Oodles of noodles for everyone
Việt Cường Village in the northern mountain province of Thái Nguyên's Đồng Hỷ District and its famous miến dong (noodles made from edible canna roots) have confirmed their reputation since the products were included in the 20 national five-star OCOP products in 2020.
Canna noodle household producers in Việt Cường are gradually changing from using manual production methods to applying modern techniques such as automatic rolling and cutting machines, dough beaters and semi-automatic drying systems to increase output and quality.
The goods' quantity and quality have increased significantly, meeting demands of domestic and foreign markets with many products of the craft village confirming its five-star standards in the OCOP Việt Nam quality requirements.
Việt Cường canna noodles are delicious. Even if they have already been cooked in the morning and are only warmed up until noon, the noodles won't become mushy. These features are what define the trademark of these glass noodles.
The glass noodles are made from sweet and purple edible canna roots grown in the forests of Thái Nguyên and are produced under strict quality processes, ensuring food safety and hygiene.
Every year, the noodle makers produce from May until near Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.
Currently, the village has about 35 households engaged in noodle production.
No one is exactly sure when the traditional glass noodles first appeared in Việt Cường Village, Hóa Thượng Commune, but, according to local villagers and authority officials, the dish has been made for more than 50 years.
Nguyễn Xuân Lộc, vice chairman of the Hóa Thượng People's Committee told langngheviet.vn that the locality prioritised the traditional occupation and handicraft services.
The restoration and development of the traditional craft in Việt Cường has been mobilised among locals for long time but a lack of investments have hindered the work until 2007 when Nguyễn Văn Ba, a local young villager bravely established the Việt Cường Glass Noodles Cooperative, according to Nông Nghiệp Việt Nam (Việt Nam Agriculture) newspaper.
After more than 12 years of operation, the cooperative has built a strong brand in the market. The total cooperative personnel includes 25 members and 20 regular employees.