Traditional foods on Tet Holiday in Vietnam

Tet is a long-standing custom of Vietnamese people, bringing many values to cultural and spiritual life. The Lunar New Year's Day is calculated according to the lunar calendar in the Eastern concept, which is also the time when the weather becomes warmer, bringing new and fruitful signals. For international travelers, this will be an interesting opportunity to have cultural experiences in Vietnam, through customs, festivals, and especially the culinary quintessence of Tet.

Top traditional foods on Tet holiday you should know

Caramelized pork and eggs

This is an indispensable dish in the Tet meal of people in South Vietnam. The main ingredients include bacon, duck eggs (quail eggs), and fresh coconut water. Pork and eggs are braised with coconut water for a long time til the meat is really soft and the egg whites are hunted, then the dish is delicious enough for Tet. With the meaning of affluence and union, Caramelized pork and eggs have become a culinary symbol for Tet in Vietnam.

Jellied meat

Unlike the South of Vietnam, Jellied meat is a typical dish in the northern meal on Tet days. The main ingredients of a jellied meat dish include pork, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear, carrots, and spices. The special feature of this dish is that the mixture of ingredients is stewed very softly and frozen in the refrigerator to enjoy, instead of being hot like other dishes.

Banh Chung / Stuffed sticky rice cake

Banh Chung is a cake with many historical and cultural values, present in most regions of Vietnam on Tet holiday. Originating from the story in the Hung King's time, Banh Chung symbolizes the earth, associated with the wet rice civilization and farmers. Made from glutinous rice, mung bean, and fatty meat, wrapped in dong leaves, Banh Chung is usually offered to grandparents and ancestors on Lunar New Year's Day, as a way to preserve a long-standing tradition.

Vietnamese Sausage

In the list of traditional foods on Tet, Vietnam sausage is a dish originating from the South West of Vietnam and is popular around the country. Vietnam Sausages currently have a variety of choices such as fresh sausages, dried sausages, shrimp sausages, fish sausages, etc... which are suitable for all tastes. This dish will be more delicious when it is baked or fried, it is often used in every meal or to entertain guests during the Tet holiday.

Pork Bologna & brawn

Various kinds of bologna not only appear in the meals on Tet holiday but are also part of the daily cuisine of Vietnamese people. From ingredients to processing and packaging, there are many types of sausages used during Tet such as beef bologna, pork bologna, roasted pork bologna, and brawn, etc... This is also a popular dish in all regions of Vietnam and used in meals or to entertain guests during Tet holiday.

Pork Bologna & brawn.

Candies & Dried Fruit

Besides such typical main dishes, dried fruit is a dessert that every family in Vietnam shops for Tet. The dried fruits can be made from kumquats, coconuts, pumpkins, kiwis, lotus seeds, etc... The sweet candy and dried fruit served with hot tea will be the ideal combination to begin the story of the new year.

FAQs for Tet Holiday in Vietnam

How does Travelner support international travelers visiting Vietnam during Tet?

Travelling to Vietnam at the time of Tet, the Lunar New Year, is an enchanting experience but is accompanied by special travel problems. Travelner will be here to ease your trip and make it safer and stress-free. Since you have decided what you need to do in planning your trip, Travelner gives you updated information about what to do in terms of visa applications, tips for the busy seasons, and what to consider during the holiday period when most services work differently.

Travelner is another online Vietnam visa service that promises customers the acquisition of the necessary entry documents promptly and even when the Tet season is at its prime times. Travel insurance policies provided by Travelner include medical emergencies, travel delays, baggage loss, etc.—important policies since the country is becoming overcrowded.

Plus, Travelner’s customer support is available to assist you before and during your visit, ensuring you always have someone to rely on. With Travelner, enjoying Vietnam’s festive Tet celebrations becomes easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

What common travel disruptions might occur during Tet that travel insurance can help with?

Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year—and with that comes a higher chance of unexpected disruptions. In Tet, airplanes are usually booked very fast, and it follows that schedules are altered, changed, or even cancelled more frequently than normal. Travel insurance will reimburse you for extra expenses/rebooking charges when such problems arise.

Another common challenge is lost or delayed luggage. When the airports are at their peak, it is easy to misplace bags, and insurance is a sure way to have you covered to make some purchases in the process of waiting.

Road and airport congestion during Tet can also cause missed connections, especially if you’re traveling between cities or catching international flights. And of course, you can always be cut short by unexpected illness or accident.

Travel insurance acts as a safety net, helping you handle these Tet travel surprises with confidence and peace of mind.

Can travelers upgrade their travel insurance if plans change during Tet?

Yes—many travelers can upgrade their travel insurance in case they make changes to their plans during Tet, though this is dependent on the policy and the insurer. Tet is one of the busiest travel seasons, so unexpected changes like extended trips, new activities, or upgraded accommodations are common. Most travel insurance providers allow travelers to add extra coverage—such as higher medical limits, trip-extension protection, or coverage for adventure activities—as long as no claim has already been filed.

The key is timing. Upgrades usually must be made before something goes wrong, so it’s best to contact your insurer as soon as your plans shift. Keep in mind that some benefits, like Cancel-for-Any-Reason (CFAR), may have strict deadlines.

If you’re traveling during Tet, reviewing your policy early ensures you won’t miss the window to enhance your protection. A quick upgrade can give you peace of mind during the holiday rush.

How does travel insurance help travelers who lose their passports during Tet?

Losing your passport during Tet can feel overwhelming, especially when airports, embassies, and travel offices are busy for the holiday. Fortunately, travel insurance would help a lot to cope with the situation. The majority of the travel insurance policies cover the loss of passports, and this factor assists you in covering the cost of replacing the documents, the cost of transportation, and other accommodation costs as you await the re-issue of your new passport.

Insurance providers also offer 24/7 assistance hotlines. It implies that you may call at any hour to receive step-by-step instructions on what to do next—how to report the loss, where to visit, and what documents you will be required to have. There are even plans that will reimburse extra travel costs in case your homebound flight is postponed due to the lost passport.

During Tet, when services may be slower or crowded, having travel insurance gives you peace of mind and practical support so you can continue your journey with less stress.

Can travelers claim compensation if their luggage is lost or delayed during Tet?

Yes—travelers can claim compensation if their luggage is lost or delayed during Tet, but the process may take longer due to the peak-season rush. Airlines must always adhere to international baggage regulations, and this implies that when you realize your bag is lost, you can make a claim. In the case of delayed luggage, most airlines will compensate you for the reasonable costs, like toiletries, some basic clothes, or other necessary things that you require when waiting. If your luggage is officially declared lost, you may receive compensation based on airline policies or international conventions like the Montreal Convention.

To make the process easier in case of Tet, remember to keep your baggage tags, make an instant report at the airport, and give the receipt of emergency purchases. Travel insurance with a baggage cover would also assist in getting faster and increased reimbursement, particularly at peak holiday times.

Travelner accompanies to discover Tet in Vietnam

Each region in Vietnam celebrates Tet with its own customs, but Tet still has a very sacred meaning. International travelers who have a trip to Vietnam during the traditional Tet holiday should spend time exploring all the interesting attractions, colorful festival programs, and also traditional foods. Travelner has accompanied you to prepare everything for the trip, such as flights to Vietnam, hotels and resorts, self-drive car rentals, and Vietnam travel insurance