Xôi gấc is the Vietnamese sticky-rice dish colored red by gac fruit and commonly served at celebrations.
Cooks mix cooked glutinous rice with the bright red arils surrounding the gac seeds. The fruit gives the rice its distinctive color and a mild, somewhat nutty flavor; sugar, coconut milk, or mung beans may also be added depending on the recipe.
Xôi gấc is associated with good fortune and is often prepared for weddings, Tết, birthdays, and other important ceremonies. Its color is especially significant because red is widely linked with luck and happiness in Vietnamese celebrations.
It is sometimes confused with xôi vò, another Vietnamese sticky-rice dish. Xôi vò is coated with finely ground mung beans and has a loose, grainy texture, while xôi gấc is identified by gac fruit and its red-orange appearance.