What Is a Year-End Party? Regional Menu Inspirations from North to South

As the year comes to a close, it’s a time to reflect on the journey we’ve shared and celebrate new beginnings together.

More than just a festive meal, a year-end party symbolizes gratitude, connection, and a hopeful start to the year ahead. In this article, The Caterers shares curated menu ideas to help you elevate your year-end celebration with style and meaning.

What is a Year-End Party?

A year-end party (YEP) is a familiar tradition in Vietnam. It is usually held in the last month of the lunar year to wrap up the old year and welcome the new one.

In families, the feast is often elaborately arranged with an even number of dishes (4, 6, or 8) – symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. For businesses, YEP has become an important event to review achievements, appreciate employees, and boost team spirit.

Popular Dishes for Year-End Parties

A year-end party is an opportunity to enjoy dishes that reflect regional identity. Below are some typical options you can consider:

Northern Vietnam Year-End Menu

The Northern feast expresses family unity through meaningful traditional dishes:

• Banh Chung (Square sticky rice cake): Symbolizes heaven and earth; an essential part of Northern Tet celebrations
• Vegetable salad: Refreshing and balances the richness of other dishes
• Spring rolls, sausage, pork paste: Represent abundance and completeness
• Boiled chicken, bamboo shoot soup: Simple yet full of symbolic connection
• Gac sticky rice: Bright red color representing luck and prosperity

Central Vietnam Year-End Menu

Central Vietnamese cuisine stands out for its richness and delicacy:

• Fried spring rolls, lotus seed sweet soup: Delicious and good for health
• Boiled chicken, corn sticky rice: Represent harmony and peace
• Fish hotpot, pickled vegetables: Bold and flavorful, ideal for group gatherings
• Hue sour shrimp, pork rolls: Distinctively reflect the ancient capital’s taste
• Jellyfish salad, chicken with Vietnamese coriander: Light and refreshing

Southern Vietnam Year-End Menu

The Southern feast emphasizes warmth and joy:

• Caramelized pork and eggs, bitter melon soup: Symbolize unity and overcoming challenges
• Claypot fish, shrimp and pork salad: Flavorful, crowd-pleasing dishes
• Bánh Tet (Cylindrical sticky rice cake): Traditional dish symbolizing abundance and good luck

Read more: 20 Diverse Year-End Party Menus for Every Occasion

Corporate Year-End Party Menu Suggestions (YEP)

For corporate Year End Parties, the party menu is often customized to suit the event’s scale and theme. Businesses can choose a traditional Vietnamese menu to preserve cultural values, or mix in Western – Asian fusion dishes for a modern experience.

Menu 1: Classic Elegance

A refined combination of traditional and Western flavors:

• Appetizer: Pumpkin cream soup; grilled vegetable salad with Italian ham
• Main Course: Lamb chops with mashed potatoes; pan-seared salmon fillet with baked potatoes
• Dessert: Baked chocolate cake with wild berry sauce

Menu 2: Modern Creativity

A modern style with unique ingredient combinations, bringing freshness and innovation:

• Appetizer: Spicy and sour seafood soup, asparagus salad with Italian ham and soft-boiled egg
• Main Course: Grilled lamb chops, Australian beef steak with mashed potatoes
• Dessert: Mirror-glazed chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce

Menu 3: Minimalist Sophistication

Light yet flavorful and well-balanced:

• Appetizer: Shrimp and mango salad, pea cream soup
• Main Course: Baked giant prawns with garlic butter sauce, pan-seared salmon fillet with baked potatoes
• Dessert: Cherry cheesecake

If you’re looking for a professional partner to plan and organize your year-end party, contact The Caterers. With over 20 years of experience serving hundreds of businesses and families, The Caterers emphasizes food safety, aesthetics, and meticulous service from dish presentation and space design to the overall guest experience.

Read more: 6 Year-End Party Trends for 2025