Bac Me Bamboo Rice

Ha Giang is renowned for its fertile fields that produce a variety of delicious rice types, making Bac Me lam rice a distinctive dish among the Tay communities. The preparation of this lam rice is straightforward. Glutinous rice is carefully cleaned and filtered, then mixed with salt before being placed in a bamboo tube. This tube is filled with water from a nearby mineral spring. One end of the tube is sealed, while the other is capped with banana or phrynium leaves. After assembly, the tube is roasted over an open fire or hot coals for about an hour, allowing the fragrant aroma of the glutinous rice to fill the air. To serve the rice, the outer charred layer of the tube is sliced away with a knife, unveiling the inner white rice. Lastly, the remaining white layer is removed, presenting the lam rice proudly in a tube shape, with a delicate bamboo membrane that imparts a unique flavor to the dish.
Photo: Internet

Bamboo rice can be enjoyed on its own or paired with sesame salt and roasted river fish. Traditionally, lam rice was primarily prepared for women following childbirth, as it was believed to prevent metal from mixing with breast milk. Today, however, anyone can savor this unique culinary delight that Ha Giang proudly offers.