The Importance of Bánh Chưng to the Vietnamese People

Bánh chưng or chưng cake is a traditional Vietnamese rice cake made from simple local ingredients such as glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled or steamed. It is an irreplaceable, must-have food item to celebrate Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (known simply as “Tết”), which means “Feast of the First Morning of the First Day of Spring.” Banh chưng is served with pickled onions or vegetables and savory fish, pork, or beef. The making and eating of bánh chưng during Tết is a well-preserved tradition of the Vietnamese people.