According to Vietnamese beliefs, eating the following dishes at the beginning of the year will bring good luck for the entire year.
Lucky Foods to Eat at the Start of the New Year
1. Gac Sticky Rice
According to Vietnamese beliefs, the color red symbolizes happiness, and the vibrant hues of spring represent good fortune and prosperity. The red color of gac (a type of fruit used in cooking) is a natural earth tone that fosters harmony and blessings for the new year. Therefore, gac sticky rice is the first dish suggested to eat for good luck on New Year’s Day after paying respects to our ancestors.
The red color of gac is a natural earth tone that fosters harmony and blessings for the new year.
Gac sticky rice not only helps improve eyesight and prevent eye ailments such as dryness, fatigue, and cataracts, but it also aids in skin health, keeping it smooth and youthful.
Moreover, in Vietnamese culture, red is the color of happiness and good fortune, making gac sticky rice an essential dish to start the new year right.
2. Bitter Melon Soup
On the first day of the new year, what soup should you eat that is both refreshing and brings good luck? Bitter melon soup is the dish to enjoy for good fortune on New Year’s Day. The word “bitter melon” in Vietnamese plays with the idea that all hardships and struggles will pass, ushering in a new year filled with happiness and peace.
This fruit is not rare, as any homemaker can purchase it year-round, but during Tet (Lunar New Year), it carries a unique significance.
Bitter melon means that all hardships will pass to welcome a happy new year.
Despite its slightly bitter taste, bitter melon is extremely beneficial for health. It helps reduce cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Furthermore, the wordplay in Vietnamese regarding bitter melon implies that all hardships will pass, paving the way for a joyful and peaceful new year.
3. Boiled Chicken
The golden, tender boiled chicken will bring a favorable start and abundant blessings.
According to nutritionists, in addition to proteins and fats, chicken is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, and essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. This quality food is easily absorbed and digested by the human body.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, chicken is considered warm, nourishing, and beneficial for lung health. It is used to treat various ailments and is regarded as a food that enriches the body and supports vitality.
Additionally, it is believed that the golden, tender boiled chicken will bring a favorable start and abundant blessings for the new year.
4. Sweet Cakes
Desserts bring sweetness to the new year.
Typically, children love sweet cakes, but they are often restricted by parents who believe that sweets lead to cavities and obesity, without any real benefits.
This view is somewhat biased and incorrect; when consumed appropriately, sweet cakes can offer numerous benefits for you and your family.
Sweet cakes provide a significant energy source, reduce stress, and mitigate cardiovascular and blood pressure issues. This delicious snack contributes to a sweet beginning in the new year, ensuring a smooth and prosperous year ahead.
5. Watermelon
Watermelon is considered a healthy food because it contains no fat and is very low in calories. A cup of watermelon has only about 46 calories, making it an excellent choice for weight loss.
The round, full shape with red hues of watermelon will bring good luck to families.
Additionally, watermelon is rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins A, B1, B6, C, pantothenic acid, biotin, potassium, and magnesium. The red flesh of watermelon contains a powerful antioxidant called lycopene (the plant pigment that gives watermelon, tomatoes, and pink guavas their color).
This potent antioxidant helps neutralize free radicals that lead to inflammation and various diseases, including chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Moreover, alongside its red color, the “seeds” of watermelon symbolize prosperity and good fortune at the beginning of the year. The round, full shape with its auspicious red hue will bring abundant luck to families.
6. Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit known for its refreshing, sweet flavor and appealing color. For a long time, the benefits of papaya have been proven through numerous health advantages, making it a favorite fruit for many.
Eating papaya at the beginning of the new year symbolizes a year of abundance.
Papaya is not only delicious but also rich in vitamins A and C. Both vitamins help boost the immune system against illnesses like colds, fevers, and flu. Additionally, they are extremely beneficial for skin, hair, and eyes…
On New Year’s Day, papaya is a popular choice for many families as an appetizer, symbolizing wishes for a year of warmth and abundance.
7. Round Fruits
Eating any round fruit on New Year’s Day is a common custom in many countries.
Everyone knows that oranges, lemons, and other round fruits are not only delicious but also rich in vitamin C, making them popular among homemakers. However, you might not know that oranges also serve as excellent medicinal remedies.
Eating any round fruit on New Year’s Day is a widespread tradition in many cultures, though the number of segments of fruit may vary.
