Vietnamese Tet Food: 12 Essential Dishes for the Lunar New Year+ PDF Guide

12 essential dishes in Vietnamese Tet food

Boiled chicken

A picture of a chicken offered by Vietnamese people on their ancestral altar during Tet (Source: Collected) 

Vietnamese people hold chickens in high regard, seeing them as symbols of admirable qualities such as strength, courage, and resilience. Because of this deep respect, boiled chicken is an essential dish during Tet, often served on ancestral altars as an offering to honor their ancestors.

In Vietnam, preparing ga luoc (boiled chicken) for Tet starts with selecting a healthy, beautifully shaped chicken. Once chosen, the chicken is carefully slaughtered, and its insides are removed while keeping its form intact. The next step is to boil the chicken in hot water until it’s fully cooked. Once ready, it’s placed on the altar alongside other traditional Tet foods to honor ancestors.

After the ceremony, the chef shreds the chicken by hand into bite-sized pieces. They mix in Vietnamese spices like salt, pepper, MSG, and chili powder, along with fresh Vietnamese herbs such as Vietnamese coriander, chopped lime leaves, onions, carrots, and bean sprouts, finishing it off with a splash of lime juice. The result is a flavorful and vibrant dish.

Chung cake

Chung Cake is a delicious traditional cake from Vietnam, featuring an outer layer of glutinous rice and a filling made of mung beans, pork belly, and some seasonings (Source: Collected) 

Banh chung (chung cake) is an essential part of Vietnamese Tet celebrations. In the days leading up to Tet, family members come together to make this traditional dish. To shape the cake perfectly, a square mold measuring about 12 cm in length and width and 5 cm in height is used. Large green dong leaves are placed inside the mold to create an outer layer. The filling consists of sticky rice, with a center of seasoned pork belly and mung beans, flavored with salt and pepper. The cake is wrapped securely using thin bamboo strips before being boiled until fully cooked.

In Vietnam, people enjoy eating banh chung with pickled shallots on the side. Pickled shallots are small onions that have been soaked in a vinegar solution, giving them a tangy and slightly sweet flavor. T

In Vietnamese culture, banh chung symbolizes the Earth, while its ingredients represent the life of plants and animals that thrive on it. Making banh chung for Tet is a way to express gratitude to the heavens and the earth for a bountiful life. This cake is placed on the altar to honor ancestors, remembering them during the New Year celebrations.

Red sticky rice

Red sticky rice symbolizes wishes for good luck and happiness in the coming year (Source: Collected) 

To make xoi gac (red sticky rice), Vietnamese people start by soaking sticky rice overnight. A spiny bitter gourd is then cut in half, and the flesh is scooped out and mixed with a splash of rice wine. This vibrant mixture is combined with the soaked sticky rice along with a pinch of salt to give the rice a beautiful red color. The mixture is then steamed for about 30 to 45 minutes. Once it’s done cooking, you’ll have a stunningly red dish with a delightful aroma.

In Vietnamese culture, the color red symbolizes luck and happiness. That’s why xoi gac, with its beautiful red hue, is a must-have dish during Tet. This delicious sticky rice carries the hope for a joyful and prosperous New Year!

Vietnamese fried spring rolls

Vietnamese fried spring rolls are a beloved dish enjoyed by Vietnamese families during Tet (Source: Collected) 

Nem ran (fried spring rolls) are an essential part of Vietnamese Lunar New Year food. Vietnamese people use rice paper wrappers to enclose a portion of flavorful filling, rolling it up tightly while tucking in the sides to prevent any spills. Then, the rolls are fried in hot oil until they turn golden brown and crispy.

The filling is a flavorful mix of ground pork, glass noodles, eggs, carrots, kohlrabi, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and onions, all seasoned with spices like pepper and fish sauce. The result is a crunchy, savory treat.

Fried spring rolls are more than just a delicious dish; they represent a warm family tradition. Preparing them often involves everyone coming together in the kitchen, creating a cozy atmosphere. Because of this, fried spring rolls symbolize the love and harmony that connect family members.

Caramelized pork and eggs

Caramelized pork and eggs is a popular dish during Tet in southern Vietnam. (Source: Collected) 

In Southern Vietnam, thit kho tau (caramelized pork and egg) is a must-have food for the Vietnamese New Year. This flavorful dish combines pork belly and duck eggs with a delightful mix of ingredients, including shallots, garlic, sugar, monosodium glutamate (MSG), fish sauce, and pepper. Coconut milk is also essential, enhancing the overall flavor and richness of the dish. The chef carefully simmers this savory mixture over low heat until the pork is tender and infused with all the delicious flavors. This dish is typically served with rice and reflects the hopes and dreams for abundance and joy in the year ahead.

Vietnamese pork roll

Vietnamese pork roll is made by finely pounding pork and mixing it with traditional seasonings (Source: Collected) 

Cha lua (Vietnamese pork roll) is made by finely pounding pork and mixing it with seasonings like sugar, salt, pepper, broth mix, fish sauce, and starchy flour. The mixture is then wrapped tightly in banana leaves and secured with thin bamboo strips before being carefully boiled or steamed. Once cooked, the roll has a light pink or white color and a fragrant, savory flavor.

