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Vietnam is a country with diverse cultural heritage, and each region has its own unique cultural characteristics, including Tet holiday dishes. Accordingly, each region has its own distinctive dishes, creating separate and remarkable 'brands' for Tet.
Delicious Tet Holiday Dishes in the Northern Region
There's a saying that goes 'Eat in the North, Dress in the South,' because Northern cuisine is quite rich and diverse. Each dish has its own unique characteristics, especially Tet holiday dishes.
Banh Chung Cake
This is undoubtedly a familiar dish for most households. For people in the Northern region, banh chung symbolizes gratitude to heaven and earth for their support in providing favorable weather and abundant harvests.
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Tet poetry, Tet wishes for loved ones, First temple visit of the year, New Year's blessings
Banh Chung is an indispensable dish for Northern Vietnamese during Tet (Source: Internet)Pork Head Cheese
Also known as sautéed pork head, this dish is made from the head of a pig. The meat is seasoned with various spices, sautéed, then wrapped in leaves and tightly compressed. It's a must-have dish to enjoy during Tet celebrations.
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Pork Head Cheese is a delightful treat for Tet celebrations (Source: Internet) Pork Head Cheese is a delightful treat for Tet celebrations (Source: Internet)
Frozen Meat
The hallmark of this dish is that the meat broth will slightly solidify and is often chilled before serving. Enjoying frozen meat with a bowl of hot steamed rice on a cold spring day brings joy to the people of the North.
Frozen meat paired with white rice is an essential part of the Lunar New Year festivities (Source: Internet) Pickled Vegetables
When it comes to New Year's dishes in the North, pickled vegetables cannot be overlooked. This dish is essentially made from various vegetables such as turnips, carrots, jicama, cucumbers... pickled in salt. It's a common side dish during the Tet holiday season.
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Pickled Vegetables - a signature side dish of the Northern region (Source: Internet) Chicken and Bamboo Shoot Vermicelli Soup
If you're tired of plain boiled chicken, chicken and bamboo shoot vermicelli soup will come to the rescue for that chicken overload. This dish features chewy vermicelli noodles, sweet and savory broth made from chicken broth, and tender chicken meat seasoned and simmered for hours.
The combination of chewy chicken, sweet savory broth, and sour bamboo shoots is characteristic of chicken and bamboo shoot vermicelli soup (Source: Internet) Braised Pork Knuckle with Dried Bamboo Shoots
The tender, chewy pork knuckle combined with a few pieces of slightly sour dried bamboo shoots and sweet savory broth will leave a lasting impression after trying the braised pork knuckle with dried bamboo shoots. This dish is also quite popular during Tet in the Northern region.
Braised pork knuckle with dried bamboo shoots is a dish that is both delicious and nutritious for Tet that you should try (Source: Internet)Fried Spring Rolls
This is a perfect combination of crispy golden crust and a sweet, savory filling made from shrimp, meat, and vegetables. If you've ever tried Tet fried spring rolls, you'll surely remember this dish.
The crispy crust and sweet, savory filling are the sensations when you bite into a piece of fried spring roll (Source: Internet)Caramelized Green Bean Sweet Soup
Among all the Tet dishes mentioned above, caramelized green bean sweet soup is considered a dessert. In fact, caramelized green bean sweet soup is made from mung beans, cooked similarly to sweet soup but with a thicker texture. It has the characteristic sweet and creamy taste of mung beans, very delicious.
The sticky texture and sweet flavor are the characteristics of Tet caramelized green bean sweet soup in the Northern region (Source: Internet)Delicious Tet Dishes in the Southern Region
Tet is a traditional festival of Vietnam. Therefore, traditional Tet dishes are indispensable. Not only in the North but also in the South, there are distinctive and different delicious dishes.
Tet Sticky Rice Cake
While the North is known for banh chung, the South is characterized by banh tet. This type of cake is made from glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork. What sets it apart is its cylindrical shape, unlike the square shape of banh chung.
