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How to celebrate New Year in Vietnam. Vietnamese New Year with a child or a fairy tale about Tet Nguyen Dan What year is it in Vietnam

Vietnamese New Year is an unusual holiday. And it is notable not only for the fact that it is celebrated in February, and not on the first of January, as in the rest of the world. Its main feature is the numerous traditions that make this day interesting and unforgettable.

“First Morning Festival” is the poetic name in Vietnam for Tet Nguan Dan or simply Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Tet is celebrated not according to the usual European Gregorian calendar, but according to the lunar calendar. Therefore, the question naturally arises: what date is the Vietnamese New Year in 2018?

Tet Nguan Dan occurs on the first day of the first lunar month of the new annual cycle of the lunar calendar. As a rule, this is the period from the end of January to the end of February - depending on the year.

Or rather, on February 16, the holiday is just beginning. After all, in fact, the celebrations do not last one day, but stretch out for a whole week.

Special traditions

Tet is primarily a family holiday. And although today large cities are doing everything to attract tourists, the main thing on this day is family and meetings with relatives. However, this is not the only interesting tradition.

"Five Fruits"

Initially, Tet was based on the cult of ancestors - the history of this holiday goes back centuries. And many customs of the Vietnamese New Year have been preserved to this day and are performed annually in the same form in which they existed centuries ago.

The main tradition, strictly observed by literally all residents of the country, is the renovation of the home altar. Almost every home has its own special place where the spirits of ancestors are revered. For the New Year, it is customary to make special offerings to the sacred guardians of the hearth - the traditional “five fruits” dish. However, this is not exactly a dish: five different fruits are beautifully laid out on a large, clean plate - certainly ripe, large, without wormholes or damage. Then the entire composition is placed at the altar, symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the family. This offering has one interesting feature - the list of fruits is not regulated by anyone or anything. There are some special fruits that are not desirable to offer to ancestors, but the list of “undesirable fruits” also varies depending on the area.

In Asia, everything is symbolic and therefore the fruits must be red, orange or yellow, since they are identified with the 5 main elements of the universe:

  • tree;
  • metal;
  • water;
  • Earth;
  • fire.

The following fruits are allowed:

  1. Bananas.
  2. Grapefruits.
  3. Lemons.
  4. Oranges.
  5. Finger citrons.
  6. Tangerines.
  7. Persimmon.
  8. Apples.

Some families offer coconuts, watermelons and so-called dragon fruits to the gods.

Ziaothya

The first day of Teta - Ziaothya - is the time for children and parents. It is customary to give children new clothes - this rule is strictly observed with children. A child in the family must meet and spend the first day in a new outfit - a beautiful new dress symbolizes prosperity and good luck in the new year. The main gift is also a symbol of prosperity - the child is certainly given money in a red envelope or wallet. Red is the color of joy and good luck, and therefore these days in Vietnam are literally painted in a bright scarlet hue.

Social Security

Another sign of the “family” nature of the holiday is social assistance from the official authorities. Poor families receive a special allowance from the government for the Tet celebration on New Year's Eve. The amount by Vietnamese standards is quite decent and fully covers the cost of the festive table and traditional gifts.

Dishes

The main dish on the festive table is pork in all forms: fried, stewed, boiled, with vegetables, with or without broth. Meat has long been considered a symbol of prosperity, and therefore meat dishes should be present in abundance.

Tet is the time to prepare the traditional ethnic banh tiung pies - a mixture of rice, mung beans and pork wrapped in banana leaves. The leaves with the filling are rolled up, tied with grass stems or thin twigs and boiled. The finished pies are unwrapped and treated to everyone, while the banana leaves serve as a kind of plate on which a piece can be served.

Signs

Like any holiday with a rich history, Tet has its own special signs. So, for example, on the first day you cannot come to visit without an invitation. The Vietnamese believe that the first person to cross the threshold of a house in the new year brings with him special energy - good luck, wealth, prosperity and well-being... or vice versa - misfortune, sorrow, illness. Therefore, visits on this day are strictly regulated. Another sign that may seem strange to a European: you cannot dress in white clothes. In Buddhism, white is the color of sadness, so it is better to use other shades in outfits. But red is welcome, and in its brightest manifestations - fiery, scarlet, strawberry.

