Rich and flavorful Southern Vietnamese Tet cuisine

Not only are these dishes found on the offering trays, but some are present throughout the Tet holiday, from the 25th or 26th of the lunar month until the 4th or 5th day of the new year, or even longer, as if it were an unwritten rule. These are dishes that you can find in the kitchen during these days; if you're hungry, you can just open the cupboard and look for them; guests visiting the house will always be served them – it's the same in every household.

These are the dishes that children in Southern Vietnam have to eat repeatedly, almost every day, during Tet. These Tet dishes have remained the same over the years; some enjoy them, others are tired of them, but it must be acknowledged that without these dishes, the Tet atmosphere would be lost.

Braised pork belly

If you're from Southern Vietnam, you're guaranteed to find a pot of braised pork at home. This isn't just any braised pork; it's a special kind of braised pork, cooked in coconut milk, with a thin, abundant liquid like soup, and a light brown color from caramelized sugar. Half of the meat is fat, making it particularly rich and fatty, causing a light, shimmering layer of fat to rise to the surface of the broth, making it very appealing.

In particular, this pot is enormous; it's not the usual braised pork dish for a meal, but one of the largest pots in the house, meant for the whole family to eat during Tet (Lunar New Year). For some, this pot of braised pork is like a "nightmare," having to eat it three times a day... However, in Southern Vietnam, Tet without braised pork with eggs feels incomplete and sad, so people still cook a huge pot of it to share with the whole family throughout Tet, even if it means eating it until they're sick of it.

Banh Tet

It's a fact that, as if you haven't had enough of bánh tét at home, you'll be offered a few slices at every house you visit... Bánh tét and bánh chưng are naturally associated with Tet, but they're not just limited to the Tet feast; these two dishes also accompany children from all regions during the Tet season.

I don't know if it's the same in every household, but it seems that housewives in Southern Vietnam don't usually cook much during the three days of Tet. And indeed, they have the right to do so because after pouring all their energy into the elaborate Tet feast, everyone is exhausted. Therefore, the meals throughout Tet for Southern Vietnamese children are mostly fried sticky rice cakes with braised pork (pictured above).

Vietnamese pork sausage

For children in Southern Vietnam, the most common phrase heard when entering the kitchen is probably, "XX, go cut some pork sausage to serve to guests." Unlike braised pork, which isn't often served, pork sausage, like sticky rice cake (bánh tét), is often served together as an accompaniment to offering food to guests. Pork sausage can actually be eaten year-round, as evidenced by the fact that many street vendors sell it, so it's not a particularly special dish. However, for various reasons, every Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration includes at least one or two kilograms of pork sausage.

Perhaps it's because Vietnamese pork sausage (chả lụa) can be stored for a long time, requires no preparation, and can be eaten anytime. It tastes delicious with bánh tét (Vietnamese sticky rice cake), rice, or bread.

Jams

The truth is, with the influx of Western pastries and sweets, most of us are no longer as enthusiastic about traditional cakes and jams. Tet (Lunar New Year) is one of the few occasions when we still see traditional cakes and jams. And because most shops and restaurants close during Tet, cakes and jams are obviously one of the few snack options available. Sitting comfortably on a chair, munching on sunflower seeds, chewing on some jam, and sipping tea while waiting for guests to arrive is an activity that only exists during Tet.

Pickled cucumbers

Many ordinary households have pickled vegetables, but there are also families who hardly ever eat pickled vegetables throughout the year, except during Tet (Lunar New Year). Tet is a time when countless jars of pickled vegetables, salted cucumbers, pickled radishes... are gathered together. There are so many that you can smell the distinctive pungent aroma even before entering the kitchen. Many people don't like pickled vegetables, but they can't deny that without them, dishes like banh tet (sticky rice cake) and braised meat become much richer and more cloying. Pickled vegetables are a powerful "lifesaver" for those who have accidentally eaten too much fatty meat.

On the other hand, people in the South tend to refer to all types of pickled vegetables as "pickled cucumbers," but in reality, the most common pickled onions, radishes, and mustard greens are those commonly pickled here.

Thu Trang