Early Tet celebration in Na Luong village

In the final days of the year, when the biting cold still clung to the skin, Na Luong village (Cho Moi commune) suddenly became bustling like a festival. From the uneven rice paddies to the windswept hillsides, people from the surrounding villages flocked together to celebrate an early Tet (Lunar New Year) – a Tet of camaraderie and sharing, organized by the "Spring in the Highlands" program of the Otofun Thai Nguyen Association in coordination with the Cho Moi Commune Police.

The people of Na Luong village are celebrating together with the "Spring in the Highlands" charity program.

Spring festival amidst the highland rice fields.

From early morning on January 24, 2026, the road leading to Na Luong hamlet was busier than usual. People from neighboring villages streamed towards the field where the stage was set up. On the recently harvested rice paddies, the stubble still damp with dew, groups of people walked ahead, followed by a few others; then came long lines of vintage cars and motorcycles from the city, creating a strange array of colors amidst the mountains and forests.

In the middle of the valley, the stage for the "Spring in the Highlands" program was set up on a small rice field, a few steps higher than the surrounding fields. The field surface was still uneven and not yet leveled, but it was precisely this rusticity that made the event space feel more intimate. A simple backdrop printed with the words "Spring in the Highlands 15," along with the logos of the participating charitable groups, clinics, etc., was enough to open a grand celebration.

Traveling over 60km from the center of Thai Nguyen , vintage cars and Vespas roll up to the highlands, carrying Tet gifts and the generosity of volunteers.

Members of the Otofun Thai Nguyen Club, classic car clubs, youth union members, and police officers from Cho Moi commune each had a task: some carried gifts, others set up the stage, and still others handled the sound and lighting... In another corner, villagers gathered around the fire, preparing banana leaves and sticky rice to wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and pound banh giay (another type of Vietnamese rice cake).

Children, dressed in their new clothes, held hands with their parents as they went to the festival, their eyes sparkling with excitement and joy.

The Tet gifts were handed directly to needy households late at night.

Deeply moved by the enduring journey of "Spring in the Highlands," Mr. Ninh Van Hao, Secretary of the Party Committee of La Hien commune - a long-time supporter of the program - shared: "This is one of the most meaningful charitable programs, organized for the past 15 years, and I have participated directly almost every year."

It was from this connection that, in 2022, when the program was held in his hometown of Vo Nhai (Thai Nguyen), he wrote the song "Spring in the Highlands" - a song born from genuine emotions in response to acts of charity.

"I'm not a professional musician, but I've always had strong feelings for my homeland, my country, the Party, and President Ho Chi Minh," Ninh Van Hao expressed.

The song, written to a simple folk melody familiar to the people of the mountainous regions, is a tribute to the classic car clubs and philanthropists who have traveled long distances for many years to bring the warmth of Tet (Lunar New Year) to poor households in the highlands. According to Mr. Hao, each trip and each gift given not only has material value but also spreads the warmth of human kindness.

"I hope the program will continue to be maintained, leaving a positive impression on the people, in line with the spirit and policy of the Party and the State: leaving no one behind," Mr. Ninh Van Hao added.

When compassion warms the mountains and forests

For the first time joining a group of vintage Vespas from Hanoi participating in the "Spring in the Highlands" event, Ms. Tran Thanh Van couldn't hide her emotions. While choosing tea packages, bottles of honey, and wild vegetables to support the local people, she shared: "The people here are friendly, sincere, and very cheerful. The rustic scenery of the commune evokes many emotions in me."

According to her, the program wasn't elaborate, the stage was simple, but the spirit was open and generous. Among the many activities, she was most impressed with the "0-dong" stall, where warm clothes were handed directly to people in an atmosphere of sharing and warmth—a warmth that spread through the cold highlands without any need for appeals.

For many residents of Na Luong village, this was the first time they had attended a program that brought together folk games, cultural performances, medical check-ups and treatment, and the giving of Tet gifts, creating a rare and vibrant spring festival atmosphere in the highlands. Games like blindfolded duck catching, making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and pounding banh giay (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) were played enthusiastically; the elderly watched, the children excitedly ran after them, laughter and calls mingled, making the whole village seem to awaken in the early spring colors.

Doctor Tran Tien Thinh (An Thinh Pediatric Clinic) examines each child.

