The Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán, is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in Vietnam. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year, a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and looking forward to a fresh start. Tết is not just about festivities, but also about the food. The dishes served during Tết carry deep cultural significance and are prepared with a sense of love, respect, and tradition. Each dish has its own story, symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and health for the coming year. In this article, we will explore the traditional foods enjoyed during Tết Nguyên Đán and the meanings behind them.
1. Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét: The Heart of Tết Feasts
The Bánh Chưng (square sticky rice cake) and Bánh Tét (cylindrical sticky rice cake) are two of the most iconic foods associated with Tết Nguyên Đán. These cakes are not only delicious but also carry deep symbolic meaning, representing the earth and the sky, respectively.
Bánh Chưng: A Symbol of the Earth
Bánh Chưng is a traditional square cake made of glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, wrapped in banana leaves. The cake’s square shape is symbolic of the earth, reflecting the ancient Vietnamese belief in the earth’s flat shape. Legend has it that the sixth Hung King asked his sons to create a cake that would honor the earth’s essence, and his youngest son, Lang Liêu, created the Bánh Chưng as a gift to the king. The cake is now central to the Tết celebration, representing family, tradition, and respect for ancestors.
The preparation of Bánh Chưng is a family affair, often passed down through generations. The process of wrapping the cake is a time-consuming task, requiring patience and care. Families gather together to prepare the cakes, a process that not only produces delicious food but also fosters unity and togetherness.
Bánh Tét: A Symbol of the Sky
Bánh Tét is similar to Bánh Chưng but is cylindrical in shape. It originates from the southern regions of Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta, and is often made with similar ingredients, including glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork. The cylindrical shape of Bánh Tét is said to symbolize the sky, and the cake is traditionally enjoyed by families in the south during Tết.
Bánh Tét is often cut into slices and served with pickled vegetables or fresh herbs, offering a delightful contrast of flavors. Like Bánh Chưng, Bánh Tét is prepared with care and attention to detail, making it a symbol of the bond between family members and the continuity of tradition.
2. Pickled Onions (Dưa Hành): A Tangy Tradition
No Tết feast is complete without dưa hành—pickled onions. This simple dish of thinly sliced onions marinated in vinegar and sugar is a quintessential part of Tết meals. The tangy and slightly sweet flavor of dưa hành complements the richness of the sticky rice cakes and other heavy foods served during the holiday.
Pickled onions are not only a delicious side dish but also hold cultural significance. The onions symbolize the hope for a bountiful harvest and the renewal of the year’s crops. The dish is often served as a palate cleanser, providing a refreshing contrast to the richness of the other dishes.
3. Boiled Chicken (Gà Luộc): A Symbol of Purity and Prosperity
Boiled chicken is another traditional dish that plays an important role in the Tết celebration. The chicken is usually boiled with ginger and served with a dipping sauce made from salt, pepper, and lime. The boiled chicken symbolizes purity and prosperity for the new year, and it is often placed on the family altar during Tết to honor ancestors.
The chicken is also a symbol of family unity. In many Vietnamese families, the chicken is shared among family members, with each person taking a portion to ensure good health and harmony for the year ahead. It is not uncommon for families to prepare a whole chicken, often accompanied by other dishes, as a centerpiece for the Tết feast.
4. Spring Rolls (Chả Giò or Nem Rán): A Crispy Delight
Spring rolls are another popular dish during Tết Nguyên Đán, particularly in northern Vietnam, where they are known as chả giò (fried spring rolls). These rolls are filled with a mixture of ground pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and vermicelli noodles, wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried to golden perfection.
Spring rolls symbolize wealth and prosperity because their golden color resembles gold, which is traditionally associated with good fortune. The crispy texture of the spring rolls also represents the hope for a smooth and prosperous year. In southern Vietnam, nem rán is a similar dish, but the filling may vary, often including vegetables, egg, and other ingredients.
Spring rolls are often served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, lime, and chili, creating a balance of savory, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. The dish is typically served as an appetizer or side dish during Tết, adding a delightful crunch to the feast.
5. Sticky Rice with Green Bean Paste (Xôi): A Symbol of Harmony
Xôi, or sticky rice, is a beloved dish throughout Vietnam, and during Tết, it takes on special significance. The dish can be prepared in various ways, but the most popular Tết version is xôi đậu xanh—sticky rice with green bean paste. The green beans are often mashed and mixed with sugar and coconut milk, creating a rich, sweet filling for the rice.
Xôi symbolizes harmony and balance. The soft, sticky texture of the rice represents unity, while the sweet and savory elements of the dish reflect the balance between life’s challenges and rewards. Xôi is often served as a dessert during Tết, offering a comforting and satisfying conclusion to the meal.
6. Vietnamese Pork and Noodles (Bánh Mì, Bánh Cuốn): A Legacy of Flavor
While bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) is a modern food, it remains a part of many families’ Tết celebrations. Filled with a variety of meats, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs, bánh mì is a delicious and satisfying dish that offers a taste of Vietnam’s rich culinary heritage.
Another noodle dish that holds significance during Tết is bánh cuốn, which consists of thin rice flour crepes filled with minced pork and mushrooms. It is often served with fried shallots and fish sauce, and its light, savory flavors provide a perfect balance to the heavier dishes that dominate the holiday table.
Both bánh mì and bánh cuốn symbolize prosperity and good fortune, with their diverse ingredients representing abundance and variety. These dishes reflect Vietnam’s rich history of culinary influences, combining local flavors with elements introduced during the French colonial period.
7. Sweet Lotus Seed Soup (Chè Hạt Sen): A Sweet Ending
To round off the Tết feast, many families serve chè hạt sen, a sweet soup made with lotus seeds, longan, and a hint of coconut milk. This dessert is refreshing and light, providing a perfect balance to the richness of the other dishes.
The lotus seed is considered a symbol of purity, enlightenment, and prosperity in Vietnamese culture, and it is often used in traditional desserts. Chè hạt sen is believed to bring good health and happiness, making it a fitting conclusion to the Tết feast. The dish’s gentle sweetness represents the hope for a smooth, prosperous year ahead.
8. Tết Nguyên Đán: A Celebration of Family, Tradition, and Food
The foods served during Tết Nguyên Đán go beyond mere sustenance; they are symbols of prosperity, good health, and family unity. The dishes are carefully prepared and shared among family members, reflecting the love and respect that Vietnamese people have for their ancestors, their traditions, and each other. Tết is a time for celebration, reflection, and renewal, and the food is an essential part of that experience.
Whether it is the square-shaped Bánh Chưng or the tangy dưa hành, every dish served during Tết carries its own story and significance. The act of preparing and enjoying these foods brings families together, ensuring that the spirit of Tết lives on for generations to come.
As Vietnam continues to embrace modernity while preserving its cultural heritage, Tết Nguyên Đán and the foods associated with it remain an integral part of the nation’s identity. The celebration of food during Tết is a reminder of the importance of tradition, family, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones.
