Top 12 Foods to Avoid During the Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Shrimp is an excellent source of protein and vitamin D without adding carbohydrates to your daily intake. The health benefits of shrimp include improving bone and brain health, managing weight, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Shrimp has anti-inflammatory properties, cancer prevention benefits, and anti-aging characteristics that help reduce the risk of various health issues. It helps treat age-related macular degeneration and reduces eye fatigue. It can also alleviate menstrual pain. Shrimp is a beneficial choice for overall health improvement in a delicious way.

People in the North do not avoid shrimp during Tet, but in the South, it is particularly “avoided” during this time. Southerners believe that the shrimp, with its large head and backward movement, symbolizes that if consumed at the start of the new year, things will not go smoothly, and success or progress will be difficult to achieve. Thus, the new year will not bring favorable conditions, prosperity, or advancement.

Catfish is a nutritious food that is good for health, versatile in cooking, and can be used to prepare many delicious dishes. The flesh of catfish is rich in protein, while its fat contains unsaturated fatty acids, and its bile contains sterols similar to those of carp and grass carp. It also provides calcium, phosphorus, iron, various amino acids, and vitamins B1, B2, A, and nicotinic acid. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, catfish is sweet, warm, and non-toxic. The meat of catfish is tender and fatty; it helps nourish the brain and bone marrow, moistens the lungs, and strengthens the spleen and stomach. Despite its many health benefits, catfish is traditionally avoided during the Tet holiday.

In Northern and Central Vietnam, catfish is often associated with nagging or persistence. The fish has a strong odor and many bones, leading people to believe that eating it at the start of the new year will bring bad luck and financial difficulties. Both Northern and Central Vietnamese avoid eating catfish at the beginning of the year. The superstition stems from the association of the word “mè” (catfish) with the phrase “mè nheo,” meaning nagging. Additionally, catfish is smellier and has more bones than other fish, leading to the belief that it will bring misfortune throughout the year. In the Central region, people especially believe that eating catfish at the start of the year will bring financial setbacks.

Balut is a delicious and nutritious dish. However, people from Central and Northern Vietnam strongly avoid eating balut at the beginning of the month or the new year. It is believed that consuming balut at the start of the month or year will bring bad luck, and everything will go against one's wishes. Although it is a tasty and nutritious food, balut is also seen as a dish for ‘getting rid of bad luck.’ When facing consecutive misfortunes or bad events, people often eat balut, hoping that the word 'lộn' (meaning 'turn around' in Vietnamese) will bring a positive change. This is why balut is often eaten in odd numbers.

Because balut has a strong odor, it is traditionally thought to symbolize misfortune, bad luck, and even death. If eaten at the beginning of the month or the year according to the lunar calendar, it is believed to cause a year filled with bad luck and everything will go wrong. Therefore, elders in the family often warn younger members not to eat balut during the Tet holiday to avoid attracting misfortune. However, this dish is typically consumed at the end of the month to get rid of all the bad luck and to welcome a new, better month. No one can predict the future, so intentionally eating balut at the start of the year may sometimes backfire, leading to negative changes in one's fortune.

Bananas are packed with antioxidants that protect the body from harmful free radicals. They are also a great source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. The health benefits of bananas are unmatched by many other fruits. They help alleviate depression by providing tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and promotes happiness. However, in Southern Vietnam, bananas are traditionally avoided during Tet.

In Northern Vietnam, bananas are an essential part of the traditional five-fruit tray for the New Year, but in the South, they are considered bad luck during Tet. This superstition stems from the word “banana” sounding like “chúi” in the Southern dialect, which means “unable to rise.” Eating bananas during Tet is believed to hinder career advancement. Additionally, the fruit’s shape and symbolism are associated with negative connotations, leading people in the South to avoid eating bananas during the New Year.

Durian is rich in vitamin C, B, fiber, iron, copper, and potassium, which support immune health, improve blood circulation, and help alleviate depression. Eating around 234 grams of durian provides approximately 20% of the daily carbohydrate intake. This makes durian a perfect energy booster for the body, as just a fifth of the fruit can provide enough energy for the entire day.

Despite its many health benefits, durian is considered inauspicious during the New Year. Many people believe that consuming durian on the first day of the year will bring sadness and misfortune throughout the year. In Southern Vietnam, people also avoid eating fruits with “unlucky” connotations on Tet, and durian, while a beloved delicacy, is avoided during the first day of the lunar new year for fear of a year filled with sorrow and troubles.

Shrimp paste is a fragrant dipping sauce made from fermented shrimp, commonly enjoyed in daily Vietnamese cuisine. However, during the first days of the month or the Lunar New Year, most Vietnamese people avoid eating shrimp paste. This is considered an inauspicious food to consume during these times, as it symbolizes a desire for a sweet, prosperous, and successful year ahead, free from sorrow and misfortune.

