Vietnamese traditional Tết is a cultural beauty of Vietnamese people for generations. This is the moment that marks the change of seasons and also the transition between the old year and the new year as well as the beginning of a new year, with the hope of all luck and good things. The traditional Tet holiday every year takes place, showing good customs and habits.

When does Tet take place?

Calculated according to the lunar calendar as the operating cycle of the Moon, Vietnam's Lunar New Year is later than the New Year (also known as the Western New Year), which usually falls from late January to mid-February.

Vietnamese traditional Tết is held around the end of January or February according to the lunar calendar. The Vietnamese have a popular belief that there are 12 sacred animals from the Zodiac that take turns overseeing and directing the affairs of the earth. Thus, New Year's Eve is the time when a new animal takes control of the earth for a year in the order of 12 Zodiac animals.

The meaning of Tết

Lunar New Year is the full name of the traditional Tết holiday. And the purpose of the Vietnamese traditional Tết holiday is to thank the gods for the coming of spring with countless flowers and trees blooming after a harsh and cold winter.

Tết is the most important occasion of Vietnam

The meaning of Vietnamese traditional New Year is a special occasion for people to go to pagodas and temples. Family members gather to welcome a new year together, hope for a better new year, and say goodbye to the previous year. Since this is one of the most important festivals for Vietnamese people, everything must be properly prepared with the wish of a happy and prosperous new year, full of prosperity all year round.

Vietnamese New Year cuisine

Vietnamese New Year's Day is not only the day with the meaning of cultural beauty, but besides, Tết cuisine is also associated with different story meanings. Each of these traditional dishes seems to be only for Tết or special days only.

Banh Chung, Banh Tet

One of the most special traditional dishes on Tet holiday of Vietnamese people is "banh chung, banh tet". As Tet approaches, you will notice the fire burning all night long on the stove in most Vietnamese houses. Families are cooking traditional dishes for Tet.

Vietnam is an agricultural country, with the most precious plant being rice, there are many traditional Vietnamese dishes made with this ingredient. Banh chung, banh tet are made from glutinous rice, green beans, and pork and are essential foods for the Lunar New Year. The color of the dish represents earth and sky. Northerners make banh chung, a square-shaped cake, while Southerners prefer cylindrical banh tet.

Banh Chung, Banh Tet are wrapped inside a special leaf called “dong” leaf or banana leaf. Making Banh Chung, Banh Tet requires carefulness and meticulousness in every step. Rice and green beans must be soaked in water for a day to be more softened. Pork is usually soaked with pepper for several hours. Making a cake with bamboo wire requires skillful hands to form a perfect shape.

More specifically, the western provinces will have more sweet Banh Tet. 

The filling includes delicious ingredients such as green beans, black beans, even salted egg yolks. All wrapped tightly and beautifully in banana leaves. The cake is cut into pieces that have the dark purple of a banana, the yellow of green beans and the orange of an egg. The taste of sweet Banh Tet is as delicious as Banh Chung and salty Banh Tet.

Thịt Kho Tàu - Chinese Braised Meat

Pork braised in coconut water is considered a dish present in daily meals and important Tet holidays. According to the ancients, in the old days, when boats went out to sea, people often cooked a pot of braised meat that could be eaten for many days while floating on ships, so people named this “Thịt kho tàu” - which roughly means “meat braised on boat”.

Thịt Kho Tàu - Chinese braised meat

Although the dish is simple and easy to make, it requires a way to choose and buy fresh meat, a way to marinate special spices, so that the braised meat is as rich as desired. The finished product needs braised meat that is soft and has a wavy golden brown color.

This braised meat dish brings warmth and reunion. The harmony between meat and egg ingredients is an expression of family harmony and happiness. The taste and meaning of the dish is reminiscent of the familiar image in the traditional Vietnamese New Year meal.

“Thịt Đông” - Frozen meat

The South has a familiar dish of braised pork, while the North has “Thịt Đông” - frozen meat, an indispensable dish of every traditional New Year in the Northern area. The frozen meat dish has the harmony of ingredients to show the harmony, cohesion and love of family members. Not only that, the clear color of the dish is meant as a hope for a lucky and favorable new year that will come to the whole family.

Thịt Đông - Frozen Meat is a special dish from the Northern Vietnam

This frozen meat dish is usually made from ingredients: pork leg, pork ear or chicken. When cooking, the ingredients will be stewed, seasoned to taste, then cooled and put in the refrigerator to freeze the meat.

When you eat, you will feel the greasy and cool feeling that melts quickly in your mouth. You can eat with white rice and pickled dishes to help add in the flavors to the dish.

Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup

You will wonder why Vietnamese people choose bitter food for New Year's Day. This may come as a surprise, but bitter melon soup is part of the South Vietnamese pun.

Canh Khổ Qua - Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup

This soup may look simple, but bitter melon stuffed with meat contains many elements of the concept of Southerners. In Vietnamese, bitter melon is called "khổ qua". The word “khổ” means difficulty and “qua” means overcoming. So basically, having this dish in the first days of the new year represents the wish that the bad luck in the old year will pass and they will welcome a peaceful new year.

The nutritious bitter melon soup has a bitter and sweet taste. In addition, bitter melon soup is also very good for health thanks to the broth which has a cool taste, helping to relieve colds in the changing weather. On Tet days, when you are bored with greasy dishes, bitter melon soup is a great dish for you to enjoy.

If you have a chance, take time to visit Vietnam during Tet. Although there is a lack of the inherent bustle during this time, there is a lot more warmth and cohesion between people, along with the peace that is hard to find in the hustle and bustle of work days.

Tags: Vietnamese traditions, Vietnamese cultures, Vietnamese cuisine, Vietnamese Tet, Lunar New Year,  learn Vietnamese, Tet’s traditional dishes, Vietnam