Hung Yen province, a rich land accreted by the fertile alluvium of the Red river and Luoc river, has long been famous for an array of delicious and nutritious agricultural products such aslongan, lotus, pomelo, pink banana... and this place is also well known for its specialty of water bamboo shoot ....

Hung Yen province, a rich land accreted by the fertile alluvium of the Red river and Luoc river, has long been famous for an array of delicious and nutritious agricultural products such aslongan, lotus, pomelo, pink banana... and this place is also well known for its specialty of water bamboo shoot ....

Water bamboo shoot, also known as lua bap, is an herbaceous plant that lives for many years in the Northern Delta provinces, often growing wild in muddy places such as ponds, lakes, swamps or riverside alluviums. It hasa well developed rhizome; the stem is 1m to 2meters high; leaves are flat, long in shape; the lower part is big and spongy. The stem is often parasitic by a fungus, causing the stem to swell, bearing many black spots made up of fungal spores. The parasitic fungus can makewater bamboo shoot  tastier. Water bamboo shoot contains numerous nutrients such as zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2. In addition, roots and branches can be used as a medicine, with the effect of clearing heat and regulating the stomach.Eating water bamboo shoot  regularly can prevent high blood pressure and atherosclerosis; especially has positive effect on treatment of cirrhosis of the liver,uremia and diabetes.

Previously, water bamboo shoot can be eaten raw; however, now it becomes a local specialty and it is replacing rice on fields. Now Hung Yen province has about 10 hectares of water bamboo shoot. This variety is grown in February and harvested in September on the lunar calendar. It can be grown once and harvested in the consecutive 3 years. Water bamboo shoot is a clean, delicious and strange vegetable which is favored by the food lovers

In order to buy good water bamboo shoots, cooks should choose big tubes which show white skin after peeling off the green covers. Water bamboo shoots can be cooked with beef, lean meat, chicken, eggs or solely with onions adding some herbs to make a delicious dish.

To Vietnamese people in general and Hung Yen people in particular, water bamboo shoots are associated with childhood, memory and nostalgia. Visiting Hung Yen province in September and November and wandering on streets in Hong Chau ward or in the city markets, visitors can see yoke baskets full of water bamboo shoots sold everywhere.

If you adore experiences and exploration, it would be more interesting to join local farmers to harvest and sell water bamboo shoots. It would be a great experience to enjoy the crunchiness and delicacy of dishes made from water bamboo shoots.