Vietnam Culture Food, Flowers, Fruits

Tet Food    (Detail)

Special food in Vietnam    (Detail)

Special food in the North    (Detail)

Special food in the Centre    (Detail)

Special food in the South    (Detail)

Tuberose (Hoa Hue) Tuberoses belong to the daffodil species. They are short and grow thin flowers.    (Detail)

Chrysanthemum (Hoa Cuc) The chrysanthemum is a type of beautiful flower with a mild and secretive scent. Its petals do not fall like those of roses or other flowers, which is why chrysanthemums are often placed on altars.    (Detail)

Peach Flower (Hoa Dao) The peach flower plant grows only in North Vietnam. It is the special flower of the Vietnamese New Year because of its red colour, which is believed to bring many favourable opportunities throughout the year.    (Detail)

Orchid (Hoa Lan) Orchid is sovereign flowers that are enchantingly beautiful. Orchids usually grow on the trunks of very high, big trees, located on cliffs where it is humid and where sunlight is abundant.    (Detail)

Yellow Apricot Flower (Hoa Mai) If the peach flower is the symbol of Tet in the north, then the yellow apricot flower is its counterpart in the South. The yellow apricot flower belongs to the family of hoang mai(meaning “yellow apricot” in Chinese), which is a forest plant.    (Detail)

Lotus (Hoa Sen) Lotus is a soft plant living mainly in water. This pink or white flower belongs to a species of plant called hollyhock. Another species of lotus with a very small trunk, leaves, and flowers is named little lotus. It can be planted in a vase of water or in an ornamental pond.    (Detail)

Water Lily (Hoa Sung) Water lilies, which often grow wild in ponds and lakes, are classified into two species: lotus water lilies, planted in lakes around pagodas and imperial palaces; and wild water lilies, found in ponds, with a white or violet flower.    (Detail)

Pomelo (Buoi) In Vietnam, there are many tasty varieties of pomelo. Ordinarily, the pomelo is named for the locality where it is grown. For example, in the North, there is the Doan Hung pomelo (Phu Tho Province), in the Central there is the Phuc Trach pomelo (Ha Tinh Province), and in the South there is the Tan Trieu pomelo (Bien Hoa Province).    (Detail)

Rambutan (chom chom) A rambutan tree has broad foliage and many branches. In the southern provinces, the tree yields fruit at the beginning of the rainy season. The rambutan season lasts until the end of the rainy season (from May to October).    (Detail)

Banana (Chuoi) Bananas offer various mineral substances and energy. Bananas are not only a delicious fruit when ripe, but green bananas are also part of some dishes.    (Detail)

Pineapple (Dua) Pineapple plants are widely grown in the country. The peak ripening time for this tropical fruit coincides with summer when the hours of sunshine are longer. People in southern Vietnam usually call this tropical fruit trai thom (fragrant fruit), which is literally a precise quote for the fruit since anyone who takes their first bite can surely notice the strong sweet smell. Since the smell of the pineapples lingers longer than that of some other fruits, connoisseurs find it difficult to forget.    (Detail)

Papaya (Du du) Papaya is sold all year round, especially in the south, and is not very expensive. It has a sweet smell and offers various minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin A and C.    (Detail)

Longan (Nhan) The longan grows in many provinces in the North. The longan is no bigger than a ping-pong ball with brownish peel. The peel only has to be slightly removed to reach the whitish pulp, enclosing the glistening black kernel.    (Detail)

Custard Apple (Mang cau - Na) In Vietnam, there are two kinds of custard apple: firm and soft. Both varieties can have various shapes, for example they can be round or oval. When a custard apples is ripe, it is easy to peel. The peel is thick, green, and covered with white or green pollen. The pulp is white or light yellow and contains many black seeds.    (Detail)

Persimmon (Hong) Vietnam has many kinds of persimmon such as my with yellow fruit and cado with small fruit. Persimmon is famous for providing a lot of sugar and vitamin A. Persimmon fruits contain as much vitamin C as oranges and tangerines, and their pulp does not have a sour taste.    (Detail)

Sapodilla (Hong xiem) Sapodilla was imported to Vietnam a long time ago. In the last 20 years, sapodilla has been widely planted in the north, where it grew for the first time in Xuan Dinh, Tu Liem District, Hanoi.    (Detail)

Mangosteen (Mang Cut) Hidden among dense foliage, big as a fist and brownish-violet in colour, is the mangosteen. When eating a mangosteen, use a knife to cut around the fruit and to remove half of the shell.    (Detail)

Jackfruit (Mit) Jackfruits contain a lot of sugar and calories. They grow on every part of the tree: the trunk, branches, and even on the roots.    (Detail)

Durian (Sau Rieng) You may wonder why this fruit has to bear such an austere name as "sau rieng" (one's own sorrows). If you are curious enough, travel to the orchard province in southern Vietnam where the locals are likely to recite the immortal love story.    (Detail)

Thieu Litchi (Vai Thieu) Thieu is the name dedicated to a special kind of litchi grown in Hai Duong Province. The Thieu Litchi is a bit bigger than the longan.    (Detail)

Star Apple (vu sua) Star apple is a fruit commonly grown in Southern orchards. Entering a star apple orchard, you will see thousands of these fruit hanging loosely on branches. They have smooth peel that is either green or violet.    (Detail)

Green dragon (Thanh long) Green dragon is the name of a newly cultivated fruit. It is rather big, weighs from 200 to 500 grams, and has pink or dark-red colour. The ripe fruit looks like the kohlrabi cabbage and has an oval shape.    (Detail)

Mango (Xoai) Mango plants are widely grown in the Southern provinces. There are many varieties of mangoes, including the Cat mango (Ben Cat mango), Hon mango, Thanh Ca mango, Tuong mango (elephant mango), Xiem mango (Siamese mango), Coc mango (toad mango)...    (Detail)