Vietnamese Traditional Food on Tet Holiday: Must-Try Dishes

Vietnam is a name that evokes the pride of many Vietnamese people. From the heroic history of our fathers through many generations of building and keeping the country to the solidarity of 54 brotherly provinces contributing to the development of the country alongside the power of five continents. Therefore, every year Vietnam welcomes many international visitors to visit and explore.

Vietnam also has numerous special holidays that might surprise travelers, especially the Tet holiday. Tet is considered the most significant festival in Vietnam, and it is a time when families come together to celebrate and enjoy delicious food. The food served during Tet is steeped in tradition, culture, and symbolism, and it is a reflection of the rich culinary heritage of Vietnam.

Through this article, we will show you the top Vietnamese traditional food that you should try when traveling to Vietnam.

Discover Vietnamese Traditional Food For New Year

Vietnamese culture is inherently diverse among ethnic groups and regions. Therefore, the cuisine on Tet holiday also brings in diversity and richness. However, diversity is not synonymous with difference. That is, although traditional Vietnamese foods have many different expressions, different dishes, and processing methods may not be the same, they all tend to the common traditional cultural values ​​of the country.

The unity in the culinary culture of Vietnamese traditional food for the New Year is reflected in the meaning and spiritual values that each dish represents. For example, blue and red were chosen as the main colors symbolizing luck and fortune.  In general, Vietnamese Tet cuisine is a symbol of affluence and fullness and shows the devotion that children and grandchildren want to pay tribute to their grandparents and ancestors.

Vietnamese traditional food has a strong spiritual meaning in the traditions of the Vietnamese people

Vietnamese Traditional Food On Tet Holiday

The Tet holiday is a time for family reunions, religious observances, and exchanging gifts. During this time, the Vietnamese people indulge in traditional dishes that are typically served only during the festive season. The food not only represents the cultural significance of Tet but also brings families and friends together, creating an atmosphere of warmth and happiness.

Here are some of the Vietnamese traditional food that are commonly served during the Tet holiday:

1. Banh Chung

Banh Chung is a traditional Vietnamese rice cake made from glutinous rice, mung bean, and pork belly wrapped in a banana leaf. During the Tet holiday, Banh Chung is a dish that every family has. Banh Chung is symbolic of the earth, representing the Vietnamese people's gratitude to their ancestors and the land. The dish is usually boiled for several hours before serving, and it is often eaten with pickled onions or dipping sauce.

2. Banh Tet

Banh Tet is one of the Vietnamese traditional food for New Year, which every family member can make together. This cake has the same texture as the Banh Chung; however, while the Banh Chung’s shape is square, Banh Tet is a long-rounded cake. As a cultural feature of the Southern people from the time of reclamation and establishment to the present, the package is like a dish that distills the quintessential but closest in agriculture to thank the god of the land and ancestors.

Banh Tet is the soul of Vietnamese traditional cuisine during the Tet holiday

3. Vietnamese Gac Sticky Rice

According to the ancient concept, red is the color of luck, the color of happiness. Therefore, during full moon days and holidays, especially New Year's Day, there must be a plate of sticky rice which is considered the most important Vietnamese traditional food.

Gac sticky rice is cooked from glutinous rice mixed with fresh Gac and then put in an autoclave. After being cooked, the sticky rice will have a very beautiful and attractive bright red color. When eating, you will feel the plasticity of glutinous rice, the fatty taste of coconut milk, and the sweetness of sugar.

Read more about Lunar New Year Festival - What To Know About Tet Holiday In Vietnam?

4. Thit Kho Tau

Southerners celebrating Tet are indispensable for the ship's meat stock. Pork is taken as the most delicious, stocked with duck eggs or quail eggs. Southerners consider the meat stock to be meaningful for a peaceful and prosperous family, which is a simple, familiar dish attached to family members. You can eat Thit Kho Tau with white rice to create the best taste.

5. Nem Ran

Fried spring rolls look simple, and the ingredients are not difficult to find, but they show all the talents and sophistication of the processor. Nem is a familiar and popular dish in all regions throughout the country.

The main ingredients are minced lean meat, vermicelli, shiitake mushrooms, eggs, green onions, and bean sprouts, then mixed together should be considered a dish that symbolizes the "national soul, the national spirit." Then season with spices, pack into each round rice paper, and fry them in oil. Depending on taste and preference, ingredients and spices can be increased or decreased to fit the mouth.

Nem ran is a Vietnamese traditional dish that is loved by many local people

6. Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup

Bitter melon is a food that brings a lot of benefits to human health. Especially when there is more cat meat and mushrooms, it increases the nourishment of the dish. This soup means ignoring the less fortunate and waiting for joy to come. Perhaps that's why bitter melon is a great choice of Vietnamese traditional food for many families every Tet. So don't forget to add this kind of soup to your family's New Year's Day menu.

7. Pickled Scallion

Pickled scallion is an indispensable Vietnamese traditional food on Tet holiday - A rustic dish so dear that just looking at it, you can feel that the new year and spring are coming. Therefore, the palanquin becomes a traditional dish that always appears in the Vietnamese New Year's tray. The characteristic aroma and crispy, sweet and sour taste of the palanquin make everyone fall in love.

8. Meat Jelly

Meat Jelly is a typical dish of the traditional Northern New Year. It is often cooked from spring leg meat, shiitake mushrooms, and myrrh, which is greasy, delicious, and attractive. The characteristic of meat jelly is that it must be cooked very slowly until a layer of fat is on the surface to meet the standard.

Meat jelly is a familiar Vietnamese traditional food for Northern people during every Tet holiday

Above is an article about Tet cuisine and traditional dishes in the Tet tray of Vietnamese people. Check your eligibility and get a Vietnam e-visa to try one of the most delicious foods in the world. The whole process will be done in a couple of days; with a Vietnam e-visa, you can travel to this beautiful country to experience the diverse culture and cuisine here.

For newcomers, you can refer to some notes about the Vietnam travel guide before going. Vietnam Immigration Services hopes you will have more knowledge about Vietnam, particularly of regions across the country.