Indispensable specialties on Vietnam's southern Tet food tray
In the folk belief of the Vietnamese, red watermelon, green bitter melon soup are the dishes that bring luck to the new year.
 |
| Chef Tran Ngoc Sang (Ho Chi Minh City) says that the indispensable dishes in the Southern Lunar New Year are banh tet, bitter melon stuffed with meat soup and stew pork meat and duck eggs. Each family has its own variations, such as shredded chicken, dried shrimp, pickled onion,... (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| The southerners believe that bitter melon means "overcoming hardships of the old year, welcoming a good and happy new year". The simple soup with bitter melon stuffed with minced pork, sometimes even fish cakes, and shredded mushrooms are loved by most Vietnamese people, especially the South. Though made from bitter melon, the soup has the sweetness of meat broth. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Braised pork is a popular dish, often appearing in the traditional food tray on Tet. Chef Tran Ngoc Sang explains, folk says that the square-cut meat and round duck eggs symbolize heaven and earth. Therefore, the dish bears the wishes of a complete and prosperous new year. From the last day of the year, families go to the market, choosing the best pork belly, duck eggs, and fresh coconut water. All ingredients then are cooked in a big pot. Thanks to its savory taste, the dish is commonly loved. (Photo: Tasty Kitchen) |
 |
| Tet offerings in all different families always include boiled chicken. The chicken chosen must be male, tied in the wing to create a flying shape. When cooked, the chicken must have shiny yellow skin. After the worshiping ceremony, the chicken can be shredded to mix with the salad or cut into thin slices and eaten with salt, pepper and lemon leaves. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Banh Tet is a traditional gift that reminds everyone of the ancestry. The dish is always present in ancestor worship rituals. Banh Tet is delicious with sticky rice, soft green beans, and salty meat. The making process of banh tet requires the whole family to sit together, therefore, this dish symbolizes family union under the warmth of the Lunar New Year's spirit. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Vietnamese believe that red is always the color that brings luck. Therefore, dishes that have the color red are popular on the Tet holiday. Owning a bright and playful shade of red, fresh sausage is a dish that many people love because of its delicious taste and short processing time. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Families often add pickled onion to the food trays to reduce the fatty taste of meat dishes. The southerners often use the pickled roots and eat them with dried shrimp or stewed meat. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Watermelon is often chosen to place on the family's altar during most traditional occasions of the Vietnamese. Many people believe that watermelon brings New Year's Fortune. If you have a watermelon that is juicy, and bright red, it is the signal of a lucky year. In addition, this is also a fruit with a lot of fiber, vitamins to supplement the body in Tet. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| On Tet, the southerners love to gather, eat and chat with their relatives and friends. On such occasions, the landlords offer candied fruits and tea. Tet candied fruits can be made from a variety of fruits and vegetables, with a variety of flavors, colors, and aromas. (Photo: VN Express) |
 |
| Besides candied fruits, melon seeds are also a popular dish. Melon seeds have additional nutrients for the body such as vitamins, magnesium, iron. Therefore, it is counted as a low-calorie, healthy food and suitable for those who want to stay diet on Tet. (Photo: VN Express) |
 | Vibrant Da Lat in pink hue of cherry blossom as Tet coming close On the last days of Lunar Year, the streets of Da Lat mountain are glowing with cherry blossoms. |
 | Daisy blossoms glow Sa Dec village as Tet gets closer The vibrant yellow color of the raspberry-shaped daisy pots and the farmers' hustling works brings Tet closer to visitors in Sa Dec flower village (Dong ... |
 | Exploring Lunar New Year feast menus in different parts of Vietnam Hanoi impresses visitors with meat jelly, Hue has the simple yet dedicate boiled meat dipping in sour shrimp while the Lunar New Year meals of ... |
Related Stories
Travel
International Visitors in South Africa Experience Vietnamese Cuisine
On the morning of November 7, the garden within the Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, was filled with laughter and chatter as more than 40 international guests attended a Vietnamese cooking class. The participants included members of the International Diplomatic Spouses Association in South Africa and representatives of the South African Women’s Association.
