Wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam deserve a perfect 10 without any "buts."

GĐXH - A wedding banquet menu not only needs to be delicious and high-quality but also visually appealing and appropriate to the local culture of each region. Below are some popular wedding banquet menus in Northern Vietnam that couples can refer to for their own weddings.

What does a wedding feast menu in Northern Vietnam typically include?

In Northern Vietnam, the wedding feast is an indispensable part of important occasions. Preparing a well-prepared wedding feast not only shows respect for cultural traditions but also reflects the thoughtfulness of both families. With a rich menu including many flavorful dishes, from appetizers to main courses and desserts, it offers distinctive flavors and an unforgettable impression on the joyous day.

A wedding feast in Northern Vietnam. (Photo: Provided)

The significance of the main dishes in a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam.

1. Appetizer

Appetizers in a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam typically include light and delicate dishes such as salads, fried spring rolls, or various types of Vietnamese sausage like pork sausage or beef sausage. Appetizers are served first to create a pleasant feeling and prepare the palate for the main courses that follow.

2. Main Course

Typically, the main courses in a Northern Vietnamese wedding feast are the most important part of the meal. A delicious Northern Vietnamese wedding feast will have 5 to 7 diverse dishes. Common dishes include:

- Boiled chicken: Chicken boiled until tender, golden brown, and usually served with finely chopped lime leaves.

- Stir-fried beef: Stir-fried beef with garlic or other vegetables creates a rich flavor.

- Fried fish: The fish is fried until golden brown and crispy, and served with sweet and sour fish sauce.

- Meatball soup or fish ball soup: These soups are refreshing and provide a balanced meal.

- Gac sticky rice: Gac sticky rice, with its vibrant red color symbolizing good fortune, is an indispensable dish at wedding receptions.

3. Desserts

After the appetizers and main courses, a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam also includes desserts to help guests end the meal in a relaxed manner. Desserts can include sweet soups, sticky rice cakes, or seasonal fruits such as longan, lychee, watermelon, etc.

4. Drinks

Common beverages found on wedding feast tables in Northern Vietnam include: wine, beer, soft drinks, etc. Depending on the guests' preferences, additional drinks are added to the feast to enhance the festive atmosphere on the couple's special day.

5. Spices and sauces

An indispensable element in any feast, determining the flavor of the dishes, is the condiment and dipping sauce. Depending on the accompanying dish, people will have different dipping sauces such as fish sauce, chili sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, and lemon, etc. Except for soups and stir-fried dishes, most other dishes will have their own specific dipping sauces.

Wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam are delicious and beautifully presented. (Photo: Provided)

Suggestions for a delicious wedding banquet menu in Northern Vietnam.

Weddings are momentous occasions, requiring meticulous preparation from the menu to the organization of the ceremony. Below, we suggest some delicious wedding banquet menus for hosts to consider for their wedding reception:

Menu 1

Appetizers: Fried spring rolls, Vietnamese pork sausage, papaya salad with dried beef.

Main course:

Boiled chicken with lime leaves

Steamed snakehead fish with beer

Beef stir-fry with celery and garlic

Mushroom soup

Steamed prawns with lemongrass

Gac sticky rice

Dessert: Mung bean sweet soup with coconut milk and fresh fruit

Drinks: Wine, beer, soft drinks

Menu 2

Appetizers: Pig ear salad, seafood spring rolls, pork head cheese.

Main course:

Honey Roast Duck

Crispy fried fish

Beef with black pepper sauce

Fish soup

Crispy fried shrimp

Sticky rice with lotus seeds

Dessert: Seasonal fruits, lotus seed and longan sweet soup.

Drinks: Beer, soft drinks, bottled water

The savory and sweet dishes are well-balanced. (Photo: TL)

Menu 3

Appetizers: Lotus root salad with shrimp and pork, crab spring rolls, pork ear sausage.

Main course:

Five-spice roasted chicken

Steamed fish with soy sauce

Fried pork ribs with fish sauce

Pork rib soup with mushrooms

Shrimp in tamarind sauce

Sticky rice with gac fruit and mung beans

Dessert : Mixed fruit sweet soup, watermelon, fresh oranges

Drinks: Soft drinks, beer, rice wine

Menu 4

Appetizers: Beef sausage, fried spring rolls, banana blossom and pig ear salad.

Main course:

Steamed chicken with lime leaves

Catfish stewed with banana and beans

Braised pork

Crab soup with jute leaves

Steamed shrimp with coconut milk

Sticky rice with mung beans

Dessert: Fresh fruit, pomelo sweet soup

Drinks: Water, soft drinks, draft beer

Menu 5

Appetizers: Seafood spring rolls, Vietnamese pork sausage, jellyfish salad.

Main course:

Steamed free-range chicken with salt

Braised carp with pickled vegetables

Grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves

Chicken and shiitake mushroom soup

Butter-fried shrimp

Five-colored sticky rice

Dessert : Lotus seed and longan sweet soup, watermelon and mango fruit salad.

Drinks: White wine, beer, soft drinks

The cook can be flexible in decorating the dishes to make them visually appealing. (Photo: TL)

Menu 6

Appetizers: Mango salad with shrimp and pork, shrimp spring rolls, pork ear sausage.

