CHE KHO - A VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL FOOD

Che kho (a kind of sweetened porridge) is a dish that often appears on the first day of Tet holiday in Vietnam.

Some families make this dish to worship the Buddha and their ancestors. When the guests come, the hosts divide “che kho” into small pieces, which is usually served with lotus-scented tea.

Che kho is made of green bean, which is as small as peppercorn.

"COM NAM" - A DELICIOUS RUSTIC GIFT

“Com nam” (a Vietnamese rice dish pressed into cylinder or sphere shape) is sold in small alleys in Hanoi by vendors. This dish is very familiar with Vietnamese people. In the past, “com nam” was regarded as a popular meal of Vietnamese farmers. “Com nam” was quite a good lunch for them to recover their strength after a hard working morning in the field.

The dish is commonly carried by those traveling far from their homes, to unfamiliar areas without restaurants or familiar ingredients. People do not know exactly when “com nam” appeared; it may have a long history.

TEA DRINKING HABIT IN VIETNAM

Walking along streets, it is easy for you to find a tea shop, which is a very popular part of Vietnamese street life. The owner skillfully lifts the cap of the tea cozy, takes out the tea pot, pours the hot tea into a small cup, and then hands the cup of steaming tea to the customer.

Vietnamese people have a nice habit of drinking tea. They drink it everywhere and at any time: at home, at workplaces, even in tea shops on their way to work, or at formal meetings, weddings or funerals. They also place it on altars as an offering to their ancestors on worshipping occasions.

Whenever the locals feel thirsty, they are likely to look for this drink, in both summer and winter. A cup of iced tea in a hot day in summer not only refreshes your mind but also detoxicate your body. On the contrary, in winter, a sip of hot tea makes you feel warm inside and better able to cope with the outside cold temperatures.