Lunar New Year (Tet) is the most important celebration in Vietnam, a time for family reunions and enjoying special traditional foods. Each dish during Tet carries symbolic meaning, representing luck, prosperity, happiness, and health for the year ahead.
Vietnamese Tet cuisine is diverse, ranging from savory dishes to sweet treats. Here are the must-try dishes when celebrating Tet with family or experiencing Vietnamese culture through LV Travel.
1. Banh Chung – The Symbol of Tet
Banh Chung is an essential dish on the Tet table, especially in northern Vietnam. Made from sticky rice, mung beans, and pork wrapped in dong leaves, it symbolizes the Earth and expresses gratitude to ancestors.
This dish is not only delicious but also embodies cultural and spiritual values of traditional Tet. The sticky rice, bean, and pork combination creates a unique taste that is both rich and comforting.
2. Gio Lua and Gio Thu – Lucky Sausages
Gio Lua and Gio Thu are traditional Vietnamese sausages often served during Tet to honor guests or placed on ancestor altars. Made from finely ground pork, seasoned, and wrapped in banana leaves, these sausages are soft, fragrant, and flavorful.
They symbolize luck and prosperity, bringing warmth and happiness to family gatherings.
3. Braised Pork with Bamboo Shoots – A Comforting Tet Dish
Braised pork with bamboo shoots is a common Tet dish in northern Vietnam. The sweet and tender bamboo shoots combined with rich pork create a hearty and nourishing dish.
This dish represents togetherness and abundance, making it perfect for a warm family Tet meal.
4. Xoi Gac – The Lucky Red Sticky Rice
Xoi Gac stands out with its vibrant red color, symbolizing luck and happiness in the new year. Made from sticky rice and gac fruit, it is often displayed on the Tet table or given as a gift to relatives and friends.
Its sticky, sweet flavor and striking appearance make any Tet celebration more meaningful.
5. Tet Jams – Sweet Treats of Spring
Tet jams are a must-have for welcoming guests during the Lunar New Year. Popular varieties include ginger, pumpkin, lotus seed, and coconut jams, each carrying the symbolic meaning of sweetness and good fortune.
Tet jams are also placed on ancestor altars, showing respect and wishing for a fulfilling year ahead.
6. Nem Ran (Fried Spring Rolls) – Northern Tradition
Nem Ran, or fried spring rolls, are crispy on the outside and savory on the inside, filled with pork, vermicelli, mushrooms, and vegetables. A staple on Tet tables, they symbolize wealth, fullness, and family reunion.
7. Thit Kho Tau – Southern Specialty
Thit Kho Tau is a traditional southern Vietnamese dish, featuring pork braised in coconut juice with eggs. Rich and flavorful, this dish symbolizes prosperity and abundance and is an essential part of southern Tet celebrations.
Tet cuisine is not only diverse but also rich in cultural and spiritual significance. From Banh Chung, Gio Lua, Xoi Gac, to Tet jams and other traditional dishes, each dish tells a story of luck, happiness, and family reunion.
Traveling with LV Travel during Tet allows you to fully experience Vietnamese culinary traditions, enjoy authentic dishes, and understand the meaning behind these cultural customs.