“Think that you’re not married

So, I bring nuggets, persimmon asking you.”

“Sêu” is an ancient custom of the Vietnamese people. After the pre-wedding ceremony, from that time, although he was not married, the boy was considered as a member of the girl's family. Therefore, during the holidays, the boy is responsible for bringing gifts and helping when the girl's family has a job. This custom means that the groom brings offerings to his wife's house to show respect and gratitude for parents of his wife. It is also a challenge for the future groom.

The custom of An Sêu Bà Chúa is to pay tribute to the “engagement ceremony” of Princess Mỵ Châu, the only daughter of King An Dương Vương. The festival starts from August 13th to the full moon of the 8th lunar month. During the festival, people normally eat vermicelli daily with many different types of dishes: water dropwort or crab….

The origin of this special dish is associated with the princess pre-wedding day. According to legend, during the banquet to prepare for the pre-wedding ceremony of Princess Mỵ Châu, the person who made rice dumpling cake accidentally spilled the flour into the basket that was soaked in the cauldron of boiling water. He hastily lifted the basket, and powder had formed into long strands. Not willing to give up, he mixed this flour with water dropwort to make a snack. Unexpectedly, this dish was praised by the king and became a special dish in the king's reception party.

Nowadays, vermicelli in Cổ Loa is made by the villagers of Mach Trang, used for offerings during holidays and is also a local specialty to entertain visitors. The custom of An Sêu Bà Chúa and the legend of Mỵ Châu - Trọng Thủy handed down in folklore is a story with both realistic and legendary features from the Au Lac period, reflecting a deep imprint in the spiritual life of the people of Cổ Loa. It is a lesson that reminds us of the vigilance against the enemy's plots, and at the same time upholds the loyalty and purity of Vietnamese women.