Across the streets, one can still see women in long brown áo dài, carrying their goods for sale from the break of dawn. Inside their baskets, the bánh cuốn is neatly stacked in layers, resembling steps, on bright green banana leaves. The white color of the bánh cuốn stands out, but in a gentle manner, reminiscent of the demure and wholesome beauty of young girls standing beneath the lush foliage of pepper trees.