Highland Dishes for Chilly Days

ĐBP - The unique living environment and climate of the highlands have shaped the distinct customs of the Mông people, one of which is the way they prepare dishes suited to their surroundings and weather.

The Mông people live in villages scattered across the slopes of hills and mountains. Due to the high altitude, the climate remains cool, with mornings and evenings often turning chilly, particularly during the rainy days of autumn’s arrival and throughout September.

Within the Mông community, women wear vibrant clothing in warm tones like red and yellow, adding a sense of warmth and helping to withstand the harshness of the mountainous climate. With villages often isolated and necessities requiring a long journey to purchase, the Mông people have developed unique ways to store and prepare food that warms the soul and preserves heat. Among these is “chopped chicken stewed with ginger,” a signature dish that is ever-present on the dining table during chilly days.

The preparation of this ginger chicken stew is simple yet distinctive. The chicken is cleaned and chopped into small pieces, but what sets this dish apart is the use of fresh ginger as the main spice. The ginger is finely chopped, its juice squeezed out, and used at a ratio of about a quarter to the amount of chicken. The stew is then simmered, seasoned, and cooked to taste.

The stew is usually made with plenty of water, creating a broth that carries the fresh sweetness of the chicken and the warm, subtle heat of the ginger (with the juice already extracted to temper its spiciness). This dish not only warms the body but also boosts resilience against the cold as the seasons change, making it a treasured recipe of the Mông people.

Visiting the highlands at the start of autumn, you’ll feel the warmth of the steaming ginger chicken stew in your hands, breathe in the rich and fresh aroma, and take in the sight of low-roofed houses nestled against mountainsides, cradling a sea of clouds. All of this creates a distinctive sense of the primal yet harmonious way of life of the Mông people, deeply rooted in simplicity and unity with nature.

The Mông villages in the early days of autumn are shrouded in mist, with a chill in the air.

To adapt to the highland climate, Mông women often wear clothing in warm, vibrant colours.

Accompanying this are signature dishes that reflect adaptation and harmony with the highland climate. In the photo: Ingredients for the Mông people's ginger chicken stew in Tủa Chùa district.

The preparation is very simple: just clean the chicken and chop it into small pieces.

Fresh ginger, one of the warming spices for chilly weather, is finely chopped and squeezed to reduce its spiciness.

After preparation, the ingredients are stewed, and seasonings are adjusted to taste.

This is one way in which the Mông people retain warmth, strengthen their immunity, and endure the seasonal chill. 

 

Trần Nhâm
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Skillful mass mobilization ensures success for every task

    Skillful mass mobilization ensures success for every task

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - “Poor mass mobilization leads to poor results. Skillful mass mobilization ensures success.” President Hồ Chí Minh’s teaching has always been the guiding principle for the Party’s mass mobilization work throughout every stage of history. Embracing this ideology, Party committees, local authorities, armed forces, and each Party member have been striving to turn it into concrete, practical actions, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc.
  • 'A step forward in traffic management

    A step forward in traffic management

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Since August 2024, functional agencies have officially put into operation a traffic monitoring and image-based violation handling system (commonly known as “cold fines”) at five key points in Điện Biên Phủ ward. With 19 cameras operating continuously, the system has already brought about positive changes, significantly improving public awareness of traffic laws.
  • 'Several concerns raised about operation of new commune governments

    Several concerns raised about operation of new commune governments

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - More than two months after the launch of the two-tier local government model, commune and ward administrations in Điện Biên province have generally met the needs of citizens and businesses. However, this transitional stage remains challenging, with local governments facing heavy workloads, staffing mismatches, and infrastructure constraints. While the streamlined model promises efficiency and effectiveness, certain concerns remain.
  • 'Emulation spirit powers Điện Biên’s transformation

    Emulation spirit powers Điện Biên’s transformation

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The 6th Patriotic Emulation Congress of Điện Biên province, held from September 17-19, carried the theme: “Solidarity, promoting the heroic Điện Biên Phủ tradition, striving to build a fast and sustainable Điện Biên”. The message was clear: emulation is not just a slogan, it must be action.
  • 'Efforts to search for and identify remains of fallen soldiers