Decorations

An indispensable attribute of the Vietnamese New Year is streets decorated with flowers and lanterns. Flowers and lanterns can be seen literally everywhere during the holiday: plants in pots are displayed along the sidewalks, flowers are used to make compositions and huge figures, cafes and shops are decorated with garlands and arches.

And even passers-by on this day can notice a bright flower in their hair or clothes. Tet is a spring holiday, because on this day, according to legend, spring comes to the land of Vietnam and the world is born again. And what could better show the beauty of newly born nature than a flower - bright and at the same time delicate?

You can look at the beautiful flowers decorating the streets of Vietnam in our gallery:








Lion dance

Speaking about the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year, one cannot fail to mention the lion dance - a colorful dance procession that takes place annually on the streets of the country’s cities. The large figure representing a lion is controlled from within by two men. The basic movements in the dance are regulated - many of them are similar to the basic elements of oriental martial arts. Dancing, the lion walks through the streets, “fighting” evil spirits and driving them out of the city. The task of the lion managers is to go through as many streets as possible in order to “drive away” evil from everywhere.

New Year in Vietnam is celebrated twice a year. According to European tradition, it is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. Vietnamese New Year (Tet) falls on the first day of the first lunar month - one of the days between January 20 and February 20.

New Year January 1

European New Year traditions have spread and taken root in Vietnam since French colonization.

The liveliest celebrations take place in the south of the country. At the seaside resorts - Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Do Son - a festive atmosphere reigns. Restaurants and entertainment venues try to please tourists - they offer New Year's programs and menus. Foreigners and local youth party all night with top DJs. At midnight the sky lights up with colorful fireworks.

Preparations for the winter holidays in Vietnam begin in early December. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars and shops decorate their halls with artificial Christmas trees, tangerine trees and electric garlands, and place New Year's decorations in their windows. On the streets you can see decorated palm trees or local exotic trees. Residents of the country decorate their homes with Christmas trees, garlands, and Santa Claus figurines.

Most Vietnamese celebrate the New Year with a modest family circle over dinner. The holiday table includes baked turkey, chicken broth soup, side dishes of vegetables and rice, seafood, and fresh fruit.

Cities and resorts

New Year's holidays in Vietnam are an opportunity to have fun in a warm and exotic atmosphere. In the winter months, the south of the country enjoys sunny weather, without precipitation and suffocating heat. Affordable prices will allow you to spend your New Year's holiday in an unusual, fun and colorful way.

In winter, the popular resorts of Phan Thiet and Phu Quoc. They are famous for their clean sandy beaches with colorful dunes surrounded by dense thickets of coconut palms that create impressive scenery. During the winter months, the sea wind creates high waves, which are ideal conditions for surfing and kiting. Divers will discover an amazing underwater world with a variety of exotic fish and coral thickets.

In the vicinity of Phan Thiet there are attractions that will help diversify your holiday with interesting excursions. The most popular of them is Ta Cu Mountain, on which the sacred Son Tho Pagoda and a giant Buddha statue are located. The Cham Towers of Poshanu are a monument of ancient Indian architecture. The Whale Fisherman's Temple contains the skeleton of an animal washed ashore in 1762, which according to legend is the god of the sea. At the Phan Thiet Market, travelers can expect a variety of spices, exotic fruits, oriental food and clothing.

On the island of Phu Quoc, tourists will enjoy exotic entertainment: walks through the picturesque jungle, visits to pearl farms and black pepper plantations. To celebrate the New Year, you can rent a two-story villa at the resort. The large spacious living room will be an excellent place for a cozy company.

In the capital of Vietnam - Hanoi - you can get acquainted with the culture and history of its inhabitants, enjoy the color and exoticism. The most popular attractions: the Temple of Literature pagoda complex, the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology, the Hoalo Prison Museum, the Architectural ensemble of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Natural monuments of the city: lakes Hoan Kiem (“returned sword”) and Tay. In the vicinity of the capital there is the legendary snake village of Le Mat, whose residents are engaged in catching and breeding snakes.

New Year's holidays combined with a quality beach holiday have not surprised anyone for a long time. Tours to hot countries, when frosts and snow storms reign in Russia, are very popular among exotic lovers and not only among them.

