Folk knowledge of raising and processing Dong Tao chicken is a national intangible cultural heritage.

Accordingly, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to include in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List the Folk Knowledge of Raising and Processing Dong Tao Chicken in Dong Tao Commune, Khoai Chau District, Hung Yen Province.

The Chairman of the People's Committee at all levels where there are intangible cultural heritages included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritages, within the scope of his/her duties and powers, shall perform state management in accordance with the provisions of law on cultural heritage.

Tri thức dân gian nuôi và chế biến gà Đông Tảo là di sản văn hóa phi vật thể quốc gia - Ảnh 1. — Dong Tao chicken, a famous specialty in Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen . Illustrative photo: Minh Quyet/VNA

Dong Tao chicken, also known as Dong Cao chicken, has a long history in Dong Tao commune, Khoai Chau district (Hung Yen). This is a rare breed of chicken, which is said to have been used as a royal offering, and as an offering during ceremonies and festivals.

The outstanding feature of Dong Tao chicken is that it has a pair of large, rough legs, surrounded by a layer of scales in the front arranged in a non-row, the remaining part (3/4 of the area) is rough skin like the surface of a mulberry fruit, 4 toes spread out, clearly divided into toes, thick, balanced feet so the chicken walks steadily. The areas of skin without feathers on the chicken's body (both male and female) are red. Newly hatched chickens have opaque white feathers. Newly hatched chickens weigh 38 - 40g, feather growth is slow, when mature, the male weighs over 4.5 kg (some reach 7kg) and the female weighs over 3.5kg.

Dong Tao chicken meat is firm, delicious, low in fat, low in cholesterol, beneficial to human health and has a special flavor that cannot be confused with the meat of any other chicken breed. In processing Dong Tao chicken, people have passed down a lot of folk knowledge through generations to be able to process chicken optimally, preserving the flavor and nutritional value of the chicken.

Dong Tao chicken is a precious breed of livestock, associated for hundreds of years with the people of Dong Tao commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province. Over many generations, the people here have accumulated a system of folk knowledge, traditional techniques, combining practical experience with the biological characteristics of this breed of chicken, from the stage of selecting breeds (prioritizing chickens with big legs, red skin, double comb) to raising methods suitable for local climate and soil conditions; and traditional cultural concepts, cultural practices associated with the community life of Dong Tao commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province. This knowledge is passed down by word of mouth and practiced in each family, becoming the "secret" of the breeders here.