Unique dishes in the Northern tray

While following her husband to a relative's wedding in Hung Yen (formerly Thai Binh province), Thanh Hong (born 2000, from former Ba Ria - Vung Tau) was surprised by the traditional Northern food tray.

In addition to familiar dishes with strong regional flavors such as boiled chicken, vermicelli soup, pork roll, fatty sausage, boiled shrimp, etc., Hong also saw balut eggs, which surprised her.

Hong shared that in the South, balut is considered a snack, often boiled or stir-fried with tamarind. In her husband's hometown, this dish is included in the wedding feast. Hong believes that this is a unique culinary culture in her "second homeland" that needs to be respected.

Video of a Southern bride eating her first wedding party in the North

The 25-year-old girl commented that regional differences are clearly shown through the wedding feast - from the number of dishes, the way they are presented to the habit of "eating in one's own portion".

“In my husband's hometown, the feast usually has many traditional dishes of Northern cuisine such as boiled chicken, ham, sticky rice, soup (vermicelli or stewed vegetables with bones), beef, steamed shrimp...

Each dish will be arranged and served on the tray once. In particular, people will prioritize using liquid dishes and finish them first. As for dry dishes, they will be divided equally for each person to take home,” Hong said.

According to her, each region has its own customs, reflecting its own unique features and the liveliness of life. Instead of comparing, Hong chooses to respect, learn to adapt and integrate, and at the same time wants to spread the culinary features of her hometown more than 1,600km away.

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Traditional wedding feast in Hung Yen (former Thai Binh province). Photo: What's in Thai Binh

Hong shared that she had just gotten married and moved to the North, but had already had the chance to attend parties in her husband’s hometown several times. On each occasion, she learned interesting information about the local culinary culture and had the opportunity to enjoy many delicious dishes.

She was most impressed with the spring rolls, which are meticulously prepared from many rustic ingredients such as vermicelli, lettuce, herbs (coriander, Vietnamese coriander), ham, eggs, fried tofu, boiled pork belly or shrimp.

This dish is quite popular in some northern regions, especially Thuy Nguyen (Hai Phong), often appearing in death anniversaries, weddings or entertaining guests. Spring rolls are popular because of their refreshing taste, helping to relieve boredom, so many people jokingly call it a "heat-reducing" dish.

Spring roll is a refreshing dish that helps relieve boredom and reduce heat.

A small and pretty spring roll requires meticulousness, ensuring the right combination of colors: White of vermicelli, yellow of eggs, green of vegetables, red of shrimp - both eye-catching and delicious.

When eaten, spring rolls are dipped in a fish sauce with a mixture of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, with some carrots, papaya, or thinly sliced ​​onions. “On the feast trays in my husband’s hometown, spring rolls are a popular dish and are loved by many people.

I find this dish refreshing because it harmoniously combines vermicelli, meat and vegetables, so it's not boring to eat and I can enjoy several pieces," the Southern bride shared.

Special wedding gift from mother-in-law Bac

Not only food, Hong was also surprised to receive a special gift from her mother-in-law on her wedding day: A brand new conical hat, carefully selected.

The leaves are thin, light, and polished with oil. The inside is decorated with the word “Double Happiness”, and the handle is tied with a soft pink silk ribbon. When receiving this gift, the bride felt surprised and even more touched when she learned the special meaning behind it.

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Thanh Hong received a conical hat from her mother-in-law on her wedding day.

According to custom, the mother-in-law giving the conical hat to her daughter-in-law on the wedding day symbolizes welcoming, love and protection. It also carries the message: From now on, the daughter-in-law is officially a member of the family, taught and instructed about discipline, filial piety and the responsibility of being a daughter-in-law.

In Hung Yen (former Thai Binh province) and many places in the North, the custom of giving conical hats at weddings is quite popular. The hat is not only a welcome gift but also expresses the wish that the bride will soon integrate and build happiness in the new family.

Photo, video: Northern bride

The 'first to sell out' specialty on the feast tray in Thanh Hoa, after finishing the meal, guests ask for the recipe . Although made from rustic, easy-to-find ingredients, this dish is an indispensable specialty on the feast trays of many families in Thanh Hoa.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nang-dau-nam-bo-lan-dau-an-co-cuoi-o-mien-bac-bat-ngo-thay-mon-la-tren-mam-2433600.html