In winter, we all often remember with nostalgia the events of the past summer, so why not take care in advance of returning to sunny summer days during the coldest time of the year and celebrate the New Year in Vietnam, on the shores of the warm South China Sea, where a weak warm breeze blows, and the impenetrable jungle delights the eye with lush emerald greenery.

Christmas in Vietnam

Residents of different regions of Vietnam are followers of many religious cultures, but prefer to pray in Buddhist temples, of which there are a lot in Vietnam, despite the very small number of followers of the Buddha's teachings themselves.

December is dedicated to preparations for Christmas, a holiday loved by all Vietnamese people, regardless of their religion. They decorate their homes, buy gifts and treats, and on Christmas Eve, December 24, set a festive table, which usually features roast turkey, chicken soup, and Christmas rice dishes.

On the streets in every corner of the country you can see Santa Claus with a traditional sack - in Vietnam this character has been loved since the times of French colonization. The custom of placing shoes at the entrance for gifts was also borrowed from Europeans, but unlike the latter, on the morning of December 25, the holiday ends and everyone goes to work.

Tourists, as a rule, celebrate Christmas in hotels, where tangerine trees are decorated for this occasion and festive banquets with traditional Christmas dishes are held.

New Year in Vietnam - customs and traditions

New Year in Vietnam can be celebrated twice, if time permits. An internationally accepted date with a luxurious feast, an abundance of delicious treats, wine and strong alcohol is celebrated for tourists. The Vietnamese themselves celebrate the New Year, or Tet, as this holiday is commonly called, according to the lunisolar calendar, which is slightly different from its Chinese lunar counterpart. There is no fixed date for the celebration.

In 2018 New Year in Vietnam begins on January 28. Vietnamese New Year differs by one hour and, like in China, is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Before the holiday, the streets and squares of cities and towns, decorated with flowers and bright illumination, are completely transformed, festivals are held and fairs are held, where local residents buy products needed for New Year's dishes and a huge number of gifts.

Every family home has an altar dedicated to their ancestors, which the Vietnamese treat with great respect. On the eve of Tet, the altar becomes the main shrine, which must be decorated and a vase with fruits placed in front of it, different in each region of the country: in the north - banana, tangerine, peach, pomegranate, persimmon, etc., in the south - mango, pineapple , grapes, watermelon, coconut.

Following an ancient tradition, the Vietnamese celebrate the holiday at home, with their family. Even those who permanently live and work abroad try not to be late for the festive table, decorated with boiled banh tiung rice cakes with mung beans, pork wrapped in banana leaves, and fruits.

Particularly noteworthy are the carnival processions, where sacred animals from the eastern calendar pass through the entire city, dancing and singing to music.

Traveling around Vietnam during the New Year holidays will be extremely diverse and rich in vivid impressions anywhere in the country. It lures curious tourists with its narrow streets and colorful buildings in the historical center of Hanoi, and just 10 km away lies the legendary Snake Village, whose residents have been catching and breeding snakes for almost 1000 years.

The Fragrant Huong River slowly flows through ancient Hue and the central regions of Vietnam. On the banks of the country's main artery, fragrant with the aromas of calamus root and flowering gardens, there are many attractions, including the Royal Palace in Hue with the Purple Forbidden City, the Imperial Tombs, and the Thien Mu Pagoda of the Heavenly Woman.

Vietnam is famous for its magnificent beaches, beautiful bays, and picturesque islands randomly scattered in the waters of the South China Sea.

Vietnam is not the most popular tourist destination, which has not yet received a decent rating. Tours to Vietnam at any time of the year are highly expensive, therefore, according to experienced tourists, independent travel to this country has many advantages, the picturesque landscapes of which leave no one indifferent.

Local residents are friendly and responsive, prices for food and consumer goods are pleasingly affordable, thanks to the efforts of Vietnamese law enforcement agencies, the country has a fairly low crime rate.

True, tourists often run the risk of being robbed, but this is the biggest trouble that can be easily avoided if you adhere to certain safety rules that are common anywhere in the world - do not carry large sums of money with you, do not demonstrate your wealth to everyone around you, do not leave in your room and at any other place of residence, bank cards, cash, jewelry. As for jewelry, it is generally better to leave them at home; it is unlikely that there will be a pretentious event in Vietnam to display them.

