Vietnamese Traditional Tet Holiday Foods

 Vietnamese Traditional Tet Holiday Foods

When the weather is colder, the whole country is covered by peach flower and ochna intergerrima; it is for Lunar New Year. Tet foods are the most unique and diverse Vietnamese foods that best represent and reflect the traditional cuisine. Here are the 7 traditional Vietnamese food that you definitely should try during Tet - the most important holiday for Vietnamese people. 

1. Banh chung (Vietnamese Square Sticky rice cake)

This is the cake in Vietnam food culture since long time ago. According to the old legends, banh chung appeared on the Hung dynasty. This cake symbolizes the ground expressing gratitude to the ancestors and the earth, sky. Besides, it emphasizes the important role of rice and nature in water rice culture. In contrast to the fast food in modern life, the process of making banh chung is time consuming and requires the contribution of several people. Family members often take turns to keep a watch on the fire overnight, telling each other stories about Tet of past years.

Main ingredients are glutinous rice, pork meat, and mung beans wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves that will give the rice a green color after boiling. The sticky rice must be very good and was soaked in water in the previous day. Rice cake is wrapped in square shape, and the wrapping power must be neither tight nor loose. Then the cake will be boiled in about 12 hours by wood. It has nutrition with an original tasty flavor and may be kept for a long time. Eating banh chung with vegetable pickles will bring you unforgettable taste.

2. Gio cha (Vietnamese sausage)

Gio cha is another common item on the traditional Tet menu and is often eaten with starchy food. Like banh chung, Vietnamese sausage is wrapped in banana leaves and needs to be unwrapped before consumption. There are three common kinds of this sausage including gio lua (sausage made of ground pork, first class fish sauce and black pepper), gio bo (made of purred beef) and gio thu (made of pork meat, ear, nose, tongue, cheek, and wood ear mushrooms). The mix of ingredients are boiled or steamed carefully. The roll is cut into pieces and serve cold. This type of food is also used as fillings of Vietnamese sandwich, sticky rice or banh chung…

3. Thit kho trung (Vietnamese Braised Pork with Eggs)

Pork is cut into cubes and soak in garlic, fish sauce, sugar, and coconut water. The eggs are used in this dish because it symbolizes the goodness and happiness. Eggs are hard-boiled and peeled. The pork and peeled hard-boiled eggs are cooked in a pot for a few hours, then served with vegetable pickles,

4. Mut (Candied Fruits)

Mut is an indispensable treat during the Lunar New Year Festival. Everyone prepares a box of colorful candied fruits at home to give visitors, gift to friends and family, and offer to ancestors. A typical guest would much on a candy and roasted watermelon seeds and drink a few cups of tea. Children enjoy the candied fruits as little snacks.

5. Melon seeds

Ever had roasted melon seeds? They go perfectly with a cup of tea. To eat them, you use your front teeth and dig out the tasty centre. It’s a bit of work, but you’re with friends, so there’s no hurry.

6. Vegetables soup with pork skin (Canh Bong)

Every meal in Vietnam includes a shared bowl of soup and Tet meals are no exceptions. During Tet, people from across the country often go for a frugal and hot bowl of vegetables soup with pork skin. The vegetables selection often includes broccolis, cauliflowers, carrots, mushrooms and peas, added with young shrimps and some meatballs.

The broth is slightly sweetened with braised meat bones. Ingredients are plenty but the only one thing that can’t be left out is the pork skin. Though its flavor is very light, the pork skin gives joy to eaters by how its scabrous surface felt inside the mouth when being chewed.

6. Five-fruit tray (Mam Ngu Qua)

The five-fruit tray is a must-have on the altar during Tet. The exact selection varies through time, region, and even the house owner’s preference. However, they must be of a different color as the five-fruit tray also plays an important role in decoration for Tet. 

In Northern Vietnam, popular choices are orange, banana, pomelo, green apple, pear and the “Buddha’s hand” fruit. Meanwhile, in Southern Vietnam, where some of those fruits are not available due to a hotter climate, people often choose watermelon, papaya, mango, pineapple, coconut or dragon fruit.

7. Pickled onion, pickled cabbage and pickled small leeks (Dua Hanh & Kieu)

Although not every people in Vietnam is able to eat these pickled things, they are still an unquestionably one of the essential foods during Tet. This can be proved in this following famous traditional couplet about Tet: Thịt mỡ, dưa hành, câu đối đỏ Cây nêu, tràng pháo, bánh chưng xanh literally translated as below: Fatty meat, pickled onions and cabbage, red couplets Neu tree, firecracker, green banh chung. 

