3 Meaningful Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Trays for Lunar New Year 2026

The New Year’s Eve offering tray is a sacred ritual in Vietnamese culture, expressing respect for deities and ancestors while conveying wishes for peace, compassion, and good fortune in the year ahead. Preparing a vegetarian offering tray also reflects a mindful lifestyle—reducing harm to living beings and cultivating positive karma for the whole family.

As Lunar New Year 2026 approaches, plant-based cuisine continues to gain popularity. Many young families now choose a vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray to create a serene, light, and harmonious atmosphere at the very beginning of the year. So what does a vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray include, and how should it be arranged according to tradition? Let’s explore in detail with Vo Uy Vegetarian Restaurant in the article below.

The Meaning of a Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray

The New Year’s Eve offering tray symbolizes the sacred transition from the old year to the new. At this moment, vegetarian dishes are not merely food offerings but a spiritual bridge connecting people with ancestors, heaven, earth, and deities.

Offering vegetarian food represents purity, compassion, and non-violence. It reflects the intention to begin the new year with kindness and positive energy. By avoiding meat and animal sacrifice, families sow seeds of goodness and mindfulness right from the first moments of the year.

Today, many households choose a vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray not only for spiritual reasons but also for practical benefits. A plant-based diet has been proven to support better health, reduce disease risks, and protect the environment. Regardless of region, vegetarian offerings for New Year’s Eve remain solemn, refined, and—most importantly—filled with sincerity.

What Does a New Year’s Eve Offering Tray Include?

A traditional New Year’s Eve offering tray is prepared with symbolic items presented to heaven, earth, and ancestors as a gesture of gratitude and prayers for peace. Depending on family beliefs, the offering tray may be vegetarian or non-vegetarian and placed outdoors or indoors.

However, all New Year’s Eve offering trays share common values: neat arrangement, respectful presentation, and meaningful symbolism—sending wishes for luck, harmony, and prosperity in the new year.

Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray (Outdoor)

An outdoor vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray expresses gratitude to heaven, earth, and guardian deities. It is usually placed in the front yard, balcony, or rooftop and represents the five elements and prayers for peace and balance.

A typical outdoor vegetarian offering tray may include:

• Vegetarian bánh tét (mung bean filling or plain)

• Sticky rice

• Sweet dessert soup, cigarettes, wine, tea

• Candles, incense, fresh flowers

• Joss paper and a ceremonial paper hat

• Fresh fruits and traditional sweets

• Vegetarian rice and soup dishes

• Bowls and chopsticks if serving multiple dishes

The tray should be neatly arranged and prepared before midnight so the ritual can be performed on time.

Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray (Indoor)

An indoor vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray is placed on the ancestral altar to honor ancestors and pray for family harmony and well-being.

Common items include:

• Flowers, incense, and candles

• Tea and water

• Traditional cakes and candied fruits

• Fresh fruits

• Joss paper

After the ritual, the offerings are usually kept on the ancestral altar until the third or seventh day of Lunar New Year, depending on family customs.

Popular Vegetarian Dishes for a New Year’s Eve Offering Tray

Vietnamese tradition considers the first days of the new year extremely important, so offerings to ancestors are always prepared with care. Vegetarian dishes are chosen for their purity, compassion, and light flavors. Below are common vegetarian dishes often included in a New Year’s Eve offering tray.

Vegetarian Bitter Melon Soup Stuffed with Tofu

A classic Lunar New Year dish symbolizing overcoming hardship to welcome good fortune. Bitter melon is gently simmered and filled with tofu, mushrooms, and carrots. The mildly bitter broth balances delicately, creating a comforting and meaningful dish.

Vegetarian Stir-Fried Rice Noodles

A popular and light dish for vegetarian offering trays. Soft rice noodles are stir-fried with tofu, bean sprouts, and chives, delivering a naturally fragrant and satisfying flavor without heaviness.

Vegetarian Curry with Bread

Vegetarian curry surprises many with its rich flavor. Sweet potatoes and potatoes blend with creamy coconut milk, creating an aromatic and colorful dish. Served with crispy bread, it often becomes the highlight of the offering tray.

Vegetarian “Jellied Meat”

A plant-based version of the traditional dish, using agar to create a soft, chewy texture combined with vegetables and mushrooms. Light and refreshing, it adds variety and balance to the vegetarian offering tray.

Mixed Vegetarian Soup

Often served as an appetizer, this soup offers warmth and lightness. With enoki mushrooms, snow fungus, lotus seeds, and carrots, it delivers natural sweetness and a comforting start to the meal.

A vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray is more than a traditional ritual—it is a heartfelt expression of gratitude, hope, and mindfulness. Each carefully prepared dish symbolizes peace, harmony, and family unity, strengthening the bond between generations and opening the door to a calm, joyful, and prosperous new year.

3 Meaningful and Appealing Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Menus

Below are three thoughtfully curated vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray menus, designed to be both meaningful and visually appealing. Each offering tray is arranged harmoniously, making it easy to prepare while creating a warm, festive atmosphere for family gatherings. These vegetarian menus help welcome the Lunar New Year with peace, wholeness, and positive energy.

Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray – Day 1 (First Day of the Lunar New Year)

The first offering tray opens the new year with five well-balanced vegetarian dishes that are simple to prepare yet rich in symbolism. In addition to the main dishes, you may add fresh fruits, vegetables, or a light dessert to balance flavors.

• Banana Blossom Salad with Vegetarian “Chicken”
  Thinly sliced banana blossom offers a crisp texture, tossed in a sweet-and-sour dressing and combined with chewy vegetarian chicken made from wheat gluten. Fresh herbs enhance both flavor and presentation while preventing heaviness.

• Vegetarian Spring Rolls
  Golden, crispy wrappers filled with rich, savory vegetarian fillings. Delicious when paired with chili sauce or vegetarian fish sauce.

• Vegetarian Char Siu “Duck Neck”
  A visually striking dish with a glossy reddish-orange color. Soy skin provides a chewy outer layer, while wood ear mushrooms and baby king oyster mushrooms create a pleasantly rich texture.

• Steamed Vegetarian “Chicken” with Kaffir Lime Leaves
  Made from soy skin, vegetarian ribs, and mushrooms, this dish is lightly scented with kaffir lime leaves, offering a fragrant yet refreshing taste.

• Vegetarian Bitter Melon Soup
  A symbolic Lunar New Year dish representing the passing of hardship. Bitter melon is gently simmered and filled with creamy tofu, delivering a mild bitterness balanced by natural sweetness.

This Day 1 offering tray emphasizes purity and lightness while still delivering balanced flavors—perfect for the peaceful spirit of the new year.

Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray – Day 2

On the second day, the vegetarian offering tray can be more flavorful and visually diverse while maintaining harmony. These dishes are nutritious, satisfying, and easy to prepare at home.

• Vegetarian Vietnamese Ham (Chả Lụa Chay)
  A traditional Tet favorite, firm and savory, ideal as an appetizer.

• Vegetarian Wontons
  Crispy golden wrappers filled with tofu, sweet potato, or red beans for added variety.

• Vegetarian Crispy Roast “Pork”
  Made from vegetarian ribs combined with starch and breadcrumbs, creating a uniquely crispy yet chewy texture.

• Green Papaya Salad (Vegetarian)
  A balanced mix of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, often served with vegetarian prawn crackers.

• Vegetarian Stir-Fried Pho Noodles
  Chewy rice noodles stir-fried with fresh vegetables, lightly seasoned and naturally sweet.

• Side dishes: Pickled vegetables, bitter melon soup, agar jelly, fresh fruits.

This Day 2 menu is ideal for hosting guests or refreshing the family’s palate after the lighter dishes of the first day.

Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray – Day 3

The third day focuses on lighter, nourishing dishes rich in vegetables and seeds, helping the body regain balance after several festive meals.

• Vegetarian Mango Salad
  Crisp mango with gentle acidity and a subtle sweetness to stimulate the appetite.

• Peacock-Shaped Vegetarian Fresh Rolls
  Fresh vegetables wrapped beautifully and served with a rich dipping sauce—both decorative and delicious.

• Lotus Leaf Steamed Vegetarian Rice
  Fragrant rice wrapped in lotus leaves, combined with lotus seeds and lotus root for a nutty, wholesome flavor.

• Wheat Gluten with Mushroom Sauce
  Naturally chewy wheat gluten blended with savory mushroom sauce, serving as the main savory dish.

• Lotus Root and Mushroom Soup
  A light, naturally sweet soup made with lotus root, tofu, and vegetables—gentle yet satisfying.

This Day 3 offering tray highlights refinement and nourishment, making it a perfect conclusion to the first three days of the Lunar New Year.

Important Notes When Preparing a Vegetarian New Year’s Eve Offering Tray

Offering vegetarian food on New Year’s Eve is a sacred ritual performed at the transition between the old and new year. According to tradition, the ceremony takes place during the Hour of the Rat (11:00 PM on the last lunar day to 1:00 AM on the first day of the new year), with midnight considered the most auspicious moment.

When preparing both outdoor and indoor New Year’s Eve offering trays, keep the following in mind:

• Avoid incorrect placement or timing:
  The offering tray should be placed on a clean, elevated, and stable table—never on the ground. All items should be prepared before midnight.

• Avoid strong-smelling ingredients (Five Pungent Spices):
  Onion, garlic, chives, leeks, and asafoetida should not be used in vegetarian offerings.

• Limit overly realistic meat-like vegetarian dishes:
  Dishes shaped exactly like meat or seafood may reduce the tray’s sense of purity.

• Do not use artificial flowers:
  Always use fresh, clean flowers with a gentle fragrance.

Most importantly, sincerity matters more than extravagance. A vegetarian New Year’s Eve offering tray does not need to be elaborate—neatness, mindfulness, and respect are what truly give the ritual its meaning.

Conclusion

The New Year’s Eve offering tray represents purity, gratitude, and hope for peace in the year ahead. From selecting dishes and arranging offerings to choosing the right time and observing cultural taboos, each detail contributes to a meaningful and respectful ritual.

During the Lunar New Year or vegetarian days, you may also enjoy vegetarian cuisine at Vo Uy Vegetarian Restaurant, a favorite destination known for its diverse menu, nutritious plant-based dishes, and warm, elegant atmosphere.