HCM City presents Tet offering to nation founders Hung Kings

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – A commemoration ceremony was held at the Hung Kings Temple in HCM City, offering the traditional Tet dish of Banh Tet to the legendary founders of the nation on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

The ceremony was attended by a delegation of the municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front committee, led by Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang.

The offerings at the ceremony were chosen among the best and most delicious cakes in the recent Banh Tet-making contest.

Banh Tet (round glutinous rice cake) is a traditional cake enjoyed by southern Vietnamese people on the occasion of the lunar New Year. It is considered a variant of Banh Chung (square glutinous rice cake), which is more popular in the northern region. 

The cake is cylindrical, made with sticky rice and filled with pork fat and beans seasoned with black pepper and shallots. The cake is wrapped in banana leaves and as a result, the sticky rice takes on a pale green color and a slightly leafy taste. Even though the cake is now available all year round, it is still considered a New Year treat. 

The Banh Tet offering ceremony is one of HCM City’s annual traditional activities on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, reflecting respect for the nation’s founders.

The Hung Kings ruled Vietnam from 2879 BC until 258 BC and are considered as the founders of the nation. To honour the Kings, the tenth day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings was recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.-VNA