 

Australia’s 10 most popular traditional foods

Trying local food is a big part of any holiday. Whether you're new to Australia, you're showing a friend round or you just want to expand your own horizons, Australia has plenty of unique food options to suit all tastes.

Skyscanner Australia has scoured the country for the tastiest foods that we can (sort of) claim as our own. Our only warning? You might not want to read this while you’re hungry.

1. Chicken Parmigiana

This classic Aussie chicken dish – with roots in Italian-American cooking – is a staple offering on pretty much every pub menu in the country. Originally eggplant based (and these are still available for vegetarians), it has evolved into a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese and, if you’re feeling fancy, prosciutto ham. This is typically served with salad and chips, although there’s a split between those who think the chips should be under the parmy and those who think they should be on the side.

Hobart, Australia

2. Barbecued snags (aka sausages)

It’s no surprise that Aussies love to grill, and nothing is more important to a good barbie than a decent sausage – whether you’re at a mate’s place or at your local Bunnings for a sausage sizzle. Traditional Australian sausages are usually pork or beef, but if you’re feeling adventurous, there are other animals to sample. Wrap a slice of bread around your snag and top it off with some fried onions and your favourite sauce.

According to the Australian Meat Industry Council’s Sausage King competition, the best beef snags are found in Wollongong, and the best pork bangers come from Mawson, ACT.

3. Lamingtons

Widely recognised as the ‘National Cake of Australia’ after the National Trust of Queensland voted this sweet treat an Australian icon, named as it was after Lord Lamington, a former Governor of Queensland.

The lamington is a modest square-shaped sponge dipped in chocolate and coated with desiccated coconut. Other variations include two layers and a cream or jam filling – seen by many as a vital addition. They go perfectly with a nice cup of bush tea, or maybe one of Melbourne’s world-famous coffees, and are available in all good bakeries and cafes.

Although the cake is thought to have been first served in Toowoomba, the national success has seen it take off in cities across Australia. Kytons Bakery in Adelaide is the current award holder for best lamington in Australia.

4. A burger with ‘the lot’

If tomato, lettuce, onions and a juicy meat patty just isn’t enough burger, then maybe you should try the Aussie gut-buster with ‘the lot’. Take a burger bun and stuff it with barbecued meat, salad, sauce and, for the Australian twist, add a slice of pineapple, some pickled beetroot and a fried egg. Perfect after a long day surfing or relaxing on the beach.

According to MTV, the best burger in Australia can be found at Burger Me Fresh in Coolangatta. It might be a long way to go for a meal, but people definitely travel with less incentive than this.

Coolangatta, Australia

5. Pavlova

Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to inventing this famous dessert, created in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova’s visit to Australasia in the 1920s. As a truly Australian after-dinner sweet, the pavlova’s crispy meringue crust, light fruit filling and whipped cream topping ensure it’s a family hit.

Australian claims to the dish lay in a recipe written by a Perth hotel owner in 1935, however recent research says that dish began life in Germany before evolving into its current form in the United States.

Regardless of where it was created, today’s Australian offerings are perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Perth, Australia

6. Meat pies

You may think that a pie’s a pie, available in any flavour with any filling. However, a traditional Australian pie should be hand-sized, filled with mincemeat and gravy, and topped with tomato sauce. A gourmet version with mashed potato and mushy peas is also popular, but any other variant surely falls under a different category.

In 2019, the overall winner of the Great Aussie Pie Competition was the Pinjarra Balery in Pinjarra, WA.

7. Barramundi

Forget about fish and chips, feast on fresh Australian barramundi, a name which means ‘large-scaled river fish’ in the Aboriginal language in the Rockhampton area. Grilled, fried or seared skin-side first, it’s a much healthier alternative to battered fish, and a true Aussie meal.

Whether you catch your own or sit back and let someone else take care of the hard work, heading up to Queensland gets you some of the best fish in the country.

Rockhampton, Australia

8. Vegemite on Toast

Not a particularly complicated dish, but still a much-loved serving, Vegemite on toast is great for breakfast, lunch or as an anytime snack. Similar to British Marmite, Vegemite is a vegetarian alternative made from yeast extract, and actually not vegetables.

To make your own Australian delicacy, toast two slices of bread, be liberal with the butter but frugal with the Vegemite. It’s not something you want to slap on like peanut butter or chocolate spread.

Vegemite, which was created by a Melbournian, is jammed full of vitamin B, which has loads of health benefits, including the belief that it helps keep mozzies at bay.

Melbourne, Australia

9. Pumpkin soup

Australian food isn’t all about grilled meats and seafood. There are a wide range of vegetarian dishes out there too, including a hearty bowl of pumpkin soup. Best served in the colder months, and easiest to find when you head south, there’s something incredibly satisfying about a bowl of pumpkin soup eaten by the fire. Add a Granny Smith apple, which were first grown just outside of Sydney, for an authentic Australian version.

