Most people buy special cakes of Banh Troi (floating cake) and Banh Chay (lean cake), but some other buy glutinous rice flour to make them at home to offer their ancestors and worship of Buddha.
Originated from China, the festival nowadays has become popular in Vietnam, and is celebrated by Vietnamese people in both urban and rural areas.
Banh Troi are small white balls made of brown sugar, wrapped in glutinous rice flour. The name floating cakes came about from the way it is actually cooked. After kneading the paste, throw them into water and wait until they are floated.
Banh Chay are also made of glutinous flour, however, they resemble boiled dumplings and are filled with green bean paste, sprinkled with sesame seeds and served in bowls with syrups floured with grapefruit blossom.
These two cakes are made from glutinous rice flour but have two different tastes.
Some photos on the festival in Hanoi:
