cake every year to invite fortune for the family, but this year, she is also gifting it to others for luck. "The cake is very eye-catching and looks amazing, so it is a very suitable gift. It is also a more practical choice for me because buying real gold does not match my budget right now," she said. In addition to the golden jar shaped cake, customers can choose cakes that look like ancient currency. The filling inside is custom modified, but the most popular ones are pineapple and mango. The cakes shaped like ancient currency are also in high demand on the God of Wealth Day. Photo courtesy of Sam De Gatêaux Most bakeries say the number of customers this year is higher, and there has been a surge in the number of online orders. Khanh Vy, who runs an online bakery, said: "This year, the number of cakes sold has tripled compared to other years." …

[Read more...] about ‘Pots of gold’ sell like hotcakes for God of Wealth Day celebrations

Vietnam fulfils role as AIPA Chair: Top legislator Vietnam has well fulfilled its role as Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020 despite the serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and record floods and storms, thus contributing to increasing the country’s position and prestige in the region and the world, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said. Addressing a conference on December 23 to review Vietnam’s AIPA Chairmanship Year, Ngan stated that right from the beginning of this year when the COVID-19 shows signs of spreading out, Vietnam proactively made scenarios for the AIPA Chairmanship Year and consulted member states about organising activities in an online format. Accordingly, the 41st AIPA General Assembly was held online – the first time in the history of AIPA. With the leadership and regulation of Vietnam, the AIPA-41 was claimed a success, reflected through the full participation and support of member parliaments, observers and international parliamentary organisations. Christmas greetings extended to Catholic and Protestant followers nationwide Leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee visited and extended Christmas greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers across the country over the past week. The leaders expressed their belief that Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers would continue to further promote the patriotic traditions while actively contributing to the cause of building the great national unity bloc, as well as joining the local authorities in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. GDP growth estimated at 2.91% this year Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) this year is expected to rise by 2.91% compared to 2019, according to Director General of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Nguyen Thi Huong. Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on December 27 to announce …

[Read more...] about December 21-28: Vietnam fulfils role as AIPA Chair: Top legislator