Vegetarian culinary program in first lunar month

Vegetarian food is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam. The first month of the lunar year is traditionally a good time for vegetarian dining as it is when Buddhists pray to Buddha for good things in the New Year and eat a healthy, vegetarian diet to counteract the effects of the fatty food consumed during the Tet holidays.

Vegetarian food, which is made primarily from vegetables, fruit, pulses and tofu, is a favorite not only amongst Saigonese but also foreign tourists. Consequently a number of restaurants and hotels offer vegetarian programs on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

Over the eight past years Van Canh Restaurant has gained a reputation for its vegetarian buffets in the New Year holidays as a gift for gastronomes. Its buffet program “Loc dau xuan” (Bud of Spring) features many of vegetarian dishes in combination with natural colors and flavors of plants, fruits and beans and vegetable.

Visitors will also have a chance to enjoy some of the well-known cake brand Givral, and will be presented with a photo of Saint Zenit as a symbol of prosperity and receive best wishes for health and happiness in the New Year.

The buffet program runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from February 4 to 24 (the tenth day to the thirtieth day of the lunar new year). On February 9, or the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the restaurant will serve a buffet lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at VND120,000 per adult and VND60,000 per child; a purchase of 10 tickets will get one free and a voucher valued US$10 for a trip to Cambodia.

At Que Huong 1 Restaurant is also offering vegetarian gastronomes a variety of choices from its buffet program on February 8 and 9. Tickets are priced at VND99,000 per adult and VND79,000 per child for buffet lunch and VND159,000 per adult and VND99,000 per child for buffet dinner.

Van Canh Restaurant is located at 184 Calmette Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 3829 4963.

Que Huong 1 Restaurant is located at 49 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 3829 4443.

Source SGT