The Lantern Festival, known as Lễ Hội Đèn Lồng in Vietnam, is a vibrant and lively celebration that marks the fifteenth day of the lunar new year. It is a time when communities gather to admire beautifully lit lanterns, participate in cultural performances, and indulge in delicious traditional foods. The festival signifies the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations and symbolizes the arrival of spring, new beginnings, and the hope for good fortune, peace, and prosperity.

The Lantern Festival is celebrated across Vietnam with various customs, such as lighting lanterns to guide spirits back home and ensuring a prosperous year ahead. It is also a time for family reunions, and food plays a central role in the celebrations. The foods consumed during the Lantern Festival are rich in symbolism, promoting health, good luck, and harmony. In this article, we will explore the most iconic and traditional foods that are enjoyed during the Lantern Festival in Vietnam.

1. Bánh Chưng (Square Sticky Rice Cake)

One of the most iconic foods consumed during Vietnamese festivals is bánh chưng, a traditional square sticky rice cake. While bánh chưng is most commonly associated with the Tết (Lunar New Year) celebration, it is also an essential dish during the Lantern Festival. The cake is made with glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed for hours to achieve its signature soft texture.

The square shape of bánh chưng is significant as it symbolizes the Earth, reflecting the Vietnamese belief in the harmony between heaven and Earth. During the Lantern Festival, bánh chưng is often served alongside other delicacies as a way of honoring ancestors and welcoming the new year with good fortune. Sharing this cake among family members is seen as a gesture of unity and familial respect, helping to strengthen the bonds of family and community.

In the context of the Lantern Festival, bánh chưng represents the connection between the past, present, and future, as families pay homage to their ancestors while wishing for prosperity and health in the coming year.

2. Bánh Dày (Sticky Rice Cake)

Bánh dày is another type of traditional sticky rice cake that holds special significance during the Lantern Festival. Similar to bánh chưng, it is made from glutinous rice and often filled with sweet or savory fillings like mung beans or pork. Bánh dày is round in shape, symbolizing the heavens, and is often served during the Lantern Festival to represent the completion of the lunar year and the start of new beginnings.

During the Lantern Festival, bánh dày is commonly offered as an offering to ancestors, thanking them for their protection and guidance. The round shape of the cake is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the endless renewal of the seasons. The soft, chewy texture of bánh dày represents both the sweetness of life and the resilience required to overcome life’s challenges.

When enjoyed with family and friends during the Lantern Festival, bánh dày symbolizes unity, renewal, and the enduring bonds of love and tradition.

3. Mứt (Candied Fruits and Vegetables)

Mứt, or candied fruits and vegetables, are a popular treat during the Lantern Festival, enjoyed for their sweet flavors and vibrant colors. These sweet treats are made by preserving fruits and vegetables in sugar syrup, often accompanied by spices such as ginger or cinnamon for added complexity. The most common fruits used for mứt include ginger, kumquat, lotus seeds, and coconut.

During the Lantern Festival, mứt is considered a symbol of sweetness and abundance. Eating these treats is believed to bring good fortune and happiness for the year ahead. The candies also symbolize the joy and celebratory spirit of the festival, as families gather to enjoy their sweet offerings while lighting lanterns and partaking in various other activities.

Mứt is also associated with hospitality, as it is often served to guests and family members during the festival. The act of sharing these sweet treats helps to promote feelings of warmth, togetherness, and goodwill, essential values in Vietnamese culture.

4. Canh Măng (Bamboo Shoot Soup)

Canh măng, or bamboo shoot soup, is a flavorful and aromatic soup that is traditionally served during the Lantern Festival. Bamboo shoots are a symbol of strength, resilience, and prosperity in Vietnamese culture, making them an important ingredient during this time of year.

The soup is typically made with bamboo shoots, pork, and a variety of herbs, such as coriander and green onions. It is usually flavored with fish sauce, garlic, and other seasonings to create a rich, savory broth. The crisp texture of the bamboo shoots contrasts with the tenderness of the pork, making for a satisfying and refreshing dish.