The national currency of Vietnam is the dong. In tourist centers it is not difficult to find ATMs where you can get cash in rubles or dollars, and then exchange them for dongs at the current rate. The Vietnamese are suspicious of the euro. Experienced travelers claim that the most reliable exchange points are jewelry stores.

Many people prefer to take cash with them, but in any case, you should make a rough plan of your expenses before traveling, including accommodation, meals, excursions, shopping, entertainment, health and beauty spa treatments. It is necessary to include in this list a small amount for unforeseen expenses - the countries of Southeast Asia are “famous” for all kinds of creeping, flying and biting animals, the treatment of bites of which will require some financial costs.

As a result, you can be sure that air tickets are the most expensive, which are best booked long before the intended trip. If you are planning a vacation in the northern regions of the country, you should buy tickets to Hanoi, in the southern regions - to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.

It is profitable to fly with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or take flight tickets to Bangkok, and from there fly to Vietnam.

Where to live?

Inexpensive and quite acceptable accommodation from local owners can be found using sites like airbnb, you can also book a room in a 2-3* hotel in advance - in Vietnam, star rating is often not an indicator of a high level of service. You can rent a room in a guest house or an entire villa with a pool on the seashore for the duration of your stay.

You should also take into account the fact that Vietnam in December is especially attractive to tourists: the weather is wonderful - dry, sunny, not hot, the high tourist season begins, when prices rise, and you won’t be able to save money if you suddenly decide to go on a trip.

Communication problem

A seemingly complex communication problem can be solved using mobile applications. With English in Vietnam, the situation is approximately the same as in Russia, that is, it doesn’t matter, although if you wish, you can explain even at the most primitive level, helping yourself with gestures, what exactly is required - the Vietnamese are patient and always ready to help.

In large tourist areas, some local residents speak Russian, at least if they don’t speak it, they understand it.

Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Eastern and European, in particular French, culinary traditions. In general, local delicacies may not be to the taste of all Russians - the descendants of the Vietnamese follow the old tradition of eating everything that flies, except airplanes, everything that crawls, except trains, everything that floats, except ships.

Of course, no one will force fried dragonflies and rotten eggs into the mouth of a guest from a foreign country, but it should be noted that in snack bars, inexpensive restaurants or cafes, spicy, fatty dishes predominate, and besides, it is quite expensive to eat in such places every day.

The most economical, healthy and delicious way is to buy food at local markets and cook it yourself, asking permission from your owners. The cost of food can unexpectedly increase significantly if you include alcoholic beverages in your diet, so it is advisable to reduce your communication with the “green serpent” to a minimum or completely abandon it. Although on New Year's and Christmas nights you can relax a little.

It is preferable to travel around the country by trains or intercity buses, which are inexpensive. Prices for air tickets on domestic Vietnamese airlines are quite reasonable.

There are car rental agencies, but to use their services, you must have an international license or obtain a temporary Vietnamese license by passing a simple exam. Whether it is worth burdening yourself with such problems is up to each tourist to decide. In addition, there is such chaos on the roads that it will not be possible to quickly get used to the local specifics.

It is impossible not to succumb to the charm of Vietnam, and having celebrated the New Year in one of the most beautiful countries of the Indochina Peninsula, no matter what calendar, you will definitely want to return there to see what you did not have time for. Have a good trip, wonderful experiences and Happy New Year to all travelers!

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This is the most important, brightest and noisiest holiday for local residents. Vietnamese New Year Tet is a time when all family members try to get together under one roof, the house is decorated with flowers, and housewives buy sticky rice and fresh fruits in advance for preparing New Year's dishes. Vietnamese New Year Tet is celebrated by all people from children to old people in all provinces of the country.

Why you should visit the country for the Vietnamese New Year Tet

Vietnamese New Year Tet is primarily striking in its unusualness. If you want to plunge into a completely different unusual New Year’s atmosphere, different from celebrating the New Year in Russia or Europe, then feel free to take tickets to Vietnam at this time.



