Vietnamese Snake Fairy Tales and Recipes

I have been inspired by travels in Vietnam to explore Vietnamese fairy tales and recipes.

Apparently, some of the Vietnamese fairy tales are a lot like Brothers Grimm fairy tales. 

As an example the fairy tale about the Cham Master Snake....

Giang Dung was young woman very different from any of the other girls in her village near by My Son. Giang Dung got married all was well for just a little while, her husband had passed away. However, she was left pregnant with a frog. Giang Dung and all the townspeople were horrified at the fact that her baby was a snake.

Giang Dung came to the conclusion that no matter what shape this baby was, she would have it. And she would raise it no different than if it was a human baby.

The baby snake was born and grew up to become a boy snake. One day the mother asked her son who he would like to marry. He responded by saying, I want to marry the King of Cham's youngest daughter, Kien Tien.

Years later, Kien Tien did in fact agree to marry him. And as the story turns out, once the frog and Princess Kien Tien kissed, Master Snake’s skin was shed and he become a handsome young man.

When Kien Tien awoke she found her husband skin. She screamed hysterically of course, but then walked in Master Snake as handsome young man. 

And they lived happily ever after.

Now on to a suitable recipe. We will obviously not choose a snake recipe, as that would be a bit cruel. Instead, we will choose a recipe which is from the area around My Son,

The Hoi An Spring Roll 

recipe.

1 (8 ounce) package rice vermicelli

8 ounces cooked, peeled shrimp, cut in half lengthwise

8 rice wrappers (6.5 inch diameter)

1 carrot, julienned

1 cup shredded lettuce

1/4 cup fresh brazil

water as needed

Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Remove from heat. Place rice vermicelli in boiling water, remove from heat, and let soak 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Drain, and rinse with cold water.

Fill a large bowl with hot water. Dip one rice wrapper in the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat, and place desired amounts of noodles, shrimp, carrot, lettuce and basil in the center. 

Roll the edges of the wrapper slightly inward. Beginning at the bottom edge of wrapper, tightly wrap the ingredients. Repeat with remaining ingredients.