Eating canh măng during the Lantern Festival is said to bring good health and fortune to the family. The bamboo shoots themselves represent growth and vitality, serving as a reminder that every new beginning, such as the arrival of spring, brings fresh opportunities and growth.

This dish is also often served during other important occasions, but during the Lantern Festival, it is particularly significant due to its connection to new beginnings and prosperity.

5. Bánh Bao (Steamed Buns)

Bánh bao, or steamed buns, are a common dish during the Lantern Festival, symbolizing abundance, luck, and prosperity. These buns are made from soft, pillowy dough and are typically filled with a savory mixture of pork, mushrooms, or mung beans. They are often shaped in a round form to represent the moon, a central theme of the Lantern Festival.

The round shape of bánh bao not only represents the moon but also symbolizes the cyclical nature of time and the unity of family. These buns are often served as part of a festive meal, where each family member shares in the joy and celebration of the season.

The practice of preparing and sharing bánh bao during the Lantern Festival is a reflection of the importance of family and community. Eating these buns with loved ones strengthens the connections between people, fostering feelings of unity and togetherness during the celebrations.

6. Chè (Sweet Soup)

Chè, or sweet soup, is a traditional Vietnamese dessert that comes in many different varieties, making it a perfect treat for the Lantern Festival. Chè is often made with beans, fruits, or glutinous rice and sweetened with coconut milk, sugar, or honey. It can be served hot or cold, depending on the season and personal preference.

During the Lantern Festival, chè is typically prepared with ingredients that are believed to bring good luck and fortune, such as lotus seeds, mung beans, and longan. The use of these ingredients is thought to provide health benefits and promote longevity, making chè an ideal dish for the festival’s emphasis on prosperity and renewal.

The sweetness of chè symbolizes the joy and happiness of the season, while its rich, creamy texture represents the hope for a fulfilling and prosperous year ahead. Sharing chè with family and friends during the Lantern Festival is a gesture of goodwill, reinforcing bonds of love and community.

7. Nước Mía (Sugarcane Juice)

Nước mía, or sugarcane juice, is a refreshing and revitalizing beverage that is commonly enjoyed during the Lantern Festival. The juice is extracted from fresh sugarcane and is often served chilled, sometimes with a squeeze of lime or a pinch of salt for added flavor. The drink is sweet, yet refreshing, and is perfect for quenching thirst during the warm weather.

Sugarcane is often associated with vitality and prosperity in Vietnamese culture. Drinking nước mía during the Lantern Festival is believed to bring good health, energy, and fortune. It is also thought to cleanse the body and invigorate the spirit, providing a boost of energy for the festive activities of the day.

8. Hoa Quả (Fruit)

The consumption of hoa quả (fruit) is another important aspect of the Lantern Festival. Fruits such as oranges, pomelos, apples, and bananas are often offered on altars as a symbol of wealth, good health, and fortune. The act of offering fruit to ancestors is a way of showing respect and gratitude, while the fruits themselves symbolize abundance and prosperity.

In some regions of Vietnam, the Lantern Festival is also a time for families to gather and share a variety of fresh fruits, reinforcing the themes of unity and togetherness. Sharing these fruits with loved ones enhances the joy of the celebration, bringing a sense of renewal and good fortune.

Conclusion

The Lantern Festival is not only a time for admiration of beautiful lanterns and cultural performances but also a celebration of traditional foods that carry deep symbolism and cultural significance. From bánh chưng and bánh dày to chè and nước mía, the foods enjoyed during this festival are more than just delicious treats; they embody wishes for good health, prosperity, and harmony in the year ahead.

Through these foods, families honor their ancestors, celebrate the changing seasons, and come together to share in the joys of life. The Lantern Festival, with its vibrant traditions and festive atmosphere, offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, embrace the present, and look forward to a future filled with happiness, success, and abundance.