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 ... |
In topics
Recommended

Malaysia Madani Week in Ho Chi Minh City to Feature Many Interesting Activities
The Malaysian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on June 6 held a press conference to inform about the series of events within the Malaysia Madani Week on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Vietnam.
June 06, 2023 | 22:10

German Journalist Publishes Book about Resistance War of Vietnamese
The book presents a large number of writings and photos that German journalist Hellmut Kapfenberger took in the North of Vietnam, bringing readers a panorama and true picture on the resistance war of the Vietnamese people.
June 02, 2023 | 16:04

Vietnamese Spring Rolls Praised As One Of The World’s Tastiest Snacks
Vietnamese fried spring roll (known as “nem ran” in the north and “cha gio” in the south in Vietnam) is on the list of 100 most popular appetizers in the world compiled by the international food magazine Taste Atlas.
June 01, 2023 | 18:28

Petofi Exhibition To Honor The Great Hungarian’s National Poet
The cultural event aims at celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sándor Petőfi - a famous Hungarian revolutionary poet and writer.
May 31, 2023 | 18:29
Popular article

Da Nang International Fireworks Festival Returns After 3 Years
The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) - an iconic tourism event will return for its 11th edition on June 2 2023 with 8 participating teams from Vietnam, Australia, Canada, Finland, the UK, Italy, Poland and France.
May 31, 2023 | 13:48

“Blooming Light, Soaking Light”: The Netherlands Bring Art Masterpieces To Hanoi
Nearly 70 masterpieces of Dutch artists from the Golden Age to the end of the 19th century are being showcased at the exhibition “Blooming Light, Soaking Light” in Hanoi.
May 30, 2023 | 07:13

Japanese Dolls On Display in Da Nang
In a few days, the Japanese dolls exhibition will tour the central city of Da Nang for the first time in a very large scale.
May 29, 2023 | 11:30

Cai Mep Ranked 12th among World’s Most Efficient Container Ports
According to the Container Port Performance Index 2022 report developed and published recently by World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Cai Mep port of Vietnam was ranked 12th among the 348 most efficient container terminals/port clusters globally.
May 28, 2023 | 14:07