Tet is for returning home.

(NB&CL) Everyone is born with a homeland to cherish, to miss, and to feel nostalgic about whenever they have to leave their hometown and loved ones. That's why homeland is always "like a cluster of sweet starfruit..." in our minds and the abundant childhood memories we hold, so that whenever we feel nostalgic, we often return to our ancestors and roots.

It is rare for people to live and work solely in their homeland from birth; the vast majority leave their hometowns to study or work elsewhere within the country. In fact, in the last few decades, an increasing number of Vietnamese people have gone to distant overseas lands to study and make a living, because "wherever there is good land, there is land to settle," as long as that place is favorable for life and earning money...

No matter where we go or live, as the year ends and Tet approaches, every Vietnamese person always remembers the land that gave birth to and raised them, and longs to return. Some, even though they have almost lost their roots and have lived in the city for generations, still return to their ancestral homeland in the early days of the new year to light incense for their grandparents and ancestors, because the Vietnamese philosophy is to live by the principle of "birds have nests, people have ancestry," meaning never to forget one's origins. And for those who still have grandparents, parents, siblings, and close relatives living in their hometown, there is no reason why they shouldn't return to their hometown to reunite and celebrate Tet together.

In the traditional Tet feast of the countryside, if a family is missing a member, for whatever reason, and cannot return home to reunite, then that Tet is considered a loss of joy for the whole family. Despite economic hardship and the lack of elaborate and delicious dishes, everyone returning to their hometown is still very happy and proud to have a place to come back to every spring – their homeland.

My family is no exception. With five siblings, each of us has established our careers and lives in different regions. Some are married, others are not, but one thing remains constant: every Tet holiday, all five of us must return home to reunite with our parents so they can be happy. For a whole year, my parents are alone, burdened with sadness and longing for their children and grandchildren. They only look forward to a few days during Tet to be reunited, to hear the joyful sounds of laughter and conversation. Therefore, none of us siblings want to make our parents sad.

Those who live far away must be home just a few days after the Kitchen God Festival on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month; while those who live nearby and are busy with work must also be home before the last day of the old year to be able to gather for a warm and joyful New Year's Eve dinner. However, there have been a few times when, due to the nature of my job, I had to work during Tet, so I couldn't go home for the three main days of Tet. In those years, not only was I sad, but my parents were the ones who were waiting, and they were even sadder.

Before each meal during Tet when I was absent from the family gathering, my siblings would call to inform me, which dampened the family's spirits. Those moments weren't just for me; anyone in that situation would feel heartbroken, even in tears, because they couldn't be together with loved ones during the sacred traditional Tet holiday.

The old year is coming to an end, and a joyful and warm Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 is just around the corner. Certainly, the vast majority of workers, students, and poor laborers will be rushing back to their hometowns to celebrate Tet and reunite with their families.

Every year, besides train stations, bus terminals, and airports, many people have to jostle to buy tickets to return to their hometowns, and as Tet approaches, the overcrowding of trains, buses, and roads makes the journey home even more difficult and arduous for everyone.

Another spring is approaching, and although we know that after returning home to celebrate the Lunar New Year, there will also be a time for farewells, leaving is also a time to prepare for the return, with hopes for better things in the years to come…

Source: https://congluan.vn/tet-la-de-tro-ve-10329497.html