Hanoi Seasonal Food: Tet, Mid-Autumn and Harvest Dishes

What is in season in Hanoi, and what to order when the market changes.

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6-10 Feb 2027Banh chung, mut tet candied fruits, Tet feast

Spring

Banh chung ran: Banh chung, the square sticky-rice cake of Tet, is eaten warm or at room temperature and can also be fried into a crisp pancake. Tet falls on 6 February in 2027.
Mut Tet: Candied fruit, mut Tet, is a sweet of the Tet season and stands for good fortune in the coming year.

Che sweet soups: At Che Ba Thom on Quan Thanh Street the menu changes with the seasons: iced green bean, black bean and lotus seed che in summer, hot black bean and luc tau xa in winter.

Com, young green rice: Com, flattened young green rice made at Com Vong village in Hanoi, is the food of autumn. It is eaten plain, with bananas, or in cha com and fried com.
Mooncakes: Mid-Autumn falls on 15 September in 2027. Families offer a five-fruit tray and cakes at the altar before eating mooncakes, usually the baked banh nuong or the soft banh deo.
West Lake shrimp cakes: Vietnam Tourism recommends banh tom, golden shrimp fritters in a sweet potato batter, for early autumn evenings along West Lake.

Oc luoc, boiled snails: Snails boiled with lemongrass and lime leaves and dipped in ginger fish sauce are a winter favourite, eaten on low stools in alleys and courtyards.
Chao suon: Pork rib porridge, topped with fried shallots and served with quay, is a breakfast for cool mornings.
Hot che: Hot black bean che and luc tau xa, a pureed green bean sweet soup, are the cold-season soups at Che Ba Thom.