To enjoy cha lua, it’s typically sliced into thin, round pieces and served in bite-sized portions. It can be eaten on its own or paired with pickled shallots, banh chung, or simply served alongside rice for a delicious meal.

In the past, pork roll was considered a delicacy, symbolizing luxury, and was only offered to kings and nobles on significant occasions. Today, this dish symbolizes wishes for prosperity and peace.

3 Popular Pickled Vegetables in Vietnam During Tet

Pickled shalots

Pickled vegetables

Pickled leeks

Popular pickled dishes from Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam. Click the arrows to see more. (Source: Collected) 

For Vietnamese families, fermented vegetables are a must during Tet. Fermenting gives these dishes a mild, tangy flavor, which is believed to aid digestion and enhance the overall taste of meals, especially when paired with traditional foods like banh chung. Each region in Vietnam has its twist on these pickled dishes:

Pickled shallots (dua hanh): In the North, shallots are the main ingredient. They’re soaked in a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar, and stored in glass jars

Pickled vegetables (dua mon): In Central Vietnam, the method is similar, but the ingredients include papaya, carrot, white radish, kohlrabi, and pickled small leeks.

Pickled leeks (cu kieu): In the South, pickled small leeks are soaked in a mixture of fish sauce and sugar.

Pig trotters stewed with dried bamboo shoots

Pig trotters stewed with dried bamboo shoots (Source: Bui Thuy) 

Canh mang kho (Pig trotters stewed with dried bamboo shoots) is a traditional Vietnamese soup, commonly enjoyed during Tet in Northern Vietnam, made with dried bamboo shoots and pig trotters, seasoned with traditional Vietnamese spices. This dish symbolizes family reunion and good fortune.

Bitter melon stuffed with mushroom and pork

Bitter melon stuffed with mushroom and pork (Source: Collected) 

Bitter melon is called ‘kho qua’ in Vietnamese, which symbolizes overcoming hardships and represents hope for a brighter year ahead. To make stuffed bitter melon soup, the chef carefully scoops out the seeds and flesh of the bitter melon and fills it with a mix of ground pork, herbs, and spices. The stuffed melons are then simmered in a flavorful broth until fully cooked.

Jellied meat

Jellied meat is a popular dish during Tet in Northern Vietnam (Source: Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh) 

Thit dong (jellied meat) is made primarily from pork leg, pork skin, and wood ear mushrooms. To prepare it, the ingredients are marinated with spices and then simmered until tender. Once cooked, the mixture is placed in the refrigerator, allowing it to cool and set into a jelly-like texture. Unlike many dishes, the Vietnamese typically eat it cold, without reheating. This dish is often served alongside rice.

Jellied meat originated in Northern Vietnam, where the climate during Tet is often quite cold. In the past, before refrigerators were available, locals utilized cold weather during the winter months to make this dish.

Some snacks and drinks that Vietnamese people often enjoy during Tet.

Above are some traditional foods for the Vietnamese New Year. We would also like to share information about Tet snacks and drinks that Vietnamese people often enjoy.

Dried candied fruit

Candied ginger

Candied coconut

Candied lotus seeds

Dried candied fruit is a must-have snack during the Lunar New Year celebration. Click the arrows to see more. (Source: Collected) 

Dried candied fruit is an essential snack during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Here are some of the most popular types that are enjoyed during Tet.

Candied ginger: Candied ginger is made from fresh ginger and sugar. First, the ginger is peeled, washed, and sliced or julienned into thin pieces. Then, the ginger is added to a pan along with sugar, and everything is stirred together until the sugar crystallizes and coats the ginger evenly. The result is a sweet and spicy snack.

Candied coconut: Similar to candied ginger, coconut meat is sliced into thin strips and mixed with sugar. The mixture is then cooked in a pan and stirred until the sugar crystallizes onto the coconut strips. The result is a fragrant, sweet, and crunchy candied coconut.

Candied lotus seeds: With candied lotus seeds, the process is similar. Vietnamese people mix lotus seeds with sugar, then cook them in a pan, stirring constantly until the sugar evenly coats the seeds and dries thoroughly.

Roasted watermelon seeds

Vietnamese people believe that watermelon seeds bring luck and prosperity (Source: Collected) 

Watermelon seeds are one of the most popular snacks during Tet in Vietnam. They’re made by roasting the seeds from watermelons. When eating, Vietnamese people crack open the outer shell with their teeth to enjoy the tasty inner seed.

Vietnamese tea

According to tradition, when guests visit during Tet, Vietnamese families often serve them tea, roasted watermelon seeds, and a variety of candied fruits (Source: Collected) 

Green tea is a traditional drink during Tet, and Vietnamese people also enjoy some kinds of herbal teas. According to tradition, when you visit a Vietnamese household during the Lunar New Year, the host will offer you candied fruits, watermelon seeds, candies, and tea. It’s a time to share stories of the past year and talk about hopes and plans for the new one.