There is no usual snow here, decorated with shiny balls of Christmas trees and sparkling tinsel. But the cities and villages are buried in flowers. Thanks to the wonderful climate, Vietnamese people can decorate their homes with fresh, fresh flowers. Often flowers are not cut. Lush flowering bushes are located directly in tubs with soil and can stand for a very long time, delighting others. Another popular decoration is tangerine trees. Anyone can decorate their home with such a green bush, on which small orange tangerines ripen, which are considered a symbol of prosperity in Vietnam. In the north of the country, flowering peach branches with soft pink petals are used as decoration.

For the Vietnamese New Year Tet, local residents decorate not only their homes, but also cafes, restaurants, shops, and just the streets. Go to any supermarket and you will see how hard the store employees have worked: soft pink and bright yellow branches of paper flowers hang from the ceilings.

During the New Year holidays, fairs and concerts are held. It is these days that you can see on the streets traditional dragon dance. It is performed by boys in colorful costumes to the sounds of folk instruments. This performance is performed in hopes of favorable events in the coming year.

When is Tet Vietnamese New Year celebrated?

Due to the fact that the Vietnamese Tet New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, it may fall on different dates:

  • In 2019, Tet will be celebrated on February 5th.
  • In 2020, Tet will be celebrated on January 25th.

Treat for Vietnamese New Year Tet

When it comes to food, the Vietnamese New Year Tet has its own traditions. And, if in Russia the celebration of the New Year is associated with a bowl of Olivier salad, then the Vietnamese are preparing an unusual Ban Chun pie for the New Year. The pie filling consists of rice and meat (it is unlikely that such a traditional dish would exist without rice, since this is the main product consumed by the nation). The filling is placed inside banana or freekium leaves. Such a pie can take ten hours to prepare; this is a rather long and labor-intensive process. Pies can be of different shapes - round or square. This is connected to a local legend. For the first time, pies were presented to the reigning king on New Year's Day: round pies symbolized the heavens, and square pies symbolized the earth. Since then, Vietnamese people have maintained the tradition of preparing such an original dish.

In addition to rice cake for the Vietnamese New Year Tet, housewives serve fresh and candied fruits. Many families prepare a vegetable called bitter loofah; minced meat is placed in it in the manner of Russian stuffed peppers (by the way, the taste is very similar, only loofah has a characteristic bitter taste). In Vietnam, this vegetable is considered not only tasty, but also healing (helps restore the liver).

Another festive dish for the Vietnamese New Year Tet is Vietnamese sausage, which is made from pork and potato starch with the addition of fish sauce and garlic. In the north, they like to cook pork trotters with bamboo shoots for the New Year.

In general, it is believed that if the New Year's table is bursting with treats, then next year will be rich and successful. Therefore, housewives prepare for the holiday a week in advance, buying the best products at the markets. A watermelon is placed on the altar of ancestors, which is found in every Vietnamese home, the pulp of which symbolizes good luck in the new year.

Other New Year Traditions for Vietnamese Tet New Year

During the Vietnamese New Year of Tet, it is customary to give money in red envelopes.. Therefore, do not be surprised if the hotel staff gives you such a small gift on this day. Red envelopes with money are given to each other and family members. Money is not necessarily real, it is just a symbol of wealth.

Vietnamese people wish everyone a happy new year using the phrase “Chúc mừng năm mới” ( chuk mung nam mine). And they will always be happy if you congratulate them in Vietnamese.

The Vietnamese also write poems on red paper in beautiful calligraphic handwriting and hang them on the doors of houses and on altars. This ritual is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Another tradition is associated with an interesting legend. The fact is that in Vietnamese folk myths it is said that in every house there live the gods of the hearth, guarding their homes. Once a year, the gods mount red carps and travel to heaven to tell the heavenly lord what has happened during the past year. At this time, people buy and release three carp into neighboring reservoirs, because the gods fly to the sky on their backs.

As you can see, Vietnamese New Year Tet is a time permeated with an atmosphere of general delight and anticipation of a miracle, so visiting Vietnam at this time is a great idea!

Tet (full name Tet Nguyen Dan) is the Vietnamese New Year according to the lunar and lunisolar calendar, the most important and popular holiday in Vietnam.
Tet is considered the first day of spring, so the holiday is often called the “Spring Festival”.
Celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month in the first season of the new year. The date of the new year according to the eastern calendar moves from year to year between January 20 and February 20.
Lunar New Year is often called Chinese New Year. This is not surprising, because traditions and culture came to East Asian countries from China.
Vietnamese New Year dates according to the Eastern calendar for the coming years:

in 2014 - January 31;
in 2015 - February 19;
in 2016 - February 9;
in 2017 - January 28;
in 2018 - February 16;
in 2019 - February 5;
in 2020 - January 25.