    Efforts to search for and identify remains of fallen soldiers

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Though the wars have long passed, the pain and the void left behind remain present in the families of fallen soldiers. On the historic land of Điện Biên, where the legendary victory once “resounded across five continents and shook the globe”, many graves have yet to be found or identified.
  • 'Điện Biên boosts construction of homes for people in disaster-affected areas

    Điện Biên boosts construction of homes for people in disaster-affected areas

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - With a spirit of urgency and determination to “overcome sun and rain,” officers and soldiers of the Điện Biên provincial Military Command are devoting their full efforts to the campaign “Thirty Days of Speed - Reaching the Finish Line.” Their commitment to the motto “For the People” is being translated into new homes for disaster-stricken families, giving them safe shelter and peace of mind to rebuild their lives.
  • 'Turning Resolution 71 into reality

    Turning Resolution 71 into reality

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Right after the Politburo issued Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on August 22, 2025, on breakthrough development in education and training, the education sector of Điện Biên province quickly took action with a spirit of initiative and determination. Instead of waiting for detailed guidelines, many schools rolled up their sleeves to transform the spirit of renewal in the Resolution into concrete actions, promising real change from the very start of the new school year.
  • 'Communities join hands to keep Điện Biên clean and green

    Communities join hands to keep Điện Biên clean and green

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, the movement to keep public spaces clean and improve the local landscape has spread widely across Điện Biên province, drawing strong participation from residents. The collective efforts of political and social organizations, together with each household’s sense of responsibility, have brought about clear improvements and contributed to building a cleaner, safer living environment.
  • 'Huổi Nhả develops community-based tourism

    Huổi Nhả develops community-based tourism

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - Each season, the mountain villages present a different beauty, rustic yet poetic. Building and developing community-based tourism by harnessing natural landscapes and indigenous culture has become a path toward sustainable economic growth in many upland villages. Huổi Nhả village, Mường Pồn commune is one such example.
  • 'The People’s Court of Điện Biên province upholds its role in defending justice

    The People’s Court of Điện Biên province upholds its role in defending justice

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - In the 80-year history of the People’s Court of Vietnam (September 13, 1945 - September 13, 2025), the People’s Court of Điện Biên province has carved out a proud chapter. Over its 62 years since establishment in 1963, from difficult beginnings, the provincial court has continually striven to overcome challenges, reform its organization, and improve the quality of adjudication, thereby upholding the rule of law, protecting justice, and preserving peace for the people.
  • 'Điện Biên gears up for 15th provincial Party Congress with lively publicity campaigns

    Điện Biên gears up for 15th provincial Party Congress with lively publicity campaigns

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - In the run-up to the 15th Party Congress of Điện Biên province, agencies and sectors across the province are intensifying publicity efforts, creating a lively atmosphere of emulation while spreading trust and expectations among Party members and local people. Decoration, ceremonial arrangements, and visual propaganda are being carried out in a coordinated and solemn manner, reflecting high political determination and contributing to the success of the Congress.
  • 'A driving force for protecting special-use forests

    A driving force for protecting special-use forests

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Payment for forest environmental services (PFES) is a sound policy aimed at protecting headwater forests, maintaining ecosystems, and ensuring water resources for hydropower and tourism activities. In recent years, the Management Board of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve has effectively implemented PFES, providing people with additional income, improving their living standards, and strengthening their commitment to forest protection and development.
  • 'Điện Biên fosters sustainable mineral exploitation

    Điện Biên fosters sustainable mineral exploitation

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - The exploitation of minerals for common construction materials in Điện Biên province still faces many shortcomings and limitations. Some enterprises have not fully complied with regulations on the environment, mine design, and technical infrastructure requirements. In response, functional agencies have promptly urged corrections, requiring enterprises to address violations and gradually complete necessary conditions to ensure legal, safe, and sustainable exploitation.