These food taboos reflect a deep cultural wish for peace, prosperity, and good fortune throughout the year. Despite modern advancements, the traditional belief of 'avoid the bad to welcome the good' during the Lunar New Year still holds strong in Vietnamese culture. Particularly in Northern Vietnam, eating shrimp paste during the early days of the year is believed to bring bad luck, especially during temple visits on the first day of the year. People also avoid garlic, fearing it may offend the gods and bring negativity.

Papaya is a tropical fruit known for its refreshing flavor, sweet taste, and vibrant color. Its numerous health benefits have made it a popular choice among fruit lovers. The antioxidants in papaya help prevent or slow down cell damage caused by free radicals. Key antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene are found in high concentrations in papaya, making it a powerful fruit for health and vitality.

In both the North and South of Vietnam, papaya is considered an essential fruit in the traditional Tet offerings, symbolizing a year of abundance and prosperity. However, people in Central Vietnam avoid this fruit. They believe in the symbolism tied to the name, as the word “papaya” in the Central dialect sounds similar to “thù đủ,” which implies bad fortune. This superstition also applies to fruits like pears and oranges, which are avoided due to their negative connotations, such as “lê lết” and “cam chịu.” These fruits are not included in Tet fruit trays, especially in the South.

Oranges and pears are both healthy fruits that many people consume regularly. However, during the early days of the lunar month or the new year, most people in Southern Vietnam avoid eating them. These fruits are considered inappropriate for the beginning of the year, as people wish for a sweet and prosperous year ahead, with progress in their work and good fortune, while steering clear of bad luck.

Together with bananas, oranges and pears are avoided during Tet in Southern Vietnam. This belief stems from the folk sayings "Citrus causes suffering, pears bring misfortune," which are associated with bad luck, hence these fruits are rarely displayed on the Tet fruit trays.

Sour, spicy, bitter, and salty foods enhance the flavor of a meal. However, these types of dishes are often avoided during Tet in Southern Vietnam.

At the start of the new year, people prefer sweet dishes, as they symbolize a wish for a peaceful year filled with sweetness and happiness. The avoidance of sour, spicy, bitter, and salty foods is meant to keep away suffering and the bitterness of life.

Dog meat is rich in nutrients and considered a delicacy by many. It has even been regarded as a symbol of Vietnamese culinary tradition, with some seeing it as an integral part of the culture. However, it is believed that eating dog meat at the beginning of the year or month will bring bad luck for the rest of the time. On the other hand, dog meat is thought to have the power to 'ward off bad luck' if consumed at the end of the month.

The idea of 'eating dog meat to ward off bad luck' likely stems from ancient Vietnamese folklore, where dogs were often seen as creatures associated with misfortune. Eating dog meat at the end of the month or year is thought to symbolize putting the bad luck behind, while it is strictly avoided at the start of the month or year to prevent inviting misfortune.

Many dishes are daily favorites or delicacies loved by people, but during the Lunar New Year, some foods are considered unlucky and should be avoided. Eating them at the start of the year is believed to bring misfortune throughout the year. Squid is one of these foods, considered taboo across all regions of Vietnam. This belief originates from the saying “black as squid,” passed down from ancient times.

The phrase “black as squid” is widely known in Vietnam. Today, squid is one of the first foods people avoid during the New Year to prevent bad luck throughout the year. It is believed that consuming squid at the beginning of the year will bring misfortune for the entire year, and eating it at the start of the month is seen as an omen of bad luck. Some parents even forbid their children from eating squid before exams, and others avoid it when traveling for important matters.

In traditional Eastern medicine, duck meat is known for its cooling properties and sweet taste, promoting blood circulation and boosting energy levels to nourish the body. It is often used to treat high fever, convulsions, detoxify swelling, and effectively reduce body temperature. The yellow and white varieties of duck are prized for their ability to restore vital energy and strengthen the body. Duck is commonly prepared by boiling it with ginger fish sauce or in a nutritious porridge. Braised duck with lotus, apples, cloves, and star anise is a popular dish that is believed to improve health. However, during the Lunar New Year, duck is often listed among foods that should be avoided.

Duck meat is considered a taboo food at the start of the month and the New Year in Northern and Central Vietnam. It is seen as an unlucky food, especially during the early days of the year. Although roasted duck is a favorite dish, eating it during Tết is thought to bring bad luck. It is believed that consuming duck meat can lead to misfortune, causing family issues or bad luck. As a result, chicken is preferred as it is considered a more auspicious choice. Much like dog meat at the end of the month, duck is sometimes viewed as a “bad luck remover,” but it is best avoided during the start of the month or New Year.