Khoai Lang Thang's special Tet

After nearly a decade in operation, travel and food YouTuber Khoai Lang Thang has over 3.17 million subscribers.

Reporter: In 2025, Khoai Lang Thang (real name Dinh Vo Hoai Phuong, born in 1991) traveled extensively and won many notable awards. Looking back on your achievements over the past year, how do you feel?

- YouTuber Khoai Lang Thang: In 2025, I'm very lucky to be able to fulfill my dreams, such as traveling everywhere in a mobile home, visiting many places like Hong Kong, Taiwan (China), Japan, Bali (Indonesia), India, European countries...

Furthermore, last year, Khoai received the "Content Creator of the Year" award at the Vietnam iContent 2025 Content Creation Festival, jointly organized by the Department of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, VnExpress andFPT Online Services Joint Stock Company. Being honored with several awards was the biggest surprise.

Khoai feels very fortunate to have the love of his audience and for his work to be recognized and valued more than ever. 2025 is also quite special, marking 9 years of Khoai producing content on social media. This is a long journey to prepare for the 10-year milestone in 2026.

During your travels throughout Vietnam last year, what impressed you the most?

- In Vietnam, I've filmed many videos, especially in the Mekong Delta. When I went to An Giang , Khoai was warmly welcomed by the Khmer people. They cooked a feast for me, invited the candy and shaved ice vendors to join in the fun with the children.

Then, Khoai was guided by the locals in making Ka Tum cake – a type of cake that is almost extinct, with not many people making it anymore. After this trip, Khoai took a small boat to an island village in Ca Mau; he joined the locals in cooking a feast and enjoying traditional dishes. It felt like he was experiencing life in the Mekong Delta in the old days.

What do you remember most about Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)?

- Khoai remembers most vividly from her childhood, when about half a month before Tet (Lunar New Year), she would get new clothes made and help her mother prune the leaves of the apricot blossoms. Every day, her mother would water the marigold plants so they would bloom in time for Tet. She felt that Tet in her hometown used to be much more crowded, especially with young people; there were so many young men and women there. Now, young people go to school or work and only come home a few days before Tet.

Khoai himself still maintains the old tradition of returning home early, and upon arriving back in his hometown, he feels sadder. It's not that he's only saddened by the passage of time now that he's older, but the Tet holiday in his hometown isn't as lively as it used to be. The joy only lasts until the moment leading up to New Year's Eve. Then, on the 4th or 5th day of the new year, everyone leaves their hometown to return to their daily work, so the Tet holiday doesn't last as long as before. Everyone wants to spend this short time reuniting with their family, and this is a very precious time for each person.

According to Khoai, how can we preserve the traditional flavors of Tet (Vietnamese New Year)?

- Khoai thinks it's difficult, because everyone will remember the best things, but life has many important things like the pressure of earning money to provide for oneself and family. For Khoai, money can buy many things, but money cannot bring back the most beautiful feelings in each person's memory.

Preserving the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) from the past is not easy because life has changed to some extent. But we can find many ways to connect people, for example, the whole family cooking together and making traditional cakes. Some traditions need to be preserved, such as children and grandchildren visiting their grandparents to wish them a Happy New Year. When children and grandchildren gather, that's when we feel the sacred meaning of family.

What will potatoes be done with in the days leading up to and during Tet (Vietnamese New Year)?

- When he gets home, Khoai will help his family carry some potted plants into the house, assist his mother with cooking, and shop for supplies to prepare for Tet. Even during Tet, Khoai still works online.

On New Year's Day, Khoai will visit his grandparents, go to his maternal grandparents' house to wish his aunts, uncles, and cousins ​​a Happy New Year. And he'll sleep in a long, restful nap.

What are Khoai's short-term plans after the Lunar New Year of the Horse?

About a week after Tet, Khoai will go to the temple with his family and take his mother on a trip. Khoai and his younger brother will take their mother to beautiful, peaceful places. Khoai will rent a house from a local family to stay in, and then they will go to the market together and cook traditional local dishes.

On the occasion of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Khoai wishes everyone peace and good health. May everyone have a fulfilling life in the new year, smooth sailing in their work, and may all their plans be successfully accomplished as desired.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tet-dac-biet-cua-khoai-lang-thang-196260210142028678.htm