There is also another story, about a business man. One day he had to travel far away leaving his wife behind. She was very sad and told her husband that she would think of him only and be faithful to him until he returned.
But the husband met and fell in love with another woman. This made the wife very sad. She made the cake and sent it to husband with a note that said, “Since the day you left on the boat I have counted the waves on the river, each wave made me think of you”. The husband ate the cake in the tears and caught the boat home to his wife. The cake is called “Phu Thê” after this event.
The people in Dinh Bang village (the hometown of Phu The cake) also have another story. It is said that King Ly Thanh Tong and his lover Mrs Y Lan went back to their hometown, Dinh Bang and people dedicated “Phu thê” cake to them. The King tried the cake and loved it. He said the cake was really delicious and asked that it be eaten on special occasions. The villagers declared that the cake will be used in worship on special festivals and Tet, so everyone would benefit. After this it was dedicated to noblemen and people with high positions in society.
After listening, the King thought for a while and said:
Such a good cake as this should be used more often so more people are able to enjoy it. There are happy times in a life such as wedding parties or engagement celebrations, this cake should be made for these occasion as well. It will be called “Bánh phu thê”.
The villagers in Dinh Bang were very happy upon hearing these words from the King and understood that people look for happiness as a couple, so they changed its name to “Phu thê”
Dinh Bang villagers (Tien Son, Bac Ninh) still keep land specifically to grow a type of sticky rice named “nếp cái hoa vàng”, which is used to make “Bánh phu thê”