November 11, 2025 | 11:28
Travel
Vietnam In Top 5 Best Countries For Foreigners In 2025
According to the Expat Insider 2025 report released by InterNations, Vietnam ranks 5th among 46 countries rated as the best destinations for expatriates.
September 30, 2025 | 07:10
National
Vietnam News Today (Aug. 2): MoU highlights Japan-Vietnam cooperation in research and disease control
Vietnam News Today (Aug. 2): Vietnam - a driving force in ASEAN’s progress; Hanoi ranks among world’s top 13 cities for unforgettable cuisine; EVFTA boosts Vietnam – EU trade to nearly 300 bln USD in five years; MoU highlights Japan-Vietnam cooperation in research and disease control.
August 02, 2025 | 08:48
National
Vietnam News Today (Apr. 22): Vietnam And Laos Promote Parliamentary Cooperation
Vietnam News Today (Apr. 22): Vietnam and Laos promote parliamentary cooperation; Vietnam's reunification victory comes from collective strength; Vietnam emerges as preferred destination for Dubai investors; Vietnamese cuisine earns global spotlight in Taste Atlas Asian food rankings.
April 22, 2025 | 08:15
In topics
Recommended
Handbook
Ha Noi Offers Free Public Transport During Holiday Period
Ha Noi will waive fares for buses and urban rail services during the Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day (April 30), and International Labour Day (May 1), covering 128 subsidized bus routes and two metro lines for a total of seven days.
April 25, 2026 | 13:14
Handbook
Vietnam Updates Legal Framework for Overseas Missions with Newly Adopted Law
On the afternoon of April 23, as part of the agenda of the First Session of the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam, the legislature voted to adopt the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with a high approval rate.
April 24, 2026 | 14:58
Handbook
Proposed Cultural Boost: 2% Budget Floor and New National Holiday
The draft Resolution on the development of Vietnamese culture introduces a range of breakthrough mechanisms, including ensuring a minimum allocation of 2% of the state budget for culture and granting employees a paid day off on “Vietnam Cultural Day".
April 21, 2026 | 13:58
Handbook
Vietnam-Europe Cooperation on AI in the Judiciary
On April 16, the Embassy of Vietnam in Hungary, in coordination with the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Hungary, organized a scientific workshop titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Court and Judicial System - European Union (EU) Experience and Applications for Vietnam.” The event brought together technology experts, legal scholars, and researchers from Vietnam and various European countries.
April 17, 2026 | 13:48
Popular article
Handbook
Doctoral Candidates Commissioned to Master Core Technologies, with Support of up to VND 1 Billion per Year
The “Program to support outstanding doctoral candidates for the 2026-2030 period” introduces, for the first time, a mechanism for large-scale, direct investment in doctoral candidates, with maximum funding of up to VND 1 billion per person per year.
April 14, 2026 | 10:52
Handbook
Vietnam’s Growing Economic Influence Highlighted by Indonesian Media
Statistical data comparing the 10 largest economies in Asia by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the 1980-2025 period show that the region’s economic center of gravity has shifted significantly.
April 10, 2026 | 14:49
Handbook
Proposal to Provide Free Textbooks Nationwide from 2029-2030 Academic Year
The Ministry of Education and Training is drafting regulations on free textbooks, proposing to provide free textbooks to general education students and learners at educational institutions implementing the general education curriculum and the continuing education program at the upper secondary level nationwide from the 2029-2030 academic year.
April 01, 2026 | 11:26
Handbook
Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse) Weather Forecast
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has released its weather outlook for regions nationwide during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday of the Year of the Horse, from February 13 to 22, 2026 (corresponding to the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 6th day of the Lunar New Year).
February 15, 2026 | 07:15