Rice paper villages under the sun and wind of Binh Thuan

When people think of Binh Thuan, they often picture blue seas, white sand, and year-round sunshine and wind. Yet beyond its coastal landscapes, the province is also home to long-standing rice paper craft villages that have been an intergral part of local life for generations.

The traditional hand-made rice paper craft can be found most clearly in villages such as Phu Long (Ham Thuan Bac District) and Cho Lau (Bac Binh District). For many years, these villages have maintained a steady pace of production quiet and unassuming, yet distinctive enough to leave a mark on the everyday life of Binh Thuan.

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Rice paper here is not a mass-produced industrial product. Each sheet is the result of many careful manual steps that require both experience and patience. The craft continues to exist thanks to the dedication of local residents and the kitchen fires that remain lit every day in household courtyards.

A new day begins with the stove and a pot of rice batter

From early morning, before the sun rises high, families begin lighting their stoves. The fire is fueled by rice husks - a familiar and readily available material that requires skill to control in order to maintain a steady heat.

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To produce fragrant and flexible rice paper, the makers must first select high-quality rice, soak it until soft, and grind it into fine batter. Mixing the batter is considered the most challenging step because even a slight mistake in thickness or water ratio can affect the final quality of the rice paper.

When steaming, a ladle of batter is poured onto a cloth stretched over a pot of boiling water and spread evenly into a thin circular layer. The lid is then placed on top to allow the sheet to cook. The fire cannot be too weak, or the rice paper will remain undercooked; it cannot be too strong either, or the edges will dry out.

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Once the rice paper is cooked just right, the maker skillfully uses a bamboo stick to lift it from the cloth and place it onto a drying rack. This motion is repeated hundreds of times in a single morning steady and precise.

Behind each batch of rice paper lies patience and precision

Rice paper making leaves no room for haste. From selecting rice and mixing batter to controlling the fire and removing the sheet from the mold, every step requires experience accumulated over many years.

Each batch reflects the patience of the craftsperson. Standing beside a hot stove, their hands move quickly while their eyes carefully monitor every sheet. A single small mistake can cause the rice paper to tear, warp, or lose the thinness required.

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After steaming, the sheets are laid out to dry. Although drying may seem simple, it also requires care. Each sheet must be placed neatly on bamboo racks without overlapping so that the sunlight can dry both sides evenly.

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It is this meticulous process that gives Binh Thuan rice paper its distinctive character: soft, aromatic, and pleasantly chewy.

Rice paper making depends on the "sun"

In Binh Thuan, abundant sunshine is a major advantage for the craft villages. Rice paper needs consistent sunlight to dry properly. On sunny days, the sheets may dry in just a few hours. But if the sky turns cloudy or sudden rain appears, an entire batch may be affected.

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However, intense sunlight is not always ideal. If exposed to strong sunlight for too long, the rice paper may become overly brittle and easy to break. Makers must therefore learn to “read the sun,” carefully observing the weather and adjusting drying time accordingly.

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In many ways, making rice paper in Binh Thuan means working together with the sun. Sunlight is not just a natural condition, it is an essential part of the craft, shaping the quality of each batch.

Amid change, the rice paper villages still keep their fires burning

Today, many households have begun using machines to steam rice paper in order to increase productivity. Even so, hand-made rice paper still holds a special place thanks to its flavor and texture that machines cannot easily replicate.

Although the income is modest and the work can be demanding, rice paper making continues to provide jobs for many local residents. For numerous families, it remains a stable source of livelihood, especially when farming seasons end.

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More importantly, maintaining the craft is also a way of preserving a tradition handed down from previous generations. As long as the kitchen fires remain lit, the village continues its familiar rhythm of life.

Conclusion

Under the sun and wind of Binh Thuan, bamboo racks filled with drying rice paper still stretch across household courtyards, a familiar image of this land. The craft of rice paper making is neither noisy nor glamorous, yet it endures through diligence and quiet perseverance. Through this daily repetition, the craft villages continue to exist year after year, carrying with them the humble yet distinctive flavor of traditional Vietnamese rice paper.

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