10. Grilled kangaroo

Lean and tasty, kangaroo is one of the healthiest meats around, as well being a national icon. But you better like your steak blue, or at least rare as Kangaroo is notoriously difficult to cook and can dry out quite easily if left on the barbie too long.

Tastewise, this Australian food is closest to beef. However, kangaroo has more protein and iron than beef, and fewer calories and fat content. It’s also a good source of omega-3.

Bonus mention

Another Aussie sweet to try is Cherry Ripe. Made by Cadbury, but only sold in Australia, this chocolate bar is similar to a Bounty Bar. It includes cherries mixed in with the coconut and is dipped in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

No matter what your tastes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Australian cuisine around the country. Or, travel internationally by trying one of our many recipes. Add to your dining fund by saving money on flights, car hire and hotels by using Skyscanner’s search features.

Related

Trying local food is a big part of any holiday. Whether you're new to Australia, you're showing a friend round or you just want to expand your own horizons, Australia has plenty of unique food options to suit all tastes.

Skyscanner Australia has scoured the country for the tastiest foods that we can (sort of) claim as our own. Our only warning? You might not want to read this while you’re hungry.

1. Chicken Parmigiana

This classic Aussie chicken dish – with roots in Italian-American cooking – is a staple offering on pretty much every pub menu in the country. Originally eggplant based (and these are still available for vegetarians), it has evolved into a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese and, if you’re feeling fancy, prosciutto ham. This is typically served with salad and chips, although there’s a split between those who think the chips should be under the parmy and those who think they should be on the side.

Hobart, Australia

2. Barbecued snags (aka sausages)

It’s no surprise that Aussies love to grill, and nothing is more important to a good barbie than a decent sausage – whether you’re at a mate’s place or at your local Bunnings for a sausage sizzle. Traditional Australian sausages are usually pork or beef, but if you’re feeling adventurous, there are other animals to sample. Wrap a slice of bread around your snag and top it off with some fried onions and your favourite sauce.

According to the Australian Meat Industry Council’s Sausage King competition, the best beef snags are found in Wollongong, and the best pork bangers come from Mawson, ACT.

3. Lamingtons

Widely recognised as the ‘National Cake of Australia’ after the National Trust of Queensland voted this sweet treat an Australian icon, named as it was after Lord Lamington, a former Governor of Queensland.

The lamington is a modest square-shaped sponge dipped in chocolate and coated with desiccated coconut. Other variations include two layers and a cream or jam filling – seen by many as a vital addition. They go perfectly with a nice cup of bush tea, or maybe one of Melbourne’s world-famous coffees, and are available in all good bakeries and cafes.

Although the cake is thought to have been first served in Toowoomba, the national success has seen it take off in cities across Australia. Kytons Bakery in Adelaide is the current award holder for best lamington in Australia.

4. A burger with ‘the lot’

If tomato, lettuce, onions and a juicy meat patty just isn’t enough burger, then maybe you should try the Aussie gut-buster with ‘the lot’. Take a burger bun and stuff it with barbecued meat, salad, sauce and, for the Australian twist, add a slice of pineapple, some pickled beetroot and a fried egg. Perfect after a long day surfing or relaxing on the beach.

According to MTV, the best burger in Australia can be found at Burger Me Fresh in Coolangatta. It might be a long way to go for a meal, but people definitely travel with less incentive than this.

Coolangatta, Australia

5. Pavlova

Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to inventing this famous dessert, created in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova’s visit to Australasia in the 1920s. As a truly Australian after-dinner sweet, the pavlova’s crispy meringue crust, light fruit filling and whipped cream topping ensure it’s a family hit.

Australian claims to the dish lay in a recipe written by a Perth hotel owner in 1935, however recent research says that dish began life in Germany before evolving into its current form in the United States.

Regardless of where it was created, today’s Australian offerings are perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Perth, Australia

6. Meat pies

You may think that a pie’s a pie, available in any flavour with any filling. However, a traditional Australian pie should be hand-sized, filled with mincemeat and gravy, and topped with tomato sauce. A gourmet version with mashed potato and mushy peas is also popular, but any other variant surely falls under a different category.

In 2019, the overall winner of the Great Aussie Pie Competition was the Pinjarra Balery in Pinjarra, WA.

7. Barramundi

Forget about fish and chips, feast on fresh Australian barramundi, a name which means ‘large-scaled river fish’ in the Aboriginal language in the Rockhampton area. Grilled, fried or seared skin-side first, it’s a much healthier alternative to battered fish, and a true Aussie meal.