Banh tet in the South is wrapped in a cylindrical shape (Source: Internet)Caramelized Pork in Coconut Water
Among the Tet dishes in the South, caramelized pork in coconut water is definitely a must-have. This dish is made from pork and eggs, stewed together. The special feature of this dish is being stewed submerged in water and it will have a sweet taste from the coconut water.
Southern-style caramelized pork is often stewed submerged in water, imparting a sweet taste from the coconut water (Source: Internet)Bitter Melon Soup
In the Southern tradition, the significance of bitter melon soup on Tet is to symbolize leaving behind the 'bitterness' of the old year and embracing luck and goodness in the new year. This dish carries both spiritual meaning and health benefits.
Bitter melon soup serves both as a spiritual dish and a nutritious one for Tet (Source: Internet)Pickled Radish
If traditional Tet dishes have left you feeling bored, the solution is pickled radish. This dish, with its sour, sweet, and salty flavors, is sure to delight your taste buds. It's also great for relieving greasiness if you find Tet food too oily.
The balanced sour, sweet, and salty flavors of pickled radish are something you shouldn't miss (Source: Internet) Chinese Sausage
Chinese sausage is made from pork meat and fat, blended together in a reasonable ratio. It is then seasoned and dried. This dish is highly favored in the South because it's easy to store and suitable as a quick dish for Tet.
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Chinese sausage is a wonderful dish to enjoy during Tet (Source: Internet) Pork Sausage
This dish is made from finely ground pork meat, combined with various ingredients and tightly wrapped in leaves before being boiled. During Tet, almost every family in the South has this dish on their dining table.
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A piece of fragrant and delicious pork sausage is indispensable in the Tet meal of Southern people (Source: Internet)Coconut candy, ginger candy
A distinctive feature in the South is that during Tet, when guests visit, the hosts often treat them with various types of dried fruits, especially coconut candy and ginger candy. This dish uses fresh coconut and ginger marinated with sugar before being dried. During Tet, coconut candy and ginger candy will be the super addictive snacks, have you tried them yet?
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Coconut candy - a familiar Tet treat in the South (Source: Internet) Delicious Tet dishes from the Mekong Delta
When it comes to the Mekong Delta, people immediately think of its unique and somewhat 'exotic' dishes. Moreover, the Tet dishes of the Mekong Delta also carry their own distinctive features.
Banh Tet
The banh tet of the Mekong Delta is also the banh tet of the South - a dish that cannot be missed during Tet. The unique aspect of this dish is that in some places in the Mekong Delta, instead of stuffing it with the usual savory fillings, people use banana filling to change the flavor.
Sweet-filled banh tet is a Tet specialty of the Mekong Delta (Source: Internet) Caramelized Pork Belly with Eggs
This is another name for the dish known as 'thit kho tau.' During Tet in the South in general and the Mekong Delta in particular, this dish is quite popular and almost always present on every family's menu.
Tender pork belly cooked with eggs is a common Tet dish in the Mekong Delta (Source: Internet) Dried Shrimp Pickled Radish
In other regions, there is also a dish called pickled radish, often made with onions. However, in the Mekong Delta, it has been transformed into dried shrimp pickled radish. This will be a Tet dish you shouldn't miss when visiting the Mekong Delta.
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Dried shrimp pickled radish – a unique variation by the people of the Mekong Delta (Source: Internet) Goc Cong Fermented Fish Sauce
This dish is named after a place in the Mekong Delta, Gò Công, Tiền Giang. The main ingredients of this dish are various types of fish such as mudfish, snakehead fish, or catfish. Goc Cong Fermented Fish Sauce is often used as a side dish with rice paper, boiled meat, and fresh vegetables. Enjoying this dish during Tet brings a sense of completeness.
Goc Cong Fermented Fish Sauce – a famous specialty of Tiền Giang land (Source: Internet) Bitter Melon Stuffed with Pork
This is a refreshing soup that is very characteristic of the Mekong Delta during Tet. To reduce the bitterness of bitter melon, people usually prepare the melon by removing the skin, gutting it, and stuffing it with meat. Bitter Melon Stuffed with Pork is a perfect combination that you should try.
