Lunar New Year – a golden time to reunite with family, gather around a tray of rice imbued with Vietnamese identity. Traditional dishes are not only a "delicious" part but also a wish for good luck and prosperity at the beginning of the year.

Figure 1: Nha Trang city on the night of Tet 30 (Photo: Collectible)

Let's explore the world of Tet cuisine with Tikihomi to make family meals richer and more meaningful!

1.1. The meaning of the Lunar New Year in Vietnamese culture

The Lunar New Year has a special meaning in Vietnamese culture, expressing the tradition of "drinking water to remember the source" through arranging trays and lighting incense to commemorate ancestors.

Figure 2: Lighting incense on Nha Trang New Year (Photo: Collectible)

This is also an opportunity for all family members, no matter how busy they are, to spend time returning to reunite together.

Figure 3: Connecting families on the occasion of Tet (Photo: Collectibles)

Tet is associated with the joy of reunion, being a bridge between generations, helping to preserve and spread the nation's long-standing cultural values.

1.2. The role of cuisine during Tet

Cuisine is not just dishes but also the "soul" of Tet, contributing to making the reunion atmosphere more meaningful.

Figure 4: Traditional dishes on Nha Trang New Year (Photo: Collectible)

Each traditional dish on the tray carries a profound message, expressing wishes for good luck, prosperity and happiness in the new year.

Figure 5: Tray on Nha Trang New Year (Photo: Collectible)

From banh chung, banh tet with squares and cylinders symbolizing heaven and earth, to onion pickles to help balance the flavors, all contribute to creating a unique cultural identity that Vietnamese people are always proud of.

2.1. Typical Tet main dish

2.1.1. Banh chung, banh tet

Banh Chung and banh têt are indispensable symbols on the traditional Tet day. If banh chung has a square shape to symbolize the earth, banh têt has a long cylinder representing the sky, according to folk concepts.

Figure 6: Tet cake on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

These two types of cakes express the gratitude of children and grandchildren to their ancestors and heaven and earth, and at the same time are full and warm New Year wishes.



Figure 7: Banh Chung on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

The cake is made from glutinous rice, green bean paste and pork belly, wrapped in dong leaves (banh chung) or banana leaves (banh tet).

Figure 8: Banh Chung, Tet cake on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

The process of wrapping cakes requires ingenuity and solidarity as the whole family gathers together to prepare.

Figure 9: Package of Chung cake and Tet cake on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

After wrapping, the cake is boiled for hours to achieve a tender, delicious ripeness.

Figure 10: Cooking Chung cakes and Tet cakes on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

2.1.2. Frozen meat

Frozen meat is a typical dish in the Tet tray of the North. With cold weather, frozen meat becomes attractive because of its softness, natural coolness, and delicious taste.

Figure 11: Winter meat dish on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

Pork (often using pork legs) is stewed with skin and spices such as wood ears and pepper to create natural freezing. This dish symbolizes harmony and warmth in the family, as well as stability and sustainability in the new year.

Figure 12: Tet rice tray with frozen meat (Photo: Collectible)

2.1.3. Boiled chicken

Boiled chicken is an indispensable dish on the ancestral offering tray. The image of the golden chicken not only has the meaning of nobility and purity but also symbolizes the beginning of good luck.

Figure 13: Boiled chicken in a tray on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

Choose chicken that is fresh, firm, not too old. When boiling, add a little ginger and green onions to the water to make the meat more fragrant. Standard boiled chicken must have a shiny yellow skin, soft sweet meat and not crumble.

Figure 14: Boiled chicken dish on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

2.1.4. Braised meat with eggs

Egg braised meat is an indispensable traditional dish in the Tet rice tray of Southern people. With a rich flavor, this dish symbolizes prosperity, fullness and family cohesion.

Figure 15: Braised meat with eggs on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

The main ingredients include pork belly, duck eggs (or chicken eggs), fresh coconut water, and spices. The meat is cut into large squares, marinated with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, pepper, and then braised with coconut water.

Figure 16: Braised meat with eggs on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

2.1.5. Pork leg with fish sauce

Pork leg with fish sauce is a unique dish with a bold Central flavor. With its salty taste, this dish symbolizes strength, solidarity and warmth in the new year.

Figure 17: Pork leg with pork leg soaked in fish sauce on the occasion of Tet (Photo: Collectible)

The main ingredients are pork legs, delicious fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili and pepper. Spring rolls are boiled, then soaked in a mixture of fish sauce, sugar and spices for a few days.

Figure 18: Spring pork leg with fish sauce on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

When evenly absorbed, the dish becomes rich, the meat is tender and the skin is crispy, which is very attractive when served with pickles or rice paper.

2.1.6. Bitter melon soup

Bitter melon soup is a familiar dish on Tet Day of the Southern people, with a special meaning: "bitter melon" (difficulties pass) symbolizes the wish that all the difficulties and hardships of the old year will pass, welcoming a peaceful and happy new year.

Figure 19: Bitter melon soup on the occasion of Tet (Photo: Collectible)

The main ingredients include bitter melon, ground pork, cat mushrooms, green onions and spices. Bitter melon is lightly sliced to stuff the meat inside, then stewed with sweet broth.

