Bánh cốm Nguyên Ninh is one of Hanoi’s oldest and most iconic traditional sweets, originating in the 19th century in the former village of Yên Ninh, where today’s Hàng Than Street is located. The cake is made from young green sticky rice (“cốm”), which is carefully processed by hand to preserve its natural color and fresh rice aroma, while the filling consists of a smooth, sweet mung bean paste often enriched with coconut and a light floral citrus note from bitter orange blossom.