Pounding Day cakes at activities promoting and introducing OCOP products attracts a large number of visitors to visit and enjoy.

On cold foggy winter days, the atmosphere in Na Rao hamlet, Phong Quang commune, becomes warm with bustling laughter beside the glowing fire. In the kitchen, grandmothers and mothers gather to steam new sticky rice, roast peanuts and roast sesame seeds... creating a picture of life that is rustic yet rich in poetry.
That seemingly simple working atmosphere bears the distinct cultural features of the ethnic people, being both quotidian and deeply embodying the crystallization of generations-old traditions blended with the warm reunion of the highland people.
Ms. Hoang Thi Tan, a reputable person in Na Rao hamlet, Phong Quang commune, said: Day cakes this season are very sticky because the new glutinous rice is fragrant. With rice grains from our own fields, eating a piece of cake feels happier.
Day cakes are usually made immediately after the harvest, the time when people end a year of hard labor and entrust their gratitude into the new rice grains. Making cakes is both rustic and sacred, paying tribute to heaven and earth, ancestors and their own efforts. The sticky cakes are not only a dish but also a symbol of reunion, fullness and new hope.
In this atmosphere of celebrating new rice, highland children are indispensable. Children chirp and run around the stilt house, while the elderly sit around the fire telling stories about the harvest and life. Since ancient times, villagers have known how to make Day cakes after the harvest to offer to ancestors and share the new fortune together.
Over the years, Day cakes have also been sold, becoming a stable source of income for many families, while preserving traditional features amidst a changing life. According to many elderly people in high mountainous areas: One of the secrets to creating the characteristic flavor of the cake is the way it is wrapped in banana leaves. The lush green layer of leaves helps the cake stay soft and sticky for a long time and absorb the natural fragrance.
Not only within the family, Day cakes also appear in conferences, festivals and product displays, becoming a "cultural ambassador" of the mountainous region, promoting the beauty of labor, creativity and community spirit of the people. In early spring, many localities organize Day cake pounding contests, where teams pound glutinous rice until smooth and mold beautiful round cakes, creating a bustling and joyful atmosphere at the beginning of the year.
Ms. Ma Thi Hac, who often participates in the Long Tong Festival, shared: The contest is not only to show off skills but also to preserve cultural values, sending wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year. I always put my affection into each cake to give to visitors from near and far, thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the characteristic culture of the locality. 

From glutinous rice combined with many natural ingredients such as: gac fruit, mugwort leaves, magenta plant leaves... delicious and colorful Day cakes have been created. 

Day cakes in the new rice season are not only a traditional dish but also a symbol of reunion and joy after a year of labor. From fragrant and sticky glutinous rice grains, through the skillful hands of grandmothers and mothers, Day cakes become a spiritual gift, connecting generations and preserving long-standing cultural values.
In the bustling atmosphere of the harvest days, the sound of pestles, children's laughter and stories of the elderly blend together, creating a vivid picture of the life of highland people, conveying messages of gratitude, hope and aspiration for a bountiful and prosperous new year...