{"id":12302,"date":"2026-02-13T18:08:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/?p=12302"},"modified":"2026-02-13T18:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:08:40","slug":"seven-cool-and-yummy-lunar-new-years-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/seven-cool-and-yummy-lunar-new-years-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Cool (and Yummy) Lunar New Year\u2019s Foods!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Colourful yee sang<\/em>, yummy pastries and bakkwa<\/em> jerky \u2013 many of these Chinese New Year dishes are popular if not exclusive to our little slice of ASEAN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, here\u2019s an interesting question, what do our neighbours eat for CNY aka Lunar New Year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick taste test of the cool and interesting Lunar New Year dishes of Asia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng and B\u00e1nh gi\u1ea7y (Vietnam)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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B\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng. Photo: banhchungcomai.vn<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First off, a familiar food in a fresh new shape – square!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vietnamese New Year or Tet is often celebrated with b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng – a huge square block of sticky glutinous rice, pork and green onion wrapped in banana leaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B\u00e1nh gi\u1ea7y. Photo: tgdd.vn<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, b\u00e1nh gi\u1ea7y is <\/em>around or circular glutinous rice cakealso wrapped in banana leaf. They are often served with a pork sausage called gi\u00f2<\/em>, making it look almost like a burger!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why list them in the same entry? And why a square and circle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, legend says that, to impress his father and ancestors, a Vietnamese prince once created the square b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng<\/em> to represent the earth and the circular b\u00e1nh gi\u1ea7y<\/em> for the sky. Thus was a classic Vietnamese dish born!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ul Boov (Mongolia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: Mongolia and Back Again<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the Tsagaan Sar or Mongolian New Year, the humble ul boov<\/em> biscuit arguably takes the cake<\/em> for the most eye-catching dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the simple appearance of these \u201cshoe sole cakes\u201d, each one is actually marked by wooden stamps that can be passed down through family generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when Tsagaan Sar rolls along, Mongolians start stacking ul boov<\/em> into an enormous pyramid topped with sugar, candies and aarul<\/em> cheese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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