Double Fifth Festival in Vietnam 2024 and what you must eat

Double Fifth Festival or Tet Doan Ngo in Vietnamese is one of the important holidays in Vietnamese culture. On this day, Vietnamese people will eat traditional foods such as rice wine, plums, lychees, etc.

Tet Doan Ngo, also known as Tet Doan Duong, is celebrated at noon on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month each year. Tet Doan Ngo 2024 (5th day of the 5th lunar month) will fall on Monday, June 10, 2024. This is a traditional holiday in several East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China.

"Doan" means "beginning", "Ngo" is the time from 11am to 1pm, eating Tet Doan Ngo is eating at noon. Doan Ngo means the time when the sun is at its shortest, closest to heaven and earth. In Vietnam, Tet Doan Ngo is also known by the quite rustic name "Tet diet sau bo" or translated into English as “Killing the person’s inner insects”. Simply put, this is the day to start catching pests, killing harmful pests to crops.

What to eat on Tet Doan Ngo?

According to legend, a day after the harvest, the farmers celebrated a good harvest but the pests that year came thickly to eat the fruits and harvested food. People were at a loss as to how to solve this pest problem, when suddenly an old man from afar came and introduced himself as Doi Truan. He instructed each family to set up a simple altar with “tro cake”, fruits, and then go out in front of their house to do exercise. The people followed, and after a while, the pests fell and scattered.

The old man also added: “Pests are very aggressive on this day every year, just follow what I have instructed on this day every year to control them”. The people were grateful to thank him, but the old man disappeared. In memory of this event, the people named this day "Tet diet sau bo", some people call it "Tet Doan Ngo" because the offering time is usually in the middle of the Ngọ hour.

On Tet Doan Ngo, each family prepares trays of offerings and offerings to their ancestors and then enjoys them with their children and grandchildren. On Tet Doan Ngo, Vietnamese people will usually eat the following dishes:

Com Ruou Nep (Sticky rice wine) 

On Tet Doan Ngo, a popular dish in Vietnamese families is com ruou. According to the ancients, there are many types of pests living in our digestive system, if not eliminated, they will multiply and cause harm to the body.

Com Ruou Nep is a food made from sticky rice mixed with rice wine and glucose. This is a food rich in starch, rich in B vitamins, B1 and contains a lot of energy…

Sour fruit

These are also fruits that are in season, delicious and cheap... These fruits have a sweet and sour taste, very suitable for eating to "kill pests". However, experts advise that you should not eat these fruits on an empty stomach.

Duck meat

Duck meat (roast or boiled) is also a familiar dish on Tet Doan Ngo. Not only does it bring good luck, duck meat is also rich in nutrients, has the effect of balancing yin and yang, helps to cool down the body and strengthen health.

Because duck in Chinese is "ap". Duck is a homophone with "ap" which means to suppress the invasion of disease and evil spirits. This is also a wish for relatives and friends to always be safe.

Che troi nuoc (Sweet dumpling soup) 

Sweet and cool Che troi nuoc is mainly found in the South. The North and Central regions also have it but not much.

Each round dumpling made from white sticky rice flour, filled with mung bean paste, is eaten with coconut milk that has a fatty taste and is very famous in the South, similar to the bánh trôi of the North.

The Meaning Behind the Food

The choice of food on Tet Doan Ngo is not accidental. Each dish has a symbolic meaning:

• Com ruou nep (Sticky rice wine): The fermentation process in the rice wine is said to create an environment that discourages harmful bacteria.
• Fruits (lychee, plum, etc.): The sour and astringent taste of these fruits is believed to be unappetizing to pests.
• Duck meat: Duck meat is associated with the concept of "đạp" (treading) which symbolizes trampling on bad luck and illness.
• Che troi nuoc (Sweet dumpling soup): The round shape of these dumplings represents wholeness and completeness, warding off evil influences.

Celebrating Tet Doan Ngo Today

While the original purpose of Tet Doan Ngo might have been more practical in the past, the celebration today is more symbolic. Families still gather to enjoy traditional foods and strengthen family bonds.The emphasis has shifted from literally killing pests to promoting overall well-being and good health. It's a time to reflect on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and express gratitude for a bountiful harvest.