Savour handcrafted dragon boat dumplings at Li Bai restaurant

Savour authentic handcrafted dragon boat dumplings at Li Bai restaurant

Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (May 31 in 2025) in Vietnam and various Asian countries, Dragon Boat Festival is a cherished tradition where families come together to honour ancestors, celebrate a bountiful harvest, and share meaningful moments. For the Chinese community, the tradition of enjoying zongzi is an indispensable part of the Dragon Boat Festival feast.

Dragon boat dumplings, also known as Chinese zongzi or bak zhang, come in various shapes and recipes depending on the region, such as Guangdong, Fujian, and Chaozhou. Similar in shape to 'bánh ú' in the Mekong Delta and reminiscent of the texture of Vietnamese 'bánh chưng', zongzi is wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with glutinous rice and savoury ingredients, including pork, mung beans, salted egg yolk, and various nuts, providing a rich and decadent filling.

Located on the second floor of the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, Li Bai restaurant annually delights Ho Chi Minh City's gourmands with authentic handcrafted Cantonese zongzi, available a month before the auspicious fifth day.

From the superior wrapping techniques of our skilled chefs, Li Bai’s dragon boat dumplings boast a pyramid shape, guaranteeing a firm hold before cooking and yielding a desirable texture afterwards. Li Bai uses imported bamboo leaves, larger than local varieties, to tightly wrap and fully embrace the precious fillings within.

In the bustling Li Bai kitchen, each zongzi is patiently slow-boiled for three to four hours, a process requiring constant monitoring to maintain optimal water levels, ensuring even cooking from the inside out. The dumplings are removed from the cooking process after reaching the required duration and left to cool naturally to retain their firm texture before being packaged.

Diep Nhieu, Li Bai's Sous Chef, is behind tens of thousands of dumplings throughout the Dragon Boat Festival seasons. "With over two decades of experience in Li Bai restaurant, we believe that a truly exquisite zongzi comes not only from quality ingredients, methods and skilful techniques, but also from the dedication and passion of the culinary team. Nothing brings us greater satisfaction than witnessing the pleasure of our guests as they savour the flavours of our handcrafted dumplings every fifth day of the fifth lunar month," said Nhieu.

This year, Li Bai restaurant is offering four distinct filling options, each representing a unique fusion of Eastern and Western culinary philosophies. This combination is rarely found in a typical zongzi, where traditionally most would feature solely Chinese ingredients. With boundless creativity, Li Bai's seasoned chefs have incorporated premium European ingredients such as foie gras and Iberico smoked ham, alongside Southeast Asian influences like soy tempeh, to enhance the zongzi's flavour profile.

On May 31, Li Bai marks its sixth year of producing handcrafted dragon boat dumplings. As a renowned retail product of Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, Li Bai's dragon boat dumplings are elegantly packaged in a luxurious gift box.

Inspired by the distinctive pyramid shape of the zongzi, the new packaging features a unique design with a sturdy base and four sides adorned with traditional patterns that evoke the festive spirit of the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, including dragon boat races and family gatherings. Boasting a triangular structure with a handle reminiscent of the ties of a zongzi, the box reflects the colour of bamboo leaves presented in a verdant green and available in two sizes for two or four dumplings, depending on the customer’s orders. This exquisite box is the perfect heartfelt gift for family, friends, and business associates during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Li Bai’s dragon boat dumplings are available for purchase until May 31.

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