A must-try specialty of Văn Chấn District in the northern province of Yen Bai in autumn is cốm (young sticky rice), made from Tu Le glutinous rice grown in the valley.

This particular grain of rice has large, round seeds and when it is cooked, the rice has a special soft and fragrant taste. When it is processed into cốm, it tastes sweet and pleasant and has a green colour.

According to locals, the deliciousness of the rice is due to the cool climate all year round in the region.

In addition, the rich humus and minerals of the soil and the transparent water of the stream flowing from the top of Khau Phạ Pass are natural factors that create the original flavour of Tu Le glutinous rice.

Thị Sang, a villager from Na Lóng Village, said the stages of making cốm are complicated. At the start of Tu Le nugget season, the villagers start to harvest the rice from 5am and then only the newly ripe rice are carefully selected to make delicious nuggets.

Currently, all villagers in Tu Le Commune are involved in producing nuggets. Each local family can make around 20kg per day. Each kilo of Tu Le nuggets could be sold at VNĐ100,000 (US$4,4), which has become their major source of income. VNS