For instance, in the Philippines, the number 13 is considered lucky, while in Europe and America, the number 12 represents the twelve months of the year. In both cases, the shape of the fruit should resemble a coin and be sweet.
8. Fish Dishes
Along with the delicious and refreshing bitter melon soup, fish dishes are also recommended for good luck on New Year’s Day. The pronunciation of the word “fish” in Chinese is similar to the word for “abundance,” which implies that eating fish will bring prosperity and wealth for the year ahead. Some beliefs even state that fish should be served whole during Tet to ensure a year that is “smooth at the start and ends well.”
In our country and many others around the world, fish is an essential dish on New Year’s Day. Besides being a lucky food, no one can deny the nutritional value that this dish brings. Not only is it delicious, but fish is also rich in protein and healthy fats that are good for health, making it a wonderful ingredient for many delightful dishes during the Tet celebration.
9. Long Noodles
Long noodles, which do not break or snap during cooking, are considered a lucky food that must be enjoyed on New Year’s Day in China, Japan, and several other Asian countries.
They are often stir-fried in a pan, symbolizing the desire for longevity and good health during Tet.
10. Leafy Greens
During the Tet feast, there are so many choices that people often neglect leafy greens. This is a habit that needs to change, as leafy greens are rich in vitamins and essential fibers. It is believed that eating more of these greens will lead to wealth and, of course, good health.
Additionally, incorporating various leafy greens (including kale, cabbage, and local greens similar to the Lạng Sơn mustard) helps to balance nutrition in meals. There’s also a belief that consuming these greens brings good fortune due to their green color and shape resembling paper money. Thus, the more you eat, the wealthier and healthier you will become.
11. Red Melon Seeds
Red melon seeds symbolize luck and joy for everyone. Dishes containing red hues are always favored during the New Year. Red melon seeds are no exception and are often found in candy trays to welcome guests during Tet.
These seeds are not only a tasty snack but also packed with valuable nutrients, helping to enhance memory and support brain function. The red color of the seeds during spring represents wealth, reflecting the homeowner’s desire for luck to knock at their door.
12. Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét
Vietnam’s Tet Nguyen Dan would not be complete without Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét. This is a beautiful traditional custom of our nation, expressing the descendants’ gratitude to their ancestors. These are the main dishes on the Tet dining table.
The thick round cake symbolizes the sky, while the square-shaped Bánh Chưng represents the earth. The green leaves wrapped around and the filling inside symbolize the gratitude for giving birth, and the unconditional love of parents. These two cakes were offered to King Hùng and Lang Liêu, who passed down the throne. Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét symbolize balance in life and convey the belief in good fortune for everyone on New Year’s Day. Therefore, these are the dishes we should eat for luck throughout the year.
13. Braised Pork with Eggs
Braised pork with eggs is a characteristic Tet dish of the Southern people. The southern land is blessed with coconut trees growing everywhere, always bearing fruit. Therefore, the dish of braised pork with eggs is sweetened by coconut water, making it delicious.
Each piece of pork is cut into cubes, accompanied by a perfectly boiled egg, symbolizing the idea of harmony and a prosperous life. To successfully create this delicious dish, let’s look at the guide below.
14. Cashews
After the lengthy savory meals during Tet, people turn to snacks like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts to restore balance in their digestion. Among these nuts, cashews are a delicious treat with a sweet, buttery flavor. Their gentle aroma easily satisfies the palate of both adults and children. Especially, women need not worry about weight gain as they contain only unsaturated fats.
As you may know, cashews are highly nutritious and contain many beneficial micronutrients. They have numerous health benefits, including maintaining cardiovascular and nerve health, protecting bones and teeth, preventing and treating diabetes, anemia, counteracting aging, reducing free radicals, and lowering the risk of cancer.
But did you know that cashews are also considered lucky to eat during Tet? Like their name suggests, cashews, with their round and smooth shape, bring ease and smoothness throughout the year for everyone in the family. It is believed that eating cashews at the beginning of the new year will bring good fortune and fulfillment in the future.
15. Fried Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are an important part of traditional cuisine during Tet Nguyen Dan. Eating spring rolls symbolizes welcoming the arrival of spring. The shape of these rolls resembles gold bars, thus symbolizing wealth and prosperity. This dish is incredibly popular in every Vietnamese household during Tet.
Spring rolls are appetizers shaped like cylindrical rolls, wrapped in a thin white rice paper that is fried until golden. Typical fillings include vegetables, meat, or a sweet version with mung bean and taro filling.