Stuffed bitter melon is a perfect combination that you should try (Source: Internet) Dried An Giang Frog
If you're already familiar with various types of dried fish and want to experience something new, then Dried An Giang Frog is a worthy candidate for you. This dish is made from frogs from the fields, so it has its own unique flavor. It's also a Tet dish that many families in the South prefer.
Dried An Giang Frog is made from frogs from the fields, so it has a very distinctive flavor (Source: Internet) Fluffy Banana Preserve
This will be a sweet dessert that won't disappoint you. Fluffy banana preserve is made from mashed ripe bananas, then marinated with ginger and brown sugar, and finally stir-fried. This dish will have a sweet and special chewiness. It's a favorite snack during Tet.
The sweet combination with the chewiness is the characteristic of fluffy banana preserve in the Mekong Delta (Source: Internet) Traditional Vietnamese 3-Day Tet Menu
According to Vietnamese belief, the first 3 days of the new year are very important because they will influence the fortune for the whole year. Therefore, you need to pay special attention not only to worshipping but also to eating and drinking.
New Year's Day 1 Menu
The first day of the Lunar New Year is the day to officially start the new year. Typically, Vietnamese people have the custom of worshipping their ancestors on this day. Therefore, the dishes need to be more carefully prepared than on other days.
Each family will have a different menu for the first day of the Lunar New Year. It could be familiar Tet dishes or new and unique dishes to change the taste. Therefore, the menu is not fixed.
However, here we will suggest you a menu for the first day of Tet that is both traditional, modern, and nutritionally complete:
- A plate of bánh chưng or a plate of bánh tét.
- A boiled chicken.
- A plate of sticky rice, which can be red sticky rice, green bean sticky rice, or peanut sticky rice.
- A plate of sausages or pâté.
- A bowl of bitter melon soup or stuffed bitter melon.
- A plate of pickled vegetables or pickled vegetables in fish sauce.
- A plate of fruits, preferably watermelon because it brings luck with its red color.
- In addition, each family can add or remove some other dishes. However, there should be at least boiled chicken, bánh chưng, and sticky rice as these are long-standing customs of the Vietnamese people.
The first-day menu usually includes boiled chicken, bánh chưng, bánh tét, sausages, or pâté,... (Source: Internet)New Year's Day 2 Menu
If you've dedicated the first day to traditional dishes, the menu for the second day should feature more exotic dishes to add variety and avoid boredom. You can consider the following food suggestions:
- A plate of beef wrapped in grilled shrimp: This can be the main dish for the second day. The fragrant beef wrapped with sweet and savory grilled shrimp is a perfect combination.
- A plate of stir-fried beef with baby corn and broccoli: As a stir-fry dish, it contains both meat and vegetables, which is good for digestion and health.
- A bowl of pork leg stewed with dried bamboo shoots.
- A bowl of caramelized pork and eggs served with rice.
- A plate of Chinese sausage for nibbling while chatting is also a great solution.
- A plate of side dishes, which could be pickled onions or dried shrimp pickles.
- A dessert plate, which could include fruits or various sweet preserves.
Adding variety to the menu for the second day of Tet with grilled shrimp-wrapped beef (Source: Internet)Because dietary preferences vary, you can adjust the dishes according to your family's habits and preferences.
Menu for the 3rd Day of Tet
If the menus for the 1st and 2nd days of Tet have left you feeling bored with traditional Tet dishes, you can switch things up for the 3rd day with lighter options. For example:
- A plate of vegetarian salad: This dish has a sweet and sour taste and is very refreshing, stimulating your taste buds and reducing food fatigue.
- A plate of chicken salad: If your family has leftover boiled chicken from earlier days, a chicken salad can help you make use of that surplus.
- Water spinach soup with meatballs: This dish is both nutritious and light, combining smooth meatballs with fresh water spinach that you shouldn't miss.
- A plate of mixed glass noodle stir-fry: This dish keeps you full for a long time while offering a change in taste for your family.
- In addition, you can pair these dishes with other side dishes like pickled vegetables, pickled radishes, or pickled onions.
