There is no occasion of the year in Vietnam more grand and memorable than Tet. On this special day, the whole country is a beautiful symphony created by the brilliance of red lanterns and yellow apricot flowers, combined with the sophistication of the Ao Dai worn by people of all classes.
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| In addition to cakes, each region in Vietnam also has similar and attractive variations during Tet. (Screenshot) |
While other regions in East Asia, influenced by Chinese civilization, celebrate the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese Tet has a deeper meaning than just a New Year celebration.
Tet is a sacred transition from the old to the new, a time for family reunion and reconciliation. It is also a time for us to connect more with nature, our heritage and our better selves - the person we want to become in the new year.
Although it is a Vietnamese cultural practice, many foreigners are also interested in this special event. The Houston Chronicle , one of the largest newspapers in the United States, founded in 1901, published an article about Vietnamese Tet jam.
According to Chronicle writer, the variety and color of dried fruits, nuts and candies in the jam box makes Tet much richer.
The article shared: "Tet jam is probably the most popular Tet food in Vietnamese families. The candies, especially popular with children, are often eaten as a snack while drinking tea.
When family and friends go from house to house to wish each other a happy new year, they will give each other boxes of red and gold candied fruit along with lucky red envelopes and good wishes.
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| Tet is a sacred transition from the old to the new, a moment of family reunion and reconciliation of all misunderstandings. (Source: VTV) |
Meanwhile, South African writer/blogger Bridget Langer of the travel website Travel Dudes is extremely impressed by the myriad of colors of flowers used by Vietnamese people to celebrate Tet.
The writer shared: "In addition to 'fatty meat, pickled onions, red parallel sentences', on Tet holiday in every Vietnamese family, there must be bright yellow kumquat trees, peach blossoms and yellow apricot blossoms as symbols of luck in the coming new year," the article shared.
Although a foreigner, the South African writer clearly felt the joyful atmosphere, peach, apricot and kumquat trees showing off their beauty with outstanding colors for the traditional Tet holiday. Vietnamese people decorate their homes and offices with these ornamental plants during Tet as a symbol of warmth, wealth and luck for the country's biggest holiday.
The editors of the culinary site Slurrp were impressed with the traditional Vietnamese Tet cake: banh tet.
"Made from sticky rice, mung beans and pieces of fresh pork, this traditional Vietnamese cake has deep cultural significance," Slurrp 's article begins.
The article also mentions the origin and cultural significance of banh tet. Over the centuries, the tradition of making banh tet has grown, becoming an inseparable part of Vietnamese New Year customs.
The cylindrical shape of the cake symbolizes continuity and unity, reflecting the hope for a prosperous and uninterrupted future. Today, banh tet remains an indispensable part of family reunions, ancestor worship and cultural preservation, nurturing a deep sense of identity and heritage among the Vietnamese people.
According to Slurrp , in addition to banh tet, each region in Vietnam also has similar, attractive variations.
In the North, the cakes are large squares and wrapped in green banana leaves. The fillings usually include mung beans, pork and sometimes black pepper for extra flavor. In the South, the cakes are smaller, wrapped in coconut leaves and have a sweeter taste. The fillings include mung beans, but can also incorporate sweet ingredients such as coconut, sugar cane and even durian.
Meanwhile, the central region has a unique version called banh chung, which is similar to banh tet but square in shape. The filling usually includes mung beans, pork and other regional ingredients such as shrimp or stir-fried mushrooms.
Tet cakes from the Central Highlands are filled with wild game or local herbs, giving them a distinctive earthy flavor. They can also be wrapped in a variety of native leaves.
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