Vietnamese people in Israel celebrate Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year): Quiet and prioritizing safety.

In 2023, many Vietnamese people in Israel experienced a haunting period, hearing the constant sound of rockets due to the conflict. As the Lunar New Year approached, they never stopped hoping the conflict would end soon so they could live in peace.

For many Vietnamese people in Israel, the past year has been filled with unforgettable moments due to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Fleeing home with children, leaving the Gaza Strip for new residences, and preparing to take shelter in bunkers at any moment… these are some of the experiences Vietnamese people went through during this year of political conflict. Despite being busy with work, many still took the time to share their feelings with Thanh Nien newspaper, reflecting on the past year and outlining their plans for the new year in a foreign land.

Limit gatherings.

Ms. Kim Golbari (from Dong Nai province) has lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Israel for 14 years. She said that in previous years, the Vietnamese community used to gather at the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year). However, this year, Tet celebrations are being held in March, after the city elections have concluded. At that time, the security situation will be safer than during the Lunar New Year period.

Kim poses for a photo with her two children.

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"During the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon, it will probably just be friends meeting up and visiting elderly relatives, without organizing any large-scale activities. The conflict is still ongoing, so everyone is opting not to celebrate the New Year with lavish feasts," she shared. According to Ms. Kim, the atmosphere this year is more somber than in previous years. Before the conflict escalated, people had the opportunity to meet and organize cultural events to welcome the new year. Because it's happening later, she worries that the New Year atmosphere will be somber and not as lively.

Ms. Kim (far right) always hoped for political stability in the country she lives in.

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"I also don't go out or visit relatives far away because the security situation isn't absolutely safe. Everyone is in favor of avoiding large gatherings. The area where I live is relatively safe, but I don't dare organize a Tet celebration for the whole community because if anything happens, I can't be held responsible," the woman expressed. Kim's husband is Jewish. For the past 14 years, she has regularly introduced him to the beautiful customs of the Vietnamese people during the Lunar New Year so that he knows them well.

Kim went through a period of fear because of the intense conflict.

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Recalling the moment she fled with her child to safety, she felt a pang of sadness. She never thought the conflict would escalate to such a level. There were times when she felt her understanding of human relationships wavered, but she also realized that family togetherness is a great source of happiness. With the Lunar New Year approaching, she wished for her family and the people around her to live in peace. "I always strive for happiness, trying to live each day well. Witnessing such intense conflict, I think people shouldn't be envious because we don't know what life will be like. Every time I think back to the scene of running down the stairs with my child, I shudder, wondering if the rockets would hit us," she said emotionally.

Try cooking traditional dishes.

Le Van Quoc (25 years old, from Quang Nam province) has been interning in Israel for nearly 6 months and is currently residing in the Arava region. As the year draws to a close, he can't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) far from home. Currently, the conflict no longer affects his life; while rocket fire still occurs near the Gaza Strip, it is not frequent.

Many interns, like Quoc, are celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in Israel for the first time.

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The area where he lives is peaceful, and preparations for the New Year are proceeding normally. A group of about 80 students from the southern region will celebrate the New Year at one location, with representatives from the school and the embassy participating. "The group of nearly 100 students from northern Israel arrived about a month ago. Everyone had prepared mentally before flying, so hearing the missile launches was normal; they weren't worried. On New Year's Eve, they celebrated the new year by hearing 10 missile launches," he shared.

The UK recently visited Israel.

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Trainees like Quoc plan to make banh chung, banh tet, and other traditional dishes to celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Currently, the army is no longer guarding their homes, so they no longer feel the anxiety they felt in the early days of the conflict. Before October 12, 2023, Thuy Dung and a few other Vietnamese people lived in Sderot, an area near the Gaza Strip, a high-risk zone in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Shortly after, she had to move to Kiryat Malakhi for safety.

The UK had a memorable experience while in Israel.

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"We understand that due to the unstable political situation, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year in Israel will be celebrated in March. However, everyone will take time off on the 30th and 1st day of the Lunar New Year to celebrate New Year's Eve together," she said. According to Ms. Dung, she sometimes shudders when she thinks back to the time she had to flee as a refugee, but that experience also made her stronger in a foreign land.

Many interns plan to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) together.

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"We managed to buy some pork from a Thai vendor, so we'll cook traditional Vietnamese dishes for the Lunar New Year. We hope that in the new year, we and our family will always be healthy, safe, and happy," the girl expressed.

Thanhnien.vn

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