Customs for celebrating Vietnamese New Year

In the north of the country, a flowering peach branch is installed in a house on New Year's Eve, or the house is decorated with tangerine trees hung with orange fruits, symbolizing prosperity.
During this period, peach and apricot trees, tangerines and almonds bloom. The streets are decorated with young flowering branches and simply bouquets of flowers.
In the south of the country on Tet they prefer to decorate their home with a blooming apricot branch, and apricot flowers must have five petals. In addition, southerners place watermelons on the altar, the red, sweet flesh of which symbolizes good luck in the coming year.
Regardless of the family's wealth, before the New Year, people try to buy food, fruits, flowers, and sweets in order to prepare a sacrifice for the altar of their ancestors and treat relatives and guests during the three holiday days.
In the evening, on New Year's Eve, mass dragon dances take place. The most magnificent processions and colorful events take place at night. At dusk, bonfires are lit in parks, gardens or on the streets, and several families gather around the bonfires.
It is considered honorable to spend New Year's Eve in the company of a gray-haired man who is over 70 years old. As soon as twelve o'clock in the morning has arrived - this time is called "Giao Thya" (meaning "meeting of times") - children and grandchildren congratulate their grandparents and parents on the New Year, wishing them longevity, good health and prosperity. Then the adults congratulate the children and give them money for good luck. How much money doesn't matter. The most important thing is that the money is new (new bills or new coins). They must be packed in new red bags (either paper or fabric) with a red bow.
On subsequent holidays, adult relatives, friends, and family acquaintances come to visit and can also give money for the well-being of children. The custom of giving money to children for the New Year is obligatory these days, and not a single New Year in Vietnam passes without observing this custom. Traditionally, the Vietnamese believe that giving children a little money is like the beginning of “prasadam” in the New Year, so that this beginning will be multiplied many times over.
In recent years, the tradition of celebrating Tet only at home has become less unshakable as before, and many Vietnamese go traveling to other places, including abroad.
During Tet in Buddhist temples, monks give money to parishioners, which is also placed in small red bags. It is like a gift of well-being from Buddha, from God. This is a gift for luck. A Vietnamese aphorism says: “A little prosperity from the Buddha is equal to a whole large basket of earthly prosperity.”
The next day is usually the Tet Festival. On the territory of the most ancient temple in Indochina, Van Mieu, the most fun and fierce cockfights flare up. On the Lake of the Returned Sword in Hanoi, the water puppet theater gives performances - a unique folklore troupe, the only one in the world. In the historical center of Hanoi, on Hangluoc Street, elderly people kindly offer long bamboo poles. They need to be “planted” in front of the entrance to the house - they will block the way for evil spirits.
Vietnamese women wear red and yellow colors during Tet, while men wear all black.

In mountainous areas where national minorities live, the celebration is slightly different.

Tet is also a festival of flowers. Car access to flower markets is prohibited. And it’s unlikely that anyone would think of interfering with the happy New Year’s bustle in this way. The most festive flower is considered to be matcha - a sunny flower, or eastern “aster”. And these flowers, says the folk wisdom of the East, should be as many as there are people on Earth.

New Year's dishes

Special rice delicacies are cooked over coals. In the north of the country, these are pork legs with bamboo shoots, jellied meat, carp in salted sauce. In the south - pork in a pot, boiled in salted coconut milk, while the pork is boiled in coconut milk whole, with skin, fat and lean parts. In the finished dish, the fatty part looks transparent, and the lean part looks bright red and tastes like coconut milk. Southerners' tables also include pickled green pea sprouts with leeks, slices of carrots, turnips, and bitter melon stuffed with meat.

The New Year's dish in Vietnam is banh tiung rice cake. It is a square shaped cake wrapped in banana leaves and tied with flexible bamboo rods. Pieces of pork are sometimes added to the bean filling. This seasonal filling is sandwiched between two layers of glutinous rice.