My Vietnamese Lunar New Year Favorites

One of my favourite time of the year is Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It’s a special time for many to gather with their families and enjoy delicious food.

If you’re celebrating this time of year, here are five top favorite foods that you absolutely must try and that make Tết so special.

1. ☕️ Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Dừa)

Cà phê dừa is a sweet, creamy coffee made with coconut milk and condensed milk. Is your mouth watering yet? So is mine. The rich flavor of strong Vietnamese coffee combined with the smooth coconut milk makes it a perfect treat during Tết!

2. 🥮 Bánh Chưng (Sticky Rice Cake)

A true Tết classic is bánh chưng. It’s a square sticky rice cake filled with mung beans and pork. It represents the Earth and is often made by families together (you can typically find this at a sold Vietnamese food festival or at your local restaurant during this time of year!) The combination of savory pork and glutinous rice makes it a comforting and fulfilling dish that is sure to satisfy your tastebuds. You can eat it cold, but it tastes even better when warmed. Try cutting into slices and toasting it in a pan. It also goes great dipped in a little bit of sugar (trust me on this one).

3. 🥗 Gỏi (Vietnamese Salad)

Gỏi is a refreshing and vibrant salad made with crunchy vegetables, herbs, and sometimes shrimp or chicken. It’s light, tangy, and provides a refreshing contrast to the richer dishes served during Tết.

4. Bánh Bột Lọc (Tapioca Dumplings)

Bánh bột lọc are clear, chewy dumplings filled with shrimp or pork. Served with a tangy fish sauce dip, these little dumplings are full of flavor and are a personal favorite of mine at Tết gatherings.

5. Soursop Candy (Kẹo Mãng Cầu)

Finally, there’s Keo mãng cầu. It’s my candy weakness — a chewy candy made from soursop fruit. Its sweet-tart flavor is a fun treat to enjoy during Tết, and it adds a refreshing note to the festive table!

Be sure to scope these goods out this time of year!

It brings me so much joy to share foodie traditions with my readers. Expand & elevate your taste buds with these classic Vietnamese Lunar New Year that make the celebration all the more special.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Happy New Year)!