- A dessert plate, which can be replaced with jelly instead of just using fruits like the menu for the 2nd day of Tet. Making jelly is very simple and quick but brings a sweet, refreshing, and popular dish loved by many.
Vegetarian salad is a must-have in the menu for the 3rd day of Tet (Source: Internet)Unique Tet Snacks to Impress Your Guests
Certainly, traditional Tet dishes, although delicious and enticing, can become a bit overwhelming if consumed excessively. Therefore, you'll need some unique and intriguing dishes to tantalize your taste buds.
Smoked Buffalo Meat
This is a specialty dish of people living in the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam. The buffalo meat is marinated with spices and then smoked over a fire. The distinctive feature of smoked buffalo meat is its light smoky flavor.
Smoked Buffalo Meat – A Specialty Dish of People in the Northwestern Highlands (Source: Internet) Biscotti Cookies – Low-Calorie Treats, No Fear of Weight Gain
For those looking to maintain their shape during the Tet season, Biscotti cookies are the perfect choice. These cookies are made from nuts and dried fruits, containing very few calories, so they won't cause weight gain.
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Biscotti Cookies will be a refreshing treat for Tet that you should try (Source: Internet) Cheese-Stuffed Onion Cakes
This is a dish that tantalizes the taste buds. The outer layer is crispy and slightly salty, while the inside is filled with stringy, creamy cheese. This is definitely a snack you shouldn't miss.
The crispy crust along with the creamy cheese filling is what makes Cheese-Stuffed Onion Cakes stand out (Source: Internet) Delicious and Easy Tet Breakfast Dishes
With the Lunar New Year approaching, every family is busy cleaning their homes. Therefore, there's little time for cooking. Besides being tasty, ease of preparation and convenience are highly valued.
Chicken Vermicelli Soup
This dish uses boiled chicken broth as the soup base. Therefore, you only need to boil the chicken and season the broth to have a delicious and nutritious breakfast ready in no time.
Chicken Vermicelli Soup – a simple and nutritious breakfast dish (Source: Internet)Pork and Shrimp Rice Noodles
This dish can be enjoyed dry or as a soup. The chewy noodles, crispy pork skin, and sweet shrimp flavor create an irresistible combination.
Pork and shrimp rice noodles are a suitable dish to diversify your Tet menu (Source: Internet) Pork Meatball Baguette
When it comes to Vietnamese cuisine, one cannot overlook the baguette. This is also a familiar breakfast dish for Vietnamese people. The baguette paired with pork meatballs creates a simple yet enticing dish.
Pork Meatball Baguette - a familiar breakfast dish for Vietnamese people (Source: Internet)Unique and Delicious Dishes to Spice Up Your Tet Days
If you're tired of traditional Tet dishes and are looking for some unique options to spice things up, here are a few suggestions for you:
Five-Colored Square Sticky Rice Cake
While traditional square sticky rice cakes are typically green, five-colored square sticky rice cakes come in five colors: green, yellow, orange, brown, and purple. These colors are derived from natural ingredients such as pumpkin, magenta plant leaves, etc., making them safe to eat.
Five-colored square sticky rice cakes are not only visually appealing but also a very enticing Tet dish (Source: Internet)Crispy Fried Corn Fritters
Crispy fried corn fritters are a delightful combination of corn, flour, and various spices mixed together and deep-fried to perfection. The subtle sweetness of the corn paired with the crispy texture of the batter is the highlight of this dish.
The combination of the sweet flavor of corn and the crispy texture of the batter is something you shouldn't miss out on (Source: Internet)Crispy Fried Meat-Wrapped Eggs
Typically, quail eggs are used to make this dish. Its distinctive feature is the crispy outer layer blending with the rich and creamy egg and meat filling, which is very appetizing. You can enjoy it on its own or with rice.
Crispy fried meat-wrapped eggs can be a festive dish to add variety to your family's menu (Source: Internet)Above is the entire compilation of delicious and enticing Tet holiday dishes that we want to introduce to you. Hopefully through this article from Mytour, you will have the 'recipe' for not only 'mouthwatering' dishes but also unique ones to treat your family and friends during the Tet holiday!
