Grand Mercure Hanoi - Upscale hotels & resorts

In today’s fast-paced modern life, as Tết approaches, many families choose to purchase ready-made bánh chưng rather than prepare them by hand as in the past. The image of a steaming pot of bánh chưng, families gathering around trays of glutinous rice and dong leaves, has gradually become a fond memory for those who cherish the scent of Tết. While bánh chưng remains an essential presence on the traditional Lunar New Year feast, the journey of making a complete bánh chưng by hand is becoming increasingly rare amid the rhythm of modern living.

On 4 February 2026, in the days leading up to Lunar New Year, Grand Mercure Hanoi will host a traditional bánh chưng wrapping activity at the hotel’s main lobby area, offering guests a meaningful cultural experience that reconnects them with the very roots of Vietnamese Tết.

Photo: Traditional bánh chưng wrapping activity during Tết.

Accompanying guests throughout this experience is Executive Chef Nguyễn Minh Nguyện, who will personally guide participants through each step of the bánh chưng-making process — from ingredient preparation, leaf selection, moulding and tying, to boiling and pressing the cakes directly in the hotel kitchen.

Photo: Executive Chef Nguyễn Minh Nguyện.

“Today, many people only know bánh chưng as a ready-made dish. I hope this experience will help guests — especially children visiting with their families and international travellers — better understand and appreciate the traditional values of Vietnam that are gradually fading in modern life,” shared Executive Chef Nguyễn Minh Nguyện.

Adding to the experience, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy finished bánh chưng made from ingredients personally selected by the Executive Chef. This highlights an emotional connection, transforming a cultural activity into a vivid, memorable and heartfelt experience.

The bánh chưng wrapping activity at Grand Mercure Hanoi is complimentary for international guests staying at the hotel who wish to explore the depth of Vietnamese culture, as well as Vietnamese guests seeking to rediscover the traditional Tết atmosphere — where bánh chưng is not merely “purchased,” but a culmination of time, care and family bonding.

As a premium hospitality brand deeply rooted in local identity, Grand Mercure Hanoi remains committed to honouring traditional cultural values while seamlessly connecting heritage with contemporary experiences. This Lunar New Year bánh chưng activity is not only a culinary experience, but also an invitation for guests to slow down, reflect, and help preserve enduring cultural traditions.