Lunar New Year is the biggest and most important festival in many Asian countries, and Vietnam is no exception to this. During my time in Da Nang, I was lucky enough to stay with a lovely host family who not only opened their home for me but also let me be part of their traditions and culture. Today I want to show you how Vietnamese families prepare for the event of the year and for that I have to introduce you to a traditional local snack called Banh Tet or also Banh Chung. Afterwards, I want to show you some special flowers that only bloom for Tet.

The square-shaped ones are called Banh Chung and the round ones are called Banh Tet.
The square-shaped ones are called Banh Chung and the round ones are called Banh Tet.

Both kinds are filled with the same ingredients. The difference is where they are made. Banh Chung is more typical for the northern part of Vietnam and Banh Tet is more common in the south. Since my host dad is from the north and my host mum is from the south we are making both kinds today.

Let's take a closer look at our ingredients
Let's take a closer look at our ingredients

Black beans
Black beans

Green beans
Green beans

Peanuts
Peanuts

Bananas in sugar
Bananas in sugar

Pork and onions
Pork and onions

We are making two flavours today: Savory, filled with pork and sweet, filled with bananas, peanuts and beans. The shape of these delights do not determine the filling. It's completely up to you.

My host dad is teaching everyone how it's done. (Including other locals)
My host dad is teaching everyone how it's done. (Including other locals)

I made quite a few of them myself. Let me show you my first attempt. If I can do it, so can you!

Lay out the banana leaves. You will need four in total
Lay out the banana leaves. You will need four in total

Spread out two small bowls of uncooked white rice.
Spread out two small bowls of uncooked white rice.

Cover it with one bowl of green beans. (Also uncooked)
Cover it with one bowl of green beans. (Also uncooked)

I made a banh tet with pork filling
I made a banh tet with pork filling

Cover everything in white rice.
Cover everything in white rice.

Roll the Banh Tet and tie it together with a Bamboo string.
Roll the Banh Tet and tie it together with a Bamboo string.

Close the sides.
Close the sides.

Secure with more banana leaves.
Secure with more banana leaves.

Use as many bamboo strings as you think are necessary.
Use as many bamboo strings as you think are necessary.

Do the same on the other side.
Do the same on the other side.

Almost done. But this one might still fall apart while cooking.
Almost done. But this one might still fall apart while cooking.

That's better!
That's better!

Can you distinguish which one was made by me and which one was made by the expert?
Can you distinguish which one was made by me and which one was made by the expert?

Everyone is working hard. It took us almost eight hours to finish all the ingredients.
Everyone is working hard. It took us almost eight hours to finish all the ingredients.

A day's worth of hard work!
A day's worth of hard work!

They should boil for at least 12 to 15 hours!
They should boil for at least 12 to 15 hours!

It takes the whole night and morning for the Banh's to finish and the water needs to be changed every three hours. Nobody is sleeping tonight! Preparing these traditional snacks is a social event! You invite all your family, friends and their kids. We are going to stay up all night!

Here they are - still cooking the next morning!
Here they are - still cooking the next morning!

Making sure the Bang Chungs are staying in shape!
Making sure the Bang Chungs are staying in shape!

Our Banh Tet harvest.
Our Banh Tet harvest.

The moment we all have been waiting for.
The moment we all have been waiting for.

They look and taste delicious!
They look and taste delicious!

So now we figured out what to eat on this special occasion. But what else is there to Tet?

We went to visit the flower market the next night. You can't just find them at any time of the year but only shortly before Lunar New Year. If you are lucky enough to be in the country during this time of the year you will see a variety of flowers from all over Vietnam.

A tree like this goes for 15 Million Dong (590€)
A tree like this goes for 15 Million Dong (590€)

Red and Yellow are considered good luck.
Red and Yellow are considered good luck.

Orchids
Orchids

Pink and purple
Pink and purple

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