The traditional Lunar New Year is always a significant and sacred occasion for Vietnamese people living, working, and studying all over the world in general, and for those from Ha Tinh living far from home in particular, to turn their hearts towards their ancestral homeland.
Mr. Tran Van Quy (Tainan Province, Taiwan - China): Tet is an occasion to strengthen bonds of camaraderie among fellow countrymen and colleagues.
Like Vietnam and some other Asian countries, Taiwanese people celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is a traditional festival and the most important holiday of the year. Therefore, agencies and businesses in Taiwan also plan long holiday breaks, allowing us time to rest and prepare for the New Year.
I'm from Thach Xuan commune (Thach Ha district), and I've worked in the mechanical engineering industry in Taiwan for seven years, celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year) here many times. Every Tet, the atmosphere of welcoming the new year fills the streets and every home. Roads, shops, and houses are all beautifully decorated with lanterns, couplets, LED lights, and more. My Taiwanese colleagues prepare their belongings and pack their bags to go home and celebrate Tet with their families. That scene always makes those of us far from home intensely miss Vietnam.
My company has quite a few employees from Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces, so during Tet (Lunar New Year), we often organize gatherings, parties, and cultural events. It's also an opportunity for us to strengthen our solidarity, bond, and support each other in work and life in a foreign land.
Mr. Trinh Thanh Tung (Huambo province, Angola): Educating children about the positive values of our national culture.
Over 10 years after leaving my hometown of Cam Quan (Cam Xuyen) to work in Angola, I only returned to Vietnam once to celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year). During Tet, I and other members of the Vietnamese community in Huambo province held a New Year's Eve party with traditional dishes such as banh chung (sticky rice cake), gio cha (pork sausage), and various kinds of candied fruits. Everyone ate, chatted happily, shared the difficulties of the past year, and wished each other good luck in the new year. Despite busy work schedules, the Vietnamese community here all share the same excitement of celebrating Tet, reminiscing about family and homeland.
My daughter was born and raised in Angola. She's almost two years old this year but hasn't been to Vietnam yet. So this Tet (Lunar New Year), my wife and I bought her a traditional ao dai (Vietnamese dress); decorated the house with peach and apricot blossoms... and took photos to capture beautiful moments so she can gradually become familiar with and appreciate the traditional Tet of our nation. We've also started teaching her her first words in her mother tongue. Even though she's still young, I believe that when she grows up, she will never forget her roots.
Ms. Dang Thi Thinh (Dortmund, Federal Republic of Germany): A deep longing for home.
I've worked in the beauty industry in the Federal Republic of Germany for seven years. Since coming here, I haven't had the chance to visit my hometown – Yen Hoa commune (Cam Xuyen district) – so every Tet holiday, I yearn for the bustling atmosphere of Tet preparations back home. I remember the days leading up to Tet when I had time off from school, waking up early to go to the Tet market with my mother; I remember New Year's Eve with my family, watching the Tet comedy show, chatting happily, and waiting for the moment the new year arrived...
Although it's not as complete as in Vietnam, to celebrate Tet here, we still try to buy as much food and home decorations as possible, within our means, to connect with our homeland and to spread the Tet spirit in this foreign land...
Essential necessities, imbued with the flavors of home, can all be found in Vietnamese markets. On the 30th day of the lunar year, I usually prepare a feast with traditional Vietnamese dishes such as banh chung (sticky rice cake), sticky rice with chicken, pickled vegetables, etc. The feast is offered to the ancestors, and incense is lit to commemorate them, also to satisfy our longing for the flavors of Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
During the Lunar New Year holidays, I often call my relatives and friends to wish them well and to experience the festive atmosphere of my hometown. No matter how complete and elaborate the celebration is, I always feel a sense of emptiness because I can't be with my parents and loved ones during those sacred moments.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc (Chiba Prefecture, Japan): Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy new year.
My wife and I are both from Ky Thuong commune (Ky Anh district), and we've been working in Japan for almost 5 years. Although it's an Asian country with a tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year, nowadays, the Japanese don't attach as much importance to this holiday as the Vietnamese do, so we hardly ever get a holiday during Tet.
I work as a nurse at a hospital, and my husband works in an electronics manufacturing company. Our jobs are quite busy, so we have to start planning for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) several months in advance. We take advantage of our free time and days off to shop and decorate the house; during Tet, we cook delicious dishes and invite friends over to meet and socialize.
Last year, the economic recession and the sharp decline of the Japanese yen, along with a series of earthquakes, significantly impacted the lives of most Vietnamese people, forcing them to tighten their spending. Nevertheless, everyone still wanted to celebrate a fulfilling and warm Lunar New Year.
One tradition we maintain on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year is visiting a temple to pray for peace and well-being. Many Japanese people still preserve this spiritual and cultural practice during the Lunar New Year. In the new year, everyone hopes for good fortune, luck, and peace for themselves, their families, and everyone else. In those quiet moments, we also quiet our hearts, turning our thoughts towards our homeland and roots to pray for a peaceful and happy new year for our family, friends, and country.
Kieu Minh - Anh Thuy
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