Vietnamese Traditional Dishes During Tết Holiday: What to Eat & What They Mean  

 

Tết Nguyên Đán (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is the biggest and most meaningful celebration in Vietnam. It marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar, and for Vietnamese people, Tết is more than just a holiday—it’s a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and welcoming good fortune.

During Tết, Vietnamese homes are filled with flowers, lucky decorations, and especially… food. Traditional meals are carefully prepared not only for family gatherings, but also for ancestral offerings. Many dishes carry deep cultural meanings, representing prosperity, harmony, and wishes for a better year ahead.

If you’re traveling in Vietnam during Lunar New Year, trying Vietnamese dishes during Tết holiday is one of the best ways to truly experience local culture.

 

1. Bánh Chưng – Square Sticky Rice Cake  

Square sticky rice cake with mung bean and pork

Bánh Chưng is the most iconic dish of Vietnamese Tết, especially in Northern Vietnam. Made with sticky rice, mung beans, and pork belly, it is wrapped in green leaves and boiled for hours.

The square shape symbolizes the Earth, representing gratitude for nature and a hope for a full, abundant year. The long cooking process also reflects family connection—many families gather together to prepare and cook Bánh Chưng overnight.

Where to find it:

• Local markets before Tết

• Vietnamese households

• Supermarkets and souvenir food shops

• Some traditional restaurants during holiday season

 

2. Bánh Tét – Cylindrical Sticky Rice Cake  

Cylindrical sticky rice cake with pork and mung bean

Bánh Tét is a close “relative” of Bánh Chưng, but more common in Central and Southern Vietnam. It has the same key ingredients, but is shaped like a long cylinder and wrapped in banana leaves.

This dish is often sliced round pieces, symbolizing completeness and continuity—perfect for a New Year celebration. Some variations even include banana or sweet bean fillings.

 

Where to find it:

• Southern markets (especially in Ho Chi Minh City)

• Street food vendors before Tết

• Local homes and traditional meal sets

 

3. Thịt Kho Tàu – Braised Pork Belly with Eggs  

???? Braised pork belly with eggs in coconut juice

Thịt Kho Tàu is a beloved Southern Tết dish, cooked slowly until the pork becomes tender and the eggs soak up the sweet-savory coconut sauce.

This dish symbolizes warmth, family togetherness, and abundance. It is also practical—families often cook a large pot to eat for several days during Tết, when many shops are closed.

Where to find it:

• Family-style Vietnamese restaurants

• Local food stalls in the South

• Home-cooked meals during Tết season

 

4. Dưa Hành / Củ Kiệu – Pickled Onions / Pickled Scallions  

Pickled onions / pickled scallions

During Tết, meals can be rich and heavy, so pickled vegetables are an essential part of the table. Dưa Hành (pickled onions) is common in the North, while Củ Kiệu (pickled scallions) is popular in the South.

These pickles represent balance and harmony—helping to refresh the palate after sticky rice cakes, pork dishes, and fried foods.

Where to find it:

• Traditional Vietnamese meal sets

• Tết food stalls and markets

• Restaurants serving holiday dishes

 

5. Giò Chả – Vietnamese Pork Sausage  

Vietnamese pork sausage

Giò Chả is a familiar and popular dish during Tết, made finely ground pork and wrapped tightly a sausage shape. It is often sliced and served as a simple but essential dish on the holiday table.

In Vietnamese culture, Giò Chả represents completeness and prosperity, and it’s frequently included in ancestral offerings.

 

Where to find it:

• Vietnamese deli shops and local markets

• Supermarkets

• Traditional restaurants and street food areas

 

6. Gà Luộc – Boiled Chicken  

Boiled chicken

A whole boiled chicken is one of the most traditional offerings during Tết. Many Vietnamese families prepare it carefully and place it on the ancestral altar before serving it at the family meal.

The dish symbolizes respect, purity, and gratitude. Although simple, it holds strong spiritual meaning during the New Year.

Where to find it:

• Family meals during Tết

• Traditional Vietnamese restaurants (often in meal combos)

 

7. Canh Măng – Bamboo Shoot Soup  

Bamboo shoot soup with pork or chicken

Canh Măng is a comforting soup made with dried bamboo shoots and pork bones or chicken. It is especially popular in Northern Vietnam, often served as part of the main Tết meal.

The soup adds warmth and balance to the feast, symbolizing a peaceful and healthy new year.

Where to find it:

• Northern Vietnamese restaurants

• Home-style eateries

• Traditional family meals during Tết

 

8. Nem Rán / Chả Giò – Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls  

Vietnamese fried spring rolls

Crispy, golden, and delicious, Nem Rán (North) or Chả Giò (South) is a favorite dish at celebrations and family gatherings. It is made with pork, mushrooms, noodles, and vegetables, wrapped and fried until crunchy.

The golden color is often associated with wealth and good fortune, making it a perfect Tết dish.

Where to find it:

• Street food stalls

• Vietnamese restaurants nationwide

• Tết buffets and family gatherings

 

9. Xôi Gấc – Red Sticky Rice  

Red sticky rice with gac fruit

Xôi Gấc is famous for its bright red color, created naturally gac fruit. In Vietnamese culture, red symbolizes luck, happiness, and success, which is why this dish appears frequently during Tết and weddings.

Its vibrant look makes it one of the most visually iconic foods of Lunar New Year.

Where to find it:

• Morning markets and street food vendors

• Traditional meal sets during Tết

• Northern and Central Vietnam eateries

 

10. Mứt Tết – Vietnamese Candied Fruits  

Vietnamese candied fruits

Mứt Tết is not just one dish—it’s a collection of colorful candied fruits, seeds, and sweets such as ginger, coconut, kumquat, lotus seeds, or tamarind.

During Tết, guests visit each other’s homes to exchange greetings and wishes. Mứt is served with tea as a warm welcome, symbolizing sweetness and joyful beginnings.

Where to find it:

• Tết markets and souvenir shops

• Supermarkets and traditional snack stores

• Homes during New Year visiting traditions

 

Why These Dishes Are Essential on the Tết Table  

Traditional Tết dishes are meaningful because they reflect the core of Vietnamese culture:

• Family reunion: cooking and sharing meals together

• Respect for ancestors: many dishes are prepared as offerings

• Luck and prosperity: colors and ingredients symbolize good fortune

• Balance and harmony: a mix of rich, salty, sour, and sweet flavors

• Preservation of tradition: recipes passed down through generations

That’s why Vietnamese families don’t simply “eat” these foods—they protect them as part of their identity.

 

Where Travelers Can Try These Tết Dishes in Vietnam  

If you want to taste the best Vietnamese dishes during Tết holiday, here are the easiest ways:

• Local markets (best place before Tết begins)

• Traditional Vietnamese restaurants (especially those serving set menus)

• Street food areas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

• Supermarkets and specialty food stores

• Homestays or local family experiences, where food is most authentic

Travel tip: Some restaurants close during the first days of Tết, but hotels and tourist areas often still serve holiday dishes.

Conclusion 

Tết in Vietnam is a celebration of family, tradition, and hope for a better year. And nothing reflects that spirit more clearly than food. Each dish—Bánh Chưng to Xôi Gấc—carries meaning, history, and the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality.

For travelers, exploring Vietnamese dishes during Tết holiday is not only a delicious experience, but also a cultural journey the heart of Vietnam. ????????✨