Tet aftertaste from Russia: Love is something that is always remembered

My name is Tran Cong Tam Anh. After learning about the "My Tet Moment" contest, I felt it was very meaningful and evoked many emotions in me. I submitted this essay as a heartfelt expression of a student studying abroad during the Tet holiday, with mixed feelings and a desire to preserve and protect Vietnamese culture among generations of students living and studying in Russia.

Video entry: The Lingering Taste of Tet Far Away - Author: TRAN CONG TAM ANH

As someone from the South, Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is rather bland to me. For me, it's simply a time to have a break from school, to go out and have fun, and to get lots of new clothes. Tet is a time when you have to meet many people, from relatives to your parents' friends; and Tet is just a holiday!

But when I was far from home, I realized that Tet (Lunar New Year) is only truly ordinary when I'm at home. For international students, Tet is thousands of kilometers away; Tet means having loved ones, people I'm waiting for, and they're always watching over me every day, hoping for the day I'll return.

Celebrating my third Tet away from home, I still cherish a very special feeling, a very unique resonance – Tet in Northern Vietnam!

It wasn't my first time visiting a Dacha (a type of house with a garden, usually found on the outskirts of cities in Russia), but it was the first time I'd been to a house that felt so much like a family home. The temperature was minus 29 degrees Celsius. The heater was broken, and there was no hot water. The harsh weather and 17 people inside shivered in layers of warm clothing and thick down jackets. Yet, smiles never seemed to fade from their faces.

We – people from the three regions of our beloved homeland – carry within us a distinct cultural current. We are like young people growing up without fully understanding what culture is, but we always strive for each other's sake.

In that freezing house, we prepared traditional Tet dishes together, using many recipes to create a feast of 15 dishes considered auspicious and symbolizing family reunion; we decorated branches of apricot and peach blossoms haphazardly picked from the forest, adding vibrant spring colors; we shared blankets to ward off the cold and sang songs from all regions of our country.

In that spacious yet warm and welcoming home, I also heard stories from the homeowner who had moved to Russia in 1986, and realized just how fortunate I was.

I will never forget the moment when the snow covered everything, my feet were so cold and aching I couldn't walk, and there were two people who always encouraged, helped, and pulled me along when I wanted to give up. I will also always remember someone massaging my feet when I finally got on the train, and someone who, afraid I would close my eyes, made me read the information boards in Russian while I waited for the train in despair.

Perhaps it's the bond of friendship that truly remains etched in our hearts. Later, we might forget the taste of fried spring rolls or bamboo shoot soup, but at least we once made those dishes together.

We may never eat banh chung again in the future, but most importantly, when I look back, I remember that during Tet 2024, I personally wrapped a complete banh chung.

We may never meet these people again in the future, but we will still have a corner of our youth to cherish and remember.

Russia is more than just youth, and New Year's Day is more than just a meal!

The "My Tet Moment" contest has closed for submissions.

Running from January 25th to February 24th, the "My Tet Moments" contest is an opportunity for readers to share beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences from Tet with family and friends.

The organizing committee has received nearly 600 entries from readers over the past month. More than 50 entries have been selected and are being published on Tuoi Tre Online. We sincerely thank our readers for submitting entries and following the contest during this year's Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon).

Several more articles will be published in the near future.

The awards ceremony and closing event are scheduled to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), and 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).

The program is sponsored by HDBank .