Tips for preparing the offering meal for the three days of Tet according to tradition.

In traditional Vietnamese culture, Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is a sacred time for descendants to express their filial piety to their ancestors. Preparing the ancestral offerings for the three days of Tet is not only a spiritual ritual but also conveys hopes for a prosperous and peaceful new year.

The significance of the offering meal on the three days of Tet (Lunar New Year).

According to folk beliefs, the offering tray serves as a spiritual bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds, an occasion to invite ancestors to reunite with the family. Each dish offered on the altar symbolizes abundance and complete happiness.

Menu for the first day of the Lunar New Year: Welcoming good fortune and prosperity.

The first day of the lunar month holds the most important significance as a beginning. Hosts usually prepare a lavish feast with the hope that "a good start leads to a good finish." The menu varies significantly from region to region:

• North:It usually includes banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake), boiled chicken, dried bamboo shoot soup, gio lua (Vietnamese pork sausage), nem ran (fried spring rolls), and red gac fruit sticky rice.



• Central region:Popular dishes include bánh tét (sticky rice cake), marinated pork, nem chua (fermented pork sausage), tré (fermented pork), and various types of spring rolls.



• Southern:The dish wouldn't be complete without bitter melon soup stuffed with meat, braised pork, Chinese sausage, and pickled shallots with dried shrimp.

Menu for the second day of the lunar month: Family gathering and visiting.

The second day of the Lunar New Year is a time for families to gather before visiting relatives to offer New Year greetings. The menu on this day is often varied to offer different tastes while still maintaining a sense of formality.

• Central region:Add signature dishes such as beef stew with molasses, pickled vegetables, and sticky rice cake.



• Southern:Prioritize light dishes such as rice paper rolls with shrimp and pork, lotus root salad, or spring rolls.

Menu for the third day of the lunar month: Thanksgiving and burning of offerings.

The ceremony on the 3rd day of the lunar month (the burning of offerings) signifies bidding farewell to ancestors as they return to the afterlife and praying for their blessings in the new year.

• North:Steamed chicken with lime leaves, sticky rice with mung beans, vermicelli with chicken offal, and stir-fried mixed vegetables.



• Central region:Chicken salad with Vietnamese coriander, braised pork, and fried sticky rice cake.



• Southern:Vegetarian stir-fries and pickled bean sprouts are served alongside the traditional braised pork with eggs.

Tips for preparing a quick and easy Tet feast.

To prevent cooking during Tet (Lunar New Year) from becoming a burden, homeowners can apply the following tips:

1. Plan early:Make a shopping list and go to the market early to choose the freshest ingredients.



2. Make use of ready-made food:Dishes like banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) and gio cha (Vietnamese sausage) can be prepared in advance or purchased ready-made from reputable sources to save time.
3. Job assignments:Let the family members work together from preparation to presentation to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Notes on vegetarian offerings

Nowadays, many families choose to offer vegetarian food as a sacrifice to pray for purity and peace at the beginning of the new year. This is a great choice, depending on each family's religious beliefs.