Ingredients for one bánh chưng • glutinous rice (large, even grains, fresh, fragrant) (about 1 cup or 200 grams) • dong leaves (not too old or too young) • split mung beans (choose fresh, crumbly, yellow, beautiful beans) (about 1/2 cup or 100 grams) • Giang strings (choose flexible ones that won't break when tying) • pork belly (with both lean and fat, thick, thin skin; don't use only lean meat or the cake will be dry) (about 3.5 oz or 100 grams) • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste