Vietnamese students studying abroad: Tet in a foreign land, nostalgia for home

Far from home, the last pages of the calendar of the Year of the Dragon are gradually running out, many children living in foreign lands feel nostalgic for the Tet holiday of their homeland.

Thai An said he still takes the time to prepare and cook traditional dishes for Tet even though he is far from his hometown - Photo: NVCC

Miss the family Tet atmosphere so much

Thai An (32 years old, studying in France) said that every time Tet approaches, he feels sad and misses the New Year's Eve meal, the taste of banh chung, and also misses the laughter of his relatives and the Tet lucky money envelopes.

The nostalgia is even more intense at New Year's Eve, especially when surfing the internet filled with New Year's greetings, the moment of Tet in the countryside.

Thai An boasts that he has learned to create joy for himself by video calling his family and cooking a meal with a strong hometown flavor.

“Celebrating Tet away from home is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for me to grow up. I know how to appreciate what I have and learn how to spread love wherever I am,” Thai An shared.

Meanwhile, Ý Nhi (21 years old, studying abroad in Japan) told anyone that Tet is probably just about family reunions. But for international students, Tet always brings with it a feeling of homesickness and they can only call home to ease the longing.

“Those who are lucky enough to have extra money and time go home to celebrate Tet with their families. If not, colleagues or classmates get together to cook Tet dishes, buy Tet cakes and sit together for a family reunion meal,” said Y Nhi.

Celebrating Tet away from home, Y Nhi and her friends cook dishes with strong Vietnamese flavors - Photo: NVCC

Preserving the traditions of Tet in the homeland

Having been away from Vietnam for more than 5 years, Ms. Thao Ngoc (40 years old, living in the US) said her Tet away from home is also simple.

To keep tradition, on her day off, she drove about an hour and a half to the Vietnamese market to buy some Tet jam, banh chung, banh tet, then came home to cook a small meal for the New Year's Eve offering. After that, she invited her relatives and acquaintances to come over to her house for a New Year's Eve meal to enjoy the Tet atmosphere.

On New Year's Eve, American time, she cooked sticky rice, sweet rice, salt, and prepared a fruit tray to burn incense to welcome the new year. On the morning of the first day, she also gave lucky money to her children and wished them a happy new year, and that was it.

Even though he is far from home, Thai An still makes time to make banh chung, gio lua, and braised pork. It may not be as complete and neat as in his hometown, but the familiar flavors make him feel closer to his roots.

“I still keep the customs of worshiping the Kitchen Gods, ancestors and giving lucky money to children and friends as a way to remind myself of traditional values.

The Vietnamese Student Association here also often organizes meetings and performances to celebrate Tet, which is an opportunity for everyone to share, spread the warmth of their homeland and ease some of their homesickness," An said.

For Bao Ngoc (22 years old, studying in Germany), Tet is an opportunity for everyone to gather, cook traditional dishes, wish each other well and share stories about Tet in a foreign land.

"Those moments not only help ease homesickness but are also a way for people to feel connected and not lost in a foreign land," Ngoc said.

The New Year's Eve offering tray in the US that Ms. Thao Ngoc prepared is simple but full of traditional warmth - Photo: NVCC

A Tet holiday of a child living far away from home

A Tet holiday far from home for Thai An begins with cleaning and decorating the house, preparing banh chung and fruits for offerings. You cook a small meal with dishes your mother often makes such as boiled chicken, rice paper rolls...

In the afternoon, An went to meet Vietnamese friends, wishing each other a Happy New Year like a family. In the evening, An made a video call to her family, wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and then watched Vietnamese New Year programs to fully experience the family atmosphere.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-hoc-sinh-viet-tet-noi-dat-khach-bui-ngui-nho-que-20250110173412184.htm