Tet in the city vs. Tet in the countryside

Gone are the dry, harsh days of late winter; Thai Nguyen is now welcoming warm, joyful spring days. Throughout the city, and even in the remote villages, Tet (Lunar New Year) has arrived at every door. The streets are bustling with kumquats, peach blossoms, chrysanthemums, and apricot blossoms. In the countryside, children and grandchildren return home to reunite with their families after being away for so long, bringing with them the warm scent of kinship…

The peach blossoms of Cam Giá (Gia Sàng ward) are in full bloom, welcoming spring.

Bustling city streets

During the Lunar New Year holidays, Thai Nguyen's streets are incredibly bustling, especially the Tea Flower Street, Vo Nguyen Giap Square, and the Museum of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures (Phan Dinh Phung Ward). Ms. Nguyen Thuy Ngoc, from Group 8, Quan Trieu Ward, shared: "During Tet, I feel a sense of peace as I leisurely stroll along the flower street, admiring the bustling streets that are constantly changing."

As spring arrives, in every family in Thai Nguyen, the vibrant color of peach blossoms brightens the entire space, bringing with it faith and hope for a peaceful new year. On the porch, peach branches with budding flowers, interspersed with kumquat trees laden with fruit, symbolize abundance and prosperity.

Even though city life is busy, every family still celebrates Tet (Lunar New Year) with the full flavor of sticky rice cakes filled with meat, pickled onions, and the lively, exciting atmosphere of welcoming spring.

The festive atmosphere of Tet fills Thai Nguyen, with many families and classes organizing the making of green banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

Authentic rural charm

Returning home for Tet after being away for so long, many people from Thai Nguyen are overjoyed! In the highland villages, those who have been away for a long time still cherish in their minds the image of peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and plum blossoms displaying their colors on the mountainside, their delicate petals fluttering in the spring breeze. Not only do they get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of their homeland, but each time they return, these people who have been away get to savor the rich flavors of their hometown dishes.

One of the unique aspects of Tet in the highlands is that families (2 or 3 households) jointly buy a pig to slaughter, cook, and organize a lavish New Year's Eve meal. Besides offering many dishes like grilled meat, pork stuffed with bamboo shoots, and pork stir-fried with ginger to their ancestors at the end of the year, this warm and intimate meal also strengthens family and community bonds.

Taking advantage of the pork, families also help each other wrap delicious, savory meat-filled sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng), pound meat to make large pork sausages, and store them for later consumption. Many families also meticulously prepare smoked meat (meat hung in the kitchen rafters) and sausages – specialty dishes with the distinctive flavors of the highlands of Thai Nguyen… The remaining meat is divided into smaller portions and stored in the refrigerator throughout the Tet holiday.

Mr. Trieu Van Vuong from Cam Giang commune shared: "Having pork stored in the refrigerator allows us to be proactive in securing food supplies during Tet. Whenever guests come to visit, we just need to go to the garden to cut vegetables, go to the bamboo forest behind the house to chop fresh bamboo shoots, take out the pork and ham from the refrigerator, and we have a decent meal to entertain friends and relatives."

The gardeners have taken care to ensure the flowers bloom precisely during the Lunar New Year, catering to the needs of tourists.

During Tet (Lunar New Year), people in the highlands often cut a branch of peach blossoms from their garden to decorate their homes, filling them with the scent of spring. Many also prepare colorful balloons to tie to the branch for added vibrancy. Ms. Hoang Thi Lua, from Dong Giong area, Dan Tien commune, simply said: "I work as a factory worker in Bac Ninh . During Tet, I get to visit my family for an extended period, so I take the opportunity to clean the house thoroughly and decorate it brightly for the holiday."

Unlike people in the highlands who organize elaborate pig feasts and banquets, in the city, people only prepare simple but warm family meals to "bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new." Ms. Vu Thanh Huyen, from Group 32, Phan Dinh Phung Ward, shared: "No matter where I go, I always remember the taste of the New Year's Eve meal in my hometown. I especially love my mother's bamboo shoot soup with bones and the pickled onions served with green sticky rice cakes, which have a very unique flavor."

As Tet approaches, whether in the city or the countryside, the warm atmosphere of spring is present in every home of the people of Thai Nguyen. It's about warm family gatherings, the solidarity of the community, and a peaceful, prosperous, and familiar setting.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202602/tet-pho-tet-que-fd7531f/