At the village cultural center, Dr. Tran Tien Thinh (An Thinh Pediatric Clinic) diligently examined each child. Ms. Dang Thi Lanh, a Dao woman, brought her 8-month-old son for examination, feeling anxious because he had a persistent cough. When diagnosed with rickets and malnutrition, and given medication, vitamins, and thoughtful advice, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Hearing the doctor’s explanation, I feel completely reassured,” she said, her eyes shining with hope.

Few people know that Dr. Thinh not only provided free examinations and medication during the festival but has also been a silent "diamond sponsor" for many years, supporting the "Spring in the Highlands" program. His presence, along with that of other doctors and medical staff, brought not only medicine but also practical medical care and support to the people in this underprivileged mountainous region.

Amidst the mountains and forests of Na Luong, artistic performances, usually only seen on city stages, suddenly felt strangely familiar. The sound of lion dance drums echoed, and the lions and dragons of the Long Nghia Duong Club (Thai Nguyen) danced gracefully across the rice paddies, sometimes soaring high and powerful, sometimes descending majestically. Each time fireworks lit up the sky, the applause of the villagers rose like waves.

Magic tricks left the children wide-eyed. Vietnamese Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts performances, featuring techniques previously only seen in movies, came alive in the valley. A finger-thick iron bar was bent using only the throat, leaving many disbelieving and eager to touch it on stage.

But what lingered longest in the hearts of the attendees was not just the performance, but the innocent, childlike gazes, both shy and eager; the tiny hands clapping in rhythm amidst the rice paddies.

Ms. Tran Thanh Van shared that it was these simple moments that touched her deepest emotions. "Seeing the children captivated by the magic show, I just thought I needed to do something more, however small, to ensure this joy continues. Next year, I will definitely come back," she said.

That joy spread to the elderly as well. Mrs. Ha Thi Thoa, 70 years old, had tears welling up in her eyes: "I'm old, but this is the first time I've seen so many wonderful performances. Thank you to the volunteer group for bringing joy to our village."

The distance between the artist and the audience seemed to disappear. Handshakes, eye contact, and prolonged applause created a boundless stage, where art met life, and joy spread from the performer to the viewer.

The "0-dong" stalls handed out warm clothes directly to the people.

A journey of perseverance driven by kindness.

Sharing with us, Mr. Pham Hoai Phuong, Chairman of the Otofun Thai Nguyen Association and Head of the Organizing Committee of "Spring in the Highlands," said that the program was established in 2007, starting from a passion for Jeep and Vespa motorcycles and a desire to do something useful for the places the convoy passed through. "Initially, there were only a few dozen people, then over a hundred."

"And so, one person introduced another, friends invited each other to join, and then more and more clubs and volunteer groups from all over came to participate," he said.

Mr. Tran Trung Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, believes that what has kept the members involved for the past 15 years is the affection they have for the people in the highlands. He recounted that on the first trips, when the group wasn't as large as it is now, the roads were difficult, and the gifts weren't much, but each time they returned, everyone felt a pang of emotion because of the expectant eyes and simple affection of the local people.

"We never thought we'd accomplish anything significant. It was simply about going up there, bringing some gifts, some warmth in the cold winter. But the more we went, the more people we met, the more we realized we couldn't stop," Mr. Ngoc shared.

It is these simple memories that have led many members of the group, year after year, to voluntarily arrange their schedules and return together to "Spring in the Highlands," as a reunion of human connection.

Commenting on the significance of the program, Mr. Tran Manh Cuong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Cho Moi commune, affirmed: "Spring in the Highlands is a very practical activity, demonstrating the spirit of mutual support and contributing to encouraging people to strive for a better life. We appreciate the generosity of the volunteer group."

As night fell, bonfires blazed, and low-altitude fireworks illuminated the air amidst songs and laughter. Seventy-two Tet (Lunar New Year) gift packages, containing rice, sweets, warm clothing, and essential supplies, were handed directly to impoverished families. Dang Nguyen Tien, 49, choked up with emotion: “My family is very poor. With this extra rice and warm clothes, Tet will be much easier.”

Yes! "Spring in the Highlands" has gone beyond the scope of a charitable activity to become a festival for the people of the highlands of Thai Nguyen. Tet is present in the steaming pots of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), in the gifts exchanged, in the quiet sharing through handshakes… Amidst the mountains of Na Luong, Spring has arrived earlier, bringing warmth and affection that spreads throughout the villages.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202602/tet-som-o-ban-na-luong-e8e31d8/