Lotus (hoa 花 sen 蓮）is often considered as Vietnam's national flower   Hạ Long Bay from   Indochine Cruise Traditional Vietnamese bamboo fish traps. Locally known as đó or rọ (簍？魚 簍 ) Cross-Cultural Foodways Hanoi trip in July turns out a fantastic source for more food-anthropology discoveries. Some findings adequately explain Foodways between Taiwan - SE Asia and beyond. 1. Fruit - Palate Cleanser - Traditional Dessert Tráng miệng (dessert) -  tráng   (rinse/cleanse)  冲/衝 + ‎ miệng (mouth) .  Traditionally, meals in Vietnam often ends with fruits (to refresh palate and rinse mouth). IN VIETNAMESE, tráng has a few common meanings depending on the context. It can mean to rinse   or to coat or spread a thin layer (paste) such as  bánh tráng 餅 (Vietnamese rice paper) IN TAIWAN (in particular south) - Traditional full 11-13 banquet courses are divided into two parts. Fruits (palate cleanser) is served midway (半席). Midway (半席) practice is men...