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Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday of the year for Vietnamese people. This is not only the time for families to reunite and remember their ancestors, but also an occasion to honor traditional cultural values, in which cuisine plays a particularly important role. Each region of the North, Central and South of Vietnam has its own typical dishes, creating a diverse and attractive culinary picture, leaving a deep impression on international visitors.
Each region of Vietnam has its own typical dishes. Source: Bao Thanh Nien
The North, where many traditional cultural features are preserved, offers a traditional Tet menu. Tet cuisine in the North has many unique and meaningful traditional dishes, reflecting a rich culinary culture.
Banh Chung is a symbol of heaven, earth and Vietnamese culture. It is made from sticky rice, mung beans, pork, and dong leaves. The process of wrapping the Banh Chung requires skill to ensure the square, symbolizing the earth. Banh Chung is not only a dish, but also has deep cultural meaning, expressing respect to ancestors and the desire for a peaceful new year.
Banh Chung is a symbol of heaven, earth and Vietnamese culture. Source: Bo kho chi Ba
Lean pork paste is a traditional dish that is indispensable in the Northern Tet tray. Lean pork paste is usually made from minced pork, spices, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. Lean pork paste not only shows the skill of the maker but also symbolizes completeness and luck in the new year.
Lean pork paste is a traditional dish that is indispensable in the Northern Tet tray. Source: 2dep
Jellied meat is a unique dish that often appears on the Northern Tet tray. This dish is made from pork, shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms. After cooking, the meat is left to cool and naturally solidify, forming a transparent block with meat and mushrooms interspersed. The jellied meat has a refreshing, soft flavor and is often eaten with pickled onions to balance the taste. This dish is not only delicious but also symbolizes reunion and peace in the new year.
Jellied meat is a unique dish that often appears on the Northern Tet tray. Source: Dien May Xanh
Pickled onions are a traditional dish in the Tet feast of Northern Vietnam. Made from small shallots soaked in a mixture of salt, sugar, and vinegar, they have a mildly sour and crisp taste. This dish not only stimulates the palate but also balances the richness of fatty foods like jellied meat, pork rolls, or sticky rice cakes. Pickled onions symbolize simplicity and warmth while playing a vital role in completing the flavors of the Tet feast.
Pickled onions are a traditional dish in the Tet feast of Northern Vietnam. Source: Suc Khoe Doi Song
Bamboo shoot soup is usually made from dried bamboo shoots, pork or pork leg, shiitake mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms. Bamboo shoot soup has the natural sweetness of the bones, the aroma of dried bamboo shoots, and the crunchiness of mushrooms, creating a dish that is both cozy and nutritious. This is not only a delicious dish but also symbolizes reunion and warmth in the early days of spring.
Bamboo shoot soup is not only a delicious dish but also symbolizes reunion and warmth in the early days of spring. Source: Vnexpress
The Central region, with its cultural blend of the North and the South, offers a rich and distinctive Tet culinary picture. Let's explore the typical dishes that are indispensable in the Tet tray of the Central region.
Cylindric glutinous rice cake, or Banh Tet is a dish similar to Banh Chung in the North but is wrapped in a long cylinder shape, symbolizing longevity and development, filled with green beans and fatty meat, or sometimes sweet stuffing like bananas.
Banh Tet symbolizes longevity and development. Source: Dien May Xanh.
Cured Meat in Fish Sauce is a unique dish, showcases the skill of the Central Vietnamese women. Pork is boiled, drained, then soaked in a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and chili. After a few days, the meat absorbs the spices, becomes soft and flavorful. This dish is often served with hot rice or rolled in rice paper.
Cured Meat in Fish Sauce is a unique dish, showcases the skill of the Central Vietnamese women. Source: Vietnamnet
Pickled vegetables is a harmonious combination of vegetables such as carrots, radishes, papayas, and onions that are dried and then soaked in fish sauce and sugar. This dish has a crunchy, sweet and sour taste, and is often served with banh tet to balance the rich flavor. This is a unique culinary experience for those who love traditional flavors.
Pickled vegetables is a unique culinary experience for those who love traditional flavors. Source: Dien May Xanh
Fermented pork roll has a slightly sour taste, with the spicy taste of chili and pepper, made from minced pork, pork skin, and spices. The rolls are wrapped in banana leaves and naturally fermented, creating a unique flavor that is hard to miss. This is a snack that often appears at family gatherings during Tet.
Thanh Hoa fermented pork roll it’s a must-try specialty. Source: Vinwonders
Traditional dried candied fruit: Candied ginger, coconut, and winter melon… are indispensable sweets on the tea table during Tet. The sweet, mild aroma not only warms the hearts of guests but also symbolizes sweetness and luck in the new year. This is also a meaningful gift for visitors to bring home as a souvenir.
Dried candied fruit is an indispensable sweet on the tea table during Tet. Source: O Mai Hong Lam
Southern Vietnam, with its warm climate and generous people, offers a diverse and rich Tet cuisine. Let's explore the typical dishes that make up the flavor of Tet in the South.
Banh Tet is a traditional dish on the Southern Vietnamese Tet table. Among its many variations, the vibrant Banh Tet La Cam stands out with its glistening purple sticky rice, colored naturally with magenta plant extract. The filling typically includes mung beans, fatty pork, or occasionally sweet bananas. This dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing, reflecting the creativity and richness of Southern Vietnamese cuisine.
Banh Tet La Cam stands out with its glistening purple sticky rice, colored naturally with magenta plant extract. Source: Dien May Xanh
Caramelized pork and eggs is a familiar dish in every Southern family during Tet. Pork belly is braised with duck eggs in coconut water, creating a rich, fatty flavor. This dish is often served with white rice or pickled cucumbers, symbolizing the wish for fullness and prosperity in the new year.
Caramelized pork and eggs is a familiar dish in every Southern family during Tet. Source: Delightful Plate
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Pork stuffed bitter melon soup is not only a refreshing and nutritious dish but also has a profound meaning. People in the Southern region believe that eating bitter melon at the beginning of the new year will help dispel bad luck and welcome a peaceful and happy new year. This is a delicious and culturally meaningful dish that visitors should try.
Pork stuffed bitter melon soup – Symbol of overcoming difficulties. Source: Maggi
Sausage is a traditional Southern Tet delicacy made from finely ground pork, pork fat, and spices. It can be fried, grilled, or steamed, creating a delicious, attractive flavor. Often enjoyed alongside steamed rice or sticky rice, it’s a beloved accompaniment during the festive season.
Sausage is a beloved accompaniment during the festive season. Source: Vinafood.net
The Lunar New Year is not only a traditional celebration but also an opportunity to honor and showcase Vietnamese cuisine to the world. The diversity and sophistication of dishes from the North, Central, and South regions vividly illustrate the richness and uniqueness of Vietnamese culture. Let’s share and spread these wonderful values, fostering greater admiration for Vietnam’s land and people globally.
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