Delicious Cakes and Candied Fruits for Tet

(DTO) In the final days of the year, as the weather turns slightly chilly and the spirit of spring spreads across rural areas, many families in Dong Thap Province become busy preparing traditional cakes and candied fruits for Tet.

Amid modern life and the rapid development of the consumer goods market, there are still women who quietly preserve the flavors of traditional Tet through their skillful hands and deep love for their families.

SWEET FLAVORS OF RURAL CANDIED FRUITS

For many Vietnamese people, banh tet, Tet candied fruits, rice paper cakes, and other traditional treats have long been indispensable parts of the Lunar New Year. Beyond being familiar refreshments for guests, these cakes and sweets carry profound cultural meaning, closely tied to memories of family reunions and warmth.

Although it is now easy to purchase attractively packaged cakes and candied fruits with diverse flavors, many families still maintain the habit of making them by hand to offer to ancestors and enjoy during Tet.

In Tan Dan hamlet, Cao Lanh Ward, the days leading up to Tet seem shorter amid the warmth radiating from the small kitchen of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho’s family.

A lively atmosphere fills the house as each family member busies themselves with different tasks—from rinsing glutinous rice and wiping banana leaves to preparing the fillings. Outside, a large pot is ready for neatly wrapped rolls of banh tet, awaiting an overnight vigil by the fire, marking the beginning of a warm and joyful spring.

“Ms. Tho shared that her family has been making banh tet for many years. Each Tet season, in addition to meeting household needs, she also accepts orders from people both inside and outside the locality.

“Making banh tet is quite labor-intensive, from preparing ingredients to carefully tending the fire for many hours during cooking. But we’re used to it, and without a pot of banh tet, Tet just doesn’t feel complete. Besides selling, I also make them for my family,” Ms. Tho said.

According to Ms. Tho, each roll of banh tet is not merely a product of labor but also a heartfelt gift to loved ones. Every layer of rice and every slice of filling carries wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

Beyond banh tet, many rural families in Dong Thap are also busy making traditional candied fruits from readily available ingredients such as coconut, tamarind, otaheite gooseberry, ginger, winter melon, and saba bananas.
Through skillful hands, these familiar ingredients are transformed into candied fruits with distinctive countryside flavors.

In Hoa Dinh 2 hamlet, Phong Hoa Commune, Ms. Do Thi Suong’s family has been engaged in making Tet candied fruits for nearly 20 years. Each year, from around the tenth lunar month, she begins preparing ingredients to supply the Tet market. In front of her house, batches of candied fruits are laid out to dry in the sun, releasing a gentle fragrance.

According to Ms. Suong, making candied fruits requires meticulousness, patience, and experience. Every step—from selecting ingredients, processing, sun-drying to simmering in sugar—must be done carefully. “To make beautiful, tasty candied fruits without food coloring, the drying must catch the right sunlight, the sugar must be measured precisely, and the heat must be just right. A small mistake can ruin an entire batch,” she said.

Ms. Suong does not use preservatives or additives in the process. Her products rely entirely on traditional methods, ensuring food safety. As a result, her family’s candied fruits have earned the trust and preference of customers.

Each Tet season, Ms. Suong’s family produces various kinds of candied fruits such as puffed bananas, tamarind, ginger, otaheite gooseberry, coconut, and winter melon. “Thanks to this craft, I earn a few million dong each year to help with household expenses. More importantly, I can preserve my family’s traditional occupation,” she shared.

PRESERVING THE FLAVOR OF TET

In many rural areas, making cakes and candied fruits is also an occasion for family reunions. Children working far from home return to gather with grandparents and parents around the kitchen, working together while chatting.

Stories of the past year and plans for the new year are shared beside the glowing fire under the pot of cakes, creating a warm and affectionate atmosphere.

Many young people who take part in wrapping cakes and making candied fruits with their families come to better understand the value of tradition, thereby fostering awareness of preserving national cultural identity within each household.

Despite an increasingly diverse market, homemade traditional cakes and candied fruits continue to hold a special place in daily life. Each piece of candy and each slice of cake not only offers a natural flavor but also reflects the care and affection of the maker.

Spicy ginger candy, mildly sweet winter melon candy, sweet-and-sour tamarind candy, along with fragrant, chewy rolls of banh tet, have become familiar symbols of Tet. They represent hopes for a peaceful and happy new year.

According to many residents, maintaining the craft of making cakes and candied fruits not only helps rural people increase income and stabilize livelihoods, but also serves as a way to preserve and spread cherished customs and traditions.

By passing these skills down to younger generations, traditional values are naturally and sustainably continued.

As Tet approaches, across rural Dong Thap, kitchen fires continue to burn, yards remain filled with sun-dried candied fruits, and diligent hands keep preparing for a new spring.

Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, these images form a peaceful highlight, helping to preserve the soul of Vietnamese Tet.

Banh tet and Tet candied fruits—simple yet rich in cultural value—are still being preserved and promoted by local people. 

They are not only flavors of spring, but also bonds connecting generations, nurturing family affection, and contributing to the cultural identity of Dong Thap.

By My Xuyen
Translated by X.QUANG