In celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival (31 May 2025), Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel proudly unveils a branded retail item from Li Bai restaurant: authentic Cantonese zongzi, meticulously handcrafted for gifting and designed for the discerning palates of the Chinese community and lovers of fine Chinese cuisine.
Dragon Boat Festival and the tradition of enjoying the zongzi
Celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month in Vietnam and various Asian countries, Dragon Boat Festival is a cherished tradition where families come together to honor 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 etc. 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 savory ingredients, including pork, mung beans, salted egg yolk, and various nuts, leaving a rich and decadent filling.
The tradition of handcrafting dragon boat dumplings is popular in Chợ Lớn, Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, offering a multitude of flavors. Located on the second floor of the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel, Li Bai restaurant annually delights Saigon gourmands with the authentic handcrafted Cantonese zongzi, available a month prior to the auspicious fifth day.
Dragon Boat Dumplings by Li Bai - secret recipe featuring authentic Cantonese flavors
Crafted using a time-honored Cantonese recipe, passed down through generations of culinary masters hailing from Guangdong, the skilled chefs of Li Bai produce exquisite zongzi with authentic Cantonese flair. Ingredients are carefully selected from reputable suppliers, ensuring only the highest quality. Using glutinous rice, mung beans, chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, lotus seeds, and shiitake mushrooms as the main components, our talented chefs creatively compose distinct fillings featuring luxurious ingredients such as abalone, scallops, and popular choices like pork and chicken. All elements undergo meticulous preparation according to standardized procedures, requiring attention to detail and exceptional craftsmanship to preserve optimal freshness and inherent nutritional value. Each filling is expertly seasoned with unique sauces to enhance the distinct qualities of the ingredients and capture the essence of rich flavors.
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 afterward. Notably, 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.
Behind tens of thousands of dumplings throughout the Dragon Boat Festival seasons, Mr. Diep Nhieu, Li Bai's Sous Chef, shares: "For over two decades dedicated to Li Bai restaurant, we believe that a truly exquisite zongzi comes not only from quality ingredients, methods and skillful techniques but also from the dedication and passion of the culinary team. We always listen to our diners' feedback and thoughtfully integrate their insights to refine each recipe, each ingredient, and elevate the flavor year after year. Nothing brings us greater satisfaction than witnessing the pleasure of our guests as they savor the flavors of our handcrafted dumplings every fifth day of the fifth lunar month.”
The filling of Dragon Boat Dumplings by Li Bai - A harmonious blend of Eastern and Western cuisines
To ensure that every dragon boat dumpling delivered to our guests offers an exceptional and high-quality flavor experience, Li Bai restaurant annually seeks innovations to elevate the culinary journey. This year, we proudly offer 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 most traditionally feature solely Chinese ingredients. With boundless creativity, Li Bai's seasoned chefs enrich the zongzi's flavor by incorporating premium European ingredients such as foie gras and Iberico smoked ham, alongside Southeast Asian influences like soy tempeh, to enhance the zongzi's flavor profile.
A prime example of this East-West harmony is the char siu pork and Iberico smoked ham filling. Succulent pork belly marinated in a secret sauce is combined with thinly hand-sliced pieces of Iberico ham, a prized Spanish breed renowned among gourmands for its strict Royal Spanish Law-governed acorn-based diet and free-range grazing, resulting in unique marbling with beneficial fats. The natural sweetness and the distinctive aroma create a unique culinary experience that delights the palate.
Another unique twist is the chicken and foie gras filling, an epitome of French gastronomy with the delicate richness often served at luxurious parties. The tender, moist, smooth, and fatty texture of foie gras harmonizes with the soft, juicy, and flavorful chicken, marinated in our chef’s special sauces, creating a captivating filling that tantalizes the taste buds with its distinctive aroma and refined aftertaste.
Beyond the two meat selections, Li Bai introduces its most premium filling, featuring two of the most nourishing ingredients in Chinese cuisine: abalone and scallops. The abalone and scallops are selected from top-grade dried varieties, known for their health-boosting properties. Preparing these exquisite ingredients requires a deep understanding to preserve their valuable nutrients during the intricate multi-step process. The abalone and scallop filling embodies wishes for prosperity and abundance.
Soy tempeh, wild mushroom, and truffle sauce filling is a special treat for those following a plant-based diet. The vegetarian recipe features tempeh, or fermented soybean, originating from Java, Indonesia, as a source of vegetable protein, alongside the refreshing taste of king oyster mushrooms and the intense umami of shiitake. Both are blended with aromatic truffle sauce made from fresh black truffles, curating a tapestry of savory, appealing, and sophisticated flavor.
The box of Dragon Boat Dumplings by Li Bai - A luxurious gift for the mid-year celebration
On the fifth of this month, Li Bai proudly 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 annual 5th day of the 5th 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 color 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 31 May 2025 (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month). Visit our hotel lobby daily from 09:00 AM to 08:00 PM for tasting or call +84 3521 9148 for further details.