This year’s Chung Cake-Making Festival became truly special with the participation of more than 130 families and nearly 50 school staff members. The Hai Dang Xanh campus transformed into a vibrant and colorful celebration space. The slogan “GROWING TOGETHER!!! LEARNING STEAM TOGETHER!!!” resonated powerfully, reflecting our shared aspiration. That aspiration is for our children to grow up in a comprehensive STEAM educational environment — one where they not only learn, explore, and create, but are also nurtured in love and kindness, and equipped with the key to open a bright and promising future.
To prepare for this special day, our little sailors took part in engaging lessons exploring Chung cake through the lens of STEM.
The lesson began with an introduction to the traditional ingredients used to make Chung cake, including glutinous rice, mung beans, pork, dong leaves, and tying strings. The children eagerly observed and touched the fresh green dong leaves, sparking curiosity and excitement.
The children watched instructional videos demonstrating how to wrap the cake, allowing them to understand the process in a visual and lively way. Teachers carefully explained each step, helping the children understand why every stage must be followed in order. The lesson was further reinforced by connecting the activity to shapes and colors, helping children link cultural traditions with foundational academic concepts.
Finally, the children unwrapped the cooked cake together to observe its layers and taste its flavor. Through this experience, they were able to evaluate the result, reflect on the process, and draw lessons for this year’s Chung Cake-Making Festival.
During the festival, families experienced each step of the wrapping process together — from preparing ingredients to completing beautifully crafted cakes. More than simply making traditional food, the activity offered meaningful lessons about family connection and a deeper appreciation for Vietnamese cultural heritage.
In addition to wrapping Chung cake, this year’s event included many other engaging activities, such as exploring traditional art through Dong Ho folk painting printing and practicing calligraphy. Families also discovered elements of Vietnamese folk culture through traditional games like “ném còn” (ball tossing) and jump rope, while enjoying carefully prepared, heartfelt performances.
With the theme “STEM Tet Ất Tỵ – Extending Love,” Hai Dang Xanh hopes that this event has inspired children to become more enthusiastic about creative STEM projects, strengthened bonds among family and friends, and deepened their appreciation for the traditional cultural values of Vietnam.
