Grilled fish - the "soul" of the Thai people's Tet meal

How Thai people in Nghe An grill fish for Tet offerings. Photo: Dao Tho

Elder Lang Van Cuong in Mong village, Cam Muon commune (Que Phong) is also a shaman. This old farmer in his sixties also shows enthusiasm for the Tet celebration customs of his Thai community. Over the years, he has quietly collected information from practice and books about the Tet celebration customs of the Thai people. Although he has not published them, Mr. Cuong is quite satisfied with his "discoveries".

According to Mr. Lang Van Cuong, grilled fish is the most popular dish in the Tet meals of the Thai people. For the Thai people of the Tay Muong group in Cam Muon commune, for many generations, they have lived along the Quang River in Que Phong district. Every 28th and 29th of Tet, the men in the village often go down to the river to fish to serve as food for Tet.

"People offer fish to their ancestors before eating. That is a long-standing custom," said Mr. Cuong, explaining further: Grilled fish on Tet holiday used to be fresh fish. People would bring it home, cut a line along the belly or back, and then grill it. That is the way to grill fish to offer to their ancestors. If it is just for a simple meal, you can grill it to your liking.

Tourists grill stream fish at Tam Dinh - Tuong Duong. Photo: Ho Phuong

When eating grilled fish, people dip it in a sauce made from lemongrass, chili, and some other spices. Grilled fish is quite popular in the meals of the Thai community in Que Phong and is indispensable during Tet.

The custom of offering fish on Tet holiday is not only in Que Phong district. It also appears in the offering tray and New Year's Day meal of Thai people in Tuong Duong, Quy Chau, Con Cuong, Quy Hop areas... This similarity is not accidental. This culinary habit has followed the migration of Thai people for many centuries and is naturally preserved by the communities.

The custom of offering fish in the Tet meal of the Thai people in Nghe An is explained by many people as this ethnic minority community has the habit of living near rivers. Compared to other ethnic minority communities in Nghe An, the Thai people are good at fishing and their fishing methods are also rich with unique fishing tools, although quite primitive.

Grilled mackerel Thai style at a restaurant party. Photo: Huu Vi

Nowadays, in the Giang River basin and the Ban Ve and Hua Na hydroelectric reservoirs, the fish reserves are still quite large. Therefore, grilled fish dishes in the Thai style often appear in parties as well as in specialty restaurants. In some ways, grilled fish dishes of the Thai people have spread their flavors in the community...