This soup has a slight bitter taste from bitter melon but blends with the sweetness of the meat and broth, creating a cool and pleasant taste.

Figure 20: Bitter melon soup on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

2.2. Popular side dishes

2.2.1. Pickled onions and sour palanquins

Pickled onions and sour palanquins are side dishes that help balance the taste buds, reducing the feeling of nausea from greasy main dishes.

Figure 21: Melons on Tet Day (Photo: Collectibles)

Their slightly sour, crispy taste makes the Tet meal more harmonious.

The onion and palanquin symbolize strength, endurance and a favorable start to the new year.

Figure 22: Rich palanquin melon on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

2.2.2. Fried spring rolls

Fried spring rolls are a familiar dish, popular in every family. With a crispy crust and rich meat and vegetable filling, this dish contributes to enriching the Tet tray.

Figure 23: Fried Spring Rolls on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

Fried spring rolls represent diversity, wholeness, and family reunion, as each ingredient plays an important role in creating a distinctive flavor.

Figure 24: Traditional fried spring rolls on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

2.2.3. Sour spring rolls and silk rolls

Spring rolls and silk rolls are two familiar dishes, appearing on most Tet trays from North to South.

Figure 25: Sour spring rolls, traditional silk rolls on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

Sour spring rolls with a slight sour, spicy taste from chili peppers and the characteristic aroma of banana leaves, are a dish that stimulates the taste buds in Tet meals.

Figure 26: Sour spring rolls on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

Silk rolls, also known as silk rolls, are traditional dishes that symbolize good luck, completeness, and prosperity. Silk rolls have a mildly sweet, light and soft taste.

Figure 27: Traditional silk rolls on Tet (Photo: Collectibles)

It is often sliced and served with banh chung, banh tacos or used in rolls.

2.3. Sweets and desserts

2.3.1. Tet jam

Tet jam has many types, the most popular are coconut jam and ginger jam,... Each type of jam has its own flavor and meaning, such as warm ginger jam, sweet fatty coconut jam symbolizes reunion.

Tet jam is not only a sweet dish used to receive guests but also brings sweet, lucky and peaceful New Year wishes.

Figure 28: Different types of Tet jams (Photo: Collectibles)

2.3.2. Drift tea

Floating tea, with the rounded shape of the tea balls, is a symbol of reunion, reunion and completeness. This tea is often used in the first days of the year to pray for happiness and harmony.

Figure 29: Tea dishes floating in water on Tet Day (Photo: Collectibles)

2.3.3 Melon seeds, sunflower seeds

Melon seeds and sunflower seeds are indispensable snacks on the reception table on Tet Day. This is also a typical cultural feature in the Lunar New Year of Vietnamese people.

Melon seeds with a bright red color mean good luck, while sunflower seeds symbolize growth and bright beginnings.

Figure 30: Traditional nuts on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

2.4. Typical regional dishes

2.4.1. North: Tet is full and full of tradition

Main dishes: banh chung, banh têt, frozen meat, silk spring rolls, pickled onions.

The tray on the Northern New Year usually strictly follows the traditional rules, showing solemnity and fullness.

Figure 31: Northern tray on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

2.4.2. Central region: Rich and delicate flavor

Typical dishes: banh têt, banh chung, silk rolls, sour spring rolls, fried spring rolls, boiled chicken.

With a rich processing style, many Central dishes show the ingenuity and sophistication of housewives.

Figure 32: Tray in the Central region on Tet Day (Photo: Collectible)

2.4.3. South: Rich and harmonious

Main dishes: banh têt, banh chung, tré, dried shrimp palanquin, braised meat with duck seeds, five-color dishes.

The Southern tray is rich, harmonious between dishes, showing the open and happy spirit of the people here.

Figure 33: Southern tray on Tet (Photo: Collectible)

3.1. Prepare fresh ingredients

Be careful to choose the right ingredients.

Banh chung, banh tet: Flexible glutinous rice, smooth yellow green beans, fresh pork belly.

Braised duck meat: Choose pork belly with a balanced ratio of lean and fat, fresh duck eggs.

Bitter melon soup: Choose fresh bitter fruit, not spoiled, and clean fresh pork.

Tips for choosing food:

Vegetables and fruits: Choose those with natural colors, not crushed or wilted.

Fish meat: Choose a type with a bright color, no strange smell.

3.2. Ensuring food hygiene and safety

How to clean food:

Rinse the ingredients under running water. With vegetables, it is possible to soak in dilute salt water to remove bacteria and chemicals. Meat and fish need to be thoroughly washed and deodorized with ginger, salt or alcohol.

Food preservation during Tet:

Fresh food: Store in the freezer to keep it fresh for longer.

Processed food: Use an airtight container to store and store in the refrigerator, avoid leaving it out at room temperature for too long.

Avoid overusing leftovers by processing them in sufficient quantities or reheating them properly to ensure safety.

Tet is not only about square cakes or crispy fried spring rolls, but it is a joy when the whole family sits down and shares each delicious dish. With Tikihomi, every dish becomes a bridge of love on New Year's Day.

Wishing you and your family a warm and loving Tet!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         SOURCE: HA QUYNH