Xoi Gac: Vietnam's Lucky Red Sticky Rice
Xoi gac explained: Vietnam's red sticky rice made with gac fruit, why it is eaten at Tet and weddings, where to try it and a simple recipe.
Xoi gac is Vietnamese red sticky rice, colored and flavored with the pulp of the gac fruit, and served at Tet, weddings and family celebrations because red stands for luck. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog explains the dish and the fruit, when people eat it, where to try sticky rice on your trip, and how to make it at home.
It is a festive dish, so the best time to taste it is around Tet or at a celebration. If you are planning a trip for that season, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online early, as offices close over the holiday.
What is xoi gac
The dish is glutinous rice steamed with the red pulp and seeds of gac fruit, usually with a little coconut milk, sugar and salt. The result is bright red-orange, slightly sweet, rich and soft.
It is often pressed into round or flower-shaped molds and served in slices, sometimes with sesame salt or shredded coconut. Its color, more than its taste, makes it special: red is the color of good fortune in Vietnam.
Gac fruit
Gac fruit is a round, spiky orange-red fruit that grows on a vine, in season mostly in late autumn and winter, just before Tet. Inside, deep red pulp surrounds large seeds.
The pulp has a mild taste, a little like a soft avocado or melon, so it adds color and richness more than flavor. Gac is high in natural pigments, which is why it stains the rice so strongly.
When Vietnamese people eat it
Vietnamese people eat it at celebrations that call for luck. It is a fixture of Tet, the Lunar New Year, when it is placed on the ancestral altar and served to guests; our guide to traveling during Tet explains the holiday.
It is also served at weddings, engagement ceremonies, a baby's first-month celebration, and full-moon offerings. A plate of red sticky rice on the table signals a happy occasion.
Where to try sticky rice in Vietnam
Sticky rice in Vietnam is everyday street food, sold from baskets and small stalls in the morning. The red version is easiest to find around Tet, but many sticky rice vendors in Hanoi sell it year-round.
| Dish | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Xoi gac | Red sticky rice with gac fruit | Hanoi stalls, Tet markets |
| Xoi xeo | Sticky rice with mung bean and fried shallots | Hanoi breakfast stalls |
| Xoi ngo | Sticky rice with corn | Northern markets |
| Xoi ngu sac | Five-colored sticky rice | Northern mountains, festivals |
Look for xoi in Hanoi's Old Quarter in the early morning; our Hanoi street food guide covers the best areas, and our Vietnamese food guide covers other dishes. Two points follow if you want to make it yourself: ingredients, and method.
Xoi gac at home
Making it at home is simple once you have the fruit or frozen gac pulp from an Asian grocery. Here is the basic approach.
Ingredients
You need glutinous rice, gac pulp, a little rice wine or water, coconut milk, sugar and salt. Many Asian shops sell frozen gac pulp around Lunar New Year.
Method
Soak the rice overnight, drain it, then mix it well with the gac pulp, a splash of rice wine and a pinch of salt. Steam until soft, then stir in coconut milk and sugar and steam a few minutes more. Press into a bowl or mold and turn out to serve.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does xoi gac taste like?
It tastes mildly sweet, soft and slightly rich from the coconut milk, with a gentle, fruity note from the gac. The flavor is subtle; most people notice the bright color first. Sesame salt or coconut on top adds contrast.
Is xoi gac vegan?
The traditional recipe is usually vegan: rice, gac fruit, coconut milk, sugar and salt. Some cooks add a little pork fat or serve it with meat dishes, so ask the vendor if you avoid animal products. Home recipes can easily be fully plant-based.
Can I buy gac fruit outside Vietnam?
Fresh gac fruit is hard to find outside Southeast Asia, but frozen gac pulp is sold in many Vietnamese and Asian grocery stores, especially before Lunar New Year. Some shops also sell gac in season from late autumn to early winter.
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
Most visitors need a Vietnam visa or a visa exemption. Read Do I need a visa for Vietnam? for your passport. An e-visa covers tourism for up to 90 days, long enough for a Tet trip.