Whether you catch your own or sit back and let someone else take care of the hard work, heading up to Queensland gets you some of the best fish in the country.

Rockhampton, Australia

8. Vegemite on Toast

Not a particularly complicated dish, but still a much-loved serving, Vegemite on toast is great for breakfast, lunch or as an anytime snack. Similar to British Marmite, Vegemite is a vegetarian alternative made from yeast extract, and actually not vegetables.

To make your own Australian delicacy, toast two slices of bread, be liberal with the butter but frugal with the Vegemite. It’s not something you want to slap on like peanut butter or chocolate spread.

Vegemite, which was created by a Melbournian, is jammed full of vitamin B, which has loads of health benefits, including the belief that it helps keep mozzies at bay.

Melbourne, Australia

9. Pumpkin soup

Australian food isn’t all about grilled meats and seafood. There are a wide range of vegetarian dishes out there too, including a hearty bowl of pumpkin soup. Best served in the colder months, and easiest to find when you head south, there’s something incredibly satisfying about a bowl of pumpkin soup eaten by the fire. Add a Granny Smith apple, which were first grown just outside of Sydney, for an authentic Australian version.

10. Grilled kangaroo

Lean and tasty, kangaroo is one of the healthiest meats around, as well being a national icon. But you better like your steak blue, or at least rare as Kangaroo is notoriously difficult to cook and can dry out quite easily if left on the barbie too long.

Tastewise, this Australian food is closest to beef. However, kangaroo has more protein and iron than beef, and fewer calories and fat content. It’s also a good source of omega-3.

Bonus mention

Another Aussie sweet to try is Cherry Ripe. Made by Cadbury, but only sold in Australia, this chocolate bar is similar to a Bounty Bar. It includes cherries mixed in with the coconut and is dipped in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

No matter what your tastes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Australian cuisine around the country. Or, travel internationally by trying one of our many recipes. Add to your dining fund by saving money on flights, car hire and hotels by using Skyscanner’s search features.

The 17 Best Canadian Foods You Need To Try

 

The 17 Best Canadian Foods You Need To Try

Sure, the lakes and stuff are nice. And we hear there are some pretty cool mountains too. But let’s not kid ourselves, the real reason you’re thinking of visiting Canada is for the EPIC Canadian food you’ve heard so much about.

But it’s not just about the poutine. Okay, quite a lot of it’s about the poutine. But there are loads of other amazing Canadian dishes you need to try. To help you on your quest, we’ve put together a handy checklist of the best traditional Canadian foods to try. It will be hard to pack all 17 into one trip, but we believe in you!

The 17 Best Canadian Foods You Need To Try

1. Poutine

First stop in Canada: Poutine ? @shannondidwhat

Few Canadian dishes are as world-renowned as the glorious creation known as poutine. Crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy all combine to create the meal of dreams, and this French Canadian food is so popular that it can now be found all around the world. The classic version is great on its own, but toppings like pulled pork, bacon and smoked meat really knock it out of the park – and at an average price of £3.50, it won’t break the bank either.

2. Bannock

You can’t beat bannock and bacon cooked over the fire @torebergengen

Delicious and versatile, bannock is a simple bread that was once a key staple in the diets of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Modern takes on bannock include baked versions (which are heavy/dense) and fried versions (which are crispy and fluffy on the inside). In recent years, bannock has seen a surge in popularity, with new twists and variations popping up in bakeries and cafes nationwide – you have to try it!

3. Butter tarts

Baked some delicious Canadian butter tarts @karyne.villeneuve

Butter tarts are so simple, but oh so good. They’re made by taking flaky pastry shells and filling them with a butter, sugar and egg filling. This is traditional Canadian food at its best, and you’ll be craving these long after you’ve left the country.

4. Nova Scotian Lobster Rolls

Can’t resist these lobster rolls Neil Conway

Canada is a massive country, with spectacular seafood from coast to coast. Not-to-be-missed experiences include Atlantic and Pacific salmon, smoked salmon, arctic char, and of course, East Coast lobsters. Nova Scotian lobster rolls are a Canadian favourite.

5. Montreal-style Bagels

The best bagels in Canada from St. Viateur! @newna__o0o

Montreal’s bagels are the unsung heroes of great Canadian food. Sweeter, denser and thinner than their NYC counterparts, Montreal bagels are baked in wood fire ovens and are often covered in poppy or sesame seeds. The two heavyweights in the Montreal bagel game are St. Viateur and Fairmount Bagel, both of which (we can confirm) are amazing.

