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bánh tét lá chuối
/ɓaɲ˧˥ tet˧˥ laː˧˦ cuoi˧˦/
cylindrical sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves
Mẹ tôi gói bánh tét lá chuối vào đêm giao thừa.
My mother wraps cylindrical sticky rice cakes in banana leaves on New Year's Eve.
informal
A traditional Vietnamese cylindrical sticky rice cake, especially popular in the southern regions, made with glutinous rice, mung bean, pork, and wrapped tightly in banana leaves.
Bánh tét thường được ăn vào dịp Tết Nguyên Đán.
Sticky rice cakes are often eaten during the Lunar New Year.
Món này có vị ngọt béo từ nhân đậu xanh.
This dish has a sweet, fatty flavor from the mung bean filling.
Similar to bánh chưng but cylindrical and wrapped in banana leaves instead of dong leaves.
Collocations
gói bánh tétto wrap sticky rice cakesbánh tét nhân mặnsavory sticky rice cakebánh tét nhân ngọtsweet sticky rice cake
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Regional variations
In southern Vietnam, bánh tét is cylindrical and wrapped in banana leaves. In central Vietnam, a similar dish called 'bánh ú' is pyramid-shaped and wrapped in dong leaves.
Gold Rule
Wrapping material
Banana leaves are used for bánh tét in the south, while dong leaves are used for bánh chưng in the north.
Word Origin
The word 'bánh' means 'cake' or 'rice cake' in Vietnamese, while 'tét' refers to the cylindrical shape (from the verb 'tét' meaning 'to cut' or 'to slice'). 'Lá chuối' means 'banana leaf'. The dish is named for its shape and wrapping material.
Usage Notes
Bánh tét is a must-have dish during Tết (Lunar New Year) in southern Vietnam. It can be served sliced or whole, often with pickled vegetables or fish sauce. The banana leaf wrapping gives it a distinct aroma.
Word Breakdown
bánh
cake or rice cake
roottét
cylindrical shape
rootlá chuối
banana leaf
phraseTừ Điển Việt Anh