Main course:

Honey Roast Chicken

Crispy fried carp

Crispy skin roast pork

Sour fish soup with catfish

Steamed shrimp with beer

Sticky rice with gac fruit and mung beans

Dessert : Black bean sweet soup, oranges and tangerines.

Drinks: Draft beer, soft drinks, rice wine

Menu 7

Appetizers: Cabbage salad with pig's ear, vegetarian spring rolls, beef sausage.

Main course:

Boiled chicken with lime leaves

Steamed snakehead fish with soy sauce

Honey-glazed ribs

Seafood soup

Braised pork belly

Purple sticky rice

Dessert: Khuc Bach sweet soup, seasonal fruits

Drinks : Beer, soft drinks, bottled water

Menu 8

Appetizers: Grilled spring rolls, veal sausage, water spinach salad with shrimp and pork.

Main course:

Roasted duck with mac mat leaves

Grilled catfish with galangal and fermented rice paste.

Boiled pork belly wrapped in rice paper

Bamboo shoot and pork knuckle soup

Sweet and Sour Shrimp

Sticky rice with mung beans and lotus seeds

Dessert : Lotus seed and tapioca pearl dessert, watermelon and lychee fruit.

Drinks: Soft drinks, beer, glutinous rice wine (made from the "golden flower" variety).

The menus above have been carefully selected, combining many delicious signature dishes of Northern Vietnam to create a wedding feast that is both traditional and diverse.

Differences between traditional and modern wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam.

Wedding feasts in the past and present have many differences. (Photo: TL)

In the old days, wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam often lasted for several days, with the entire village participating in the preparation and cooking. Traditional wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam typically included dishes such as boiled chicken with lime leaves, pork ear salad, pork sausage, and pork knuckle soup.

Nowadays, due to modern lifestyles and the demand for convenience, many places have shifted to holding wedding ceremonies at restaurants to minimize time. In addition, modern wedding menus have become more diverse, influenced by cuisines from many different cultures.

Therefore, there will be novel and appealing dishes such as various types of fish prepared in different styles, beef in red wine sauce, or various salads.

Despite many changes over time, traditional dishes such as sticky rice and chicken are still present on wedding feast tables in Northern Vietnam. Nowadays, these dishes are modified in many different ways, such as roasted chicken, roasted duck, and purple sticky rice.

Things to keep in mind when preparing a delicious Northern Vietnamese wedding feast.

Preparing a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam requires not only fresh and delicious dishes with harmonious combinations but also attention to many other aspects to ensure the celebration is perfect. Besides choosing a menu that suits the culture and arranging the food elegantly, every small detail contributes to creating a solemn and warm atmosphere for the happy day.

Choose a menu that reflects the local culture.

The first thing to consider when preparing a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam is ensuring the menu aligns with local culture and culinary traditions. Dishes such as boiled chicken with lime leaves, gac fruit sticky rice, fried spring rolls, and pork sausage are essential traditional additions to a wedding banquet.

Ensure the diversity and richness of the dishes.

A delicious wedding feast in Northern Vietnam should be diverse and abundant to please all guests. It's advisable to combine various dishes such as appetizers, main courses, and desserts to give guests plenty of choices. In addition to traditional dishes, more modern options like seafood, salads, and grilled or fried items can be added to create something new and exciting.

Balance the quantity of dishes according to serving size.

The number of dishes and portion sizes need to be carefully calculated to ensure there's enough for all guests. Typically, each table serves 6 to 10 people, so the number of dishes in each portion should be carefully considered. Too few dishes would make the meal less varied, but too many would be wasteful.

Traditional dishes can be improved through different cooking methods. (Photo: TL)

Prepare fresh and hygienic ingredients.

Ingredients are a crucial factor in creating the flavor of dishes. For wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam, it's essential to choose fresh, high-quality food from reliable suppliers and adhere to food safety regulations.

In particular, with raw or lightly cooked dishes like salads and appetizers, hygiene must be ensured to avoid affecting the health of guests. This is the most important factor when preparing a delicious Northern Vietnamese wedding feast.

Choose a reputable chef or restaurant.

Nowadays, there are many catering services available at home. Therefore, you need to choose a reputable restaurant or chef to ensure the meal is both delicious and visually appealing. In addition, the caterer needs to be knowledgeable about traditional dishes found in Northern Vietnamese wedding feasts.

Ensure aesthetic appeal in food presentation.

The dishes in a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam need to be beautifully and elegantly presented. The color coordination of the dishes and the arrangement of each plate and tray should be carefully considered to create a good impression on guests. Beautiful presentation also contributes to a more formal and warm atmosphere for the ceremony.

Flexibility in adjusting dishes according to the season.

An important aspect of preparing a wedding feast in Northern Vietnam is choosing dishes that are appropriate for the weather and season. For example, if the wedding is in winter , stews and grilled dishes should be chosen to keep guests warm, while in summer, light and easily digestible dishes such as salads, pickles, and sour soups can be preferred. This helps make the feast more enjoyable and comfortable for the guests.

Above are some of the most popular and delicious wedding feasts in Northern Vietnam. Couples can refer to these and customize the feast to suit the scale and preferences of their guests.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/diem-danh-nhung-mam-co-cuoi-o-mien-bac-xung-dang-diem-10-khong-co-nhung-172241115180114523.htm