6. Saskatoon berry pie

Mmm Saskatoon berry pie with ice cream @prairieberries.sk

The Saskatoon berry is often described as having a sweet and almondy flavour, which makes it an ideal candidate for the perfect pie. Truly, a slice of this will change your life. It’s no wonder the city of Saskatoon was actually named after it, rather than the other way around.

7. Montreal-style Smoked Meat

Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwich with some tasty sides is @eatingwithchu

Similar to pastrami, Montreal’s smoked meat is the heavenly result of beef brisket salted and cured for a week with a range of spices, before being smoked and steamed to perfection. It’s usually served in a rye bread sandwich smeared with tangy yellow mustard, but you’ll also see it as a topping for poutine. The smoked meat sandwiches from Schwartz’s Deli have earned worldwide recognition, with some die-hards considering it to be one of the best restaurants in Canada.

The only way to know is to try it for yourself!

8. Peameal Bacon

Berry pie and juicy peameal bacon @cool.notcool

This special Canadian twist on bacon is made from lean boneless pork loin, which is trimmed, wet-cured and then rolled in cornmeal, giving it its distinctive yellow crust. It’s juicier than American-style bacon, but also leaner and, some might say, more delicious.

9. Beavertails

A Nutella and banana Beavertail – a must have in Canada @shalssh

Imagine a slab of delicious, deep-fried dough, covered in a variety of toppings like Nutella, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter and more. While it’s not exactly a traditional Canadian food, beavertails are gooey, crispy and a taste of true perfection. No visit to Canada is complete without one!

10. Split Pea Soup

Classic Canadian comfort food – split pea soup

Ah, comfort food at its finest. With Québécois origins, split pea soup is traditionally composed of peas, pork and herbs blended together for pure, creamy deliciousness. A bowl of this will get you through the tough Canadian winters!

11. Tire d’érable sur la neige

Maple Taffy ? Canada’s original delicious treat @kbeedeng

It truly does not get more Canadian than tire d’érable (or maple taffy). This sugary sweet candy is prepared by pouring boiling maple syrup over snow, where the cold causes it to immediately harden. You’re then meant to roll it up with a popsicle stick and enjoy immediately. The result is a rich maple flavour, with a soft, gooey texture – the dessert of dreams!

12. Ketchup Chips

Ketchup chips: a staple of Canadian care packages 

Craving a snack? There are plenty of chip flavours that can only be found in Canada! Many Canadians are die-hard devotees to the Ruffles all-dressed chip, which offers a bit of everything – from tomato and onion to salt, vinegar, sour cream and BBQ. Ketchup chips and dill pickle chips are also mega popular flavours native to the Canadian junk food scene.

Unsurprisingly, there are speciality flavours like poutine and, of course, the inexplicably addictive Hickory Sticks – thin strips of potato with a mild BBQ flavour.

13. Nanaimo Bars

These Nanaimo bars look heavenly 

Named after the British Columbian city of Nanaimo, these three layered slices of heaven require no baking and are comprised of a crumb base layer, custard and a thin layer of chocolate on top, which gives the bar a perfect crunch.

14. Pouding chômeur

Cheap and tasty goodness

Literally translated to “the unemployment pudding”, this French Canadian dessert was created during the Great Depression, which makes it one of the more traditional Canadian foods on the list. It’s proof that less is more, with a few basic ingredients combined to make a delicious, comforting dessert still loved by Canadians all over the country. Made up of cake batter topped with hot syrup, the end result is a deliciously sweet treat that cures all woes.

15. Caesar Cocktail

The amazing Checkmate Caesar at the Score on Davie

The Caesar is Canada’s national cocktail. Made of vodka, clamato juice, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, the Canadian take on the Bloody Mary makes the absolute best brunch companion. Recently, restaurants and bars have stepped up their garnish game to include more than the traditional celery salt rim and celery stalk to include the likes of an entire roast chicken, burgers, hot dogs, sliders, onion rings and more (aka the Checkmate Caesar at the Score on Davie in Vancouver).

16. Tourtière

A delicious tourtière and house made chai 

If it’s hearty fare you’re after, look no further than the French Canadian tourtière, a savoury meat pie commonly eaten during the holidays (but is popular year round). Recipes vary regionally and by family, but pork, veal, beef and game are popular choices of meat to fill the pie.

17. Game Meat

Moose taco salad – don’t knock it til you’ve tried it 

Depending on where you are in the country, game meat may feature heavily. Though not as common in big cities, the likes of venison, caribou and moose are often used as the main meat in certain meals. There are even moose tacos!

So tell me, what’s your favourite Canadian food? Are there any classic Canadian dishes we missed? Let us know in the comments