Rekindle the flame of love

(Baonghean) - Over time, no matter how busy and hectic life becomes, family remains a peaceful haven to return to. To maintain the warmth in each home, the joint efforts and contributions of every member are essential...

Following the cultural officer of Hung Dao commune, Hung Nguyen district, we visited the family of Ms. Tran Thi Hang (51 years old) and Mr. Phan Xuan Vinh (52 years old) in Hamlet 5B, Hung Dao commune – one of the exemplary cultural families for many years in the hamlet. Notably, three generations still live together harmoniously in their home. With cheerful affection, Ms. Hang poured a cup of rich, golden green tea for her father-in-law, Mr. Phan Van Nhien (85 years old). She explained: "My family lives in the neighboring hamlet. When I first came to live with my in-laws, I was very young and from a farming family, so I didn't get a proper education. Sometimes I upset my parents-in-law. With my husband's encouragement and advice, I gradually understood their personalities. I myself always want a peaceful and happy family, so in my interactions with my parents-in-law, I always show deference and ask my mother-in-law for guidance on anything I don't know." She thought: "We have three daughters, and they will all get married and become daughters-in-law someday. I must be a role model for them to follow." Therefore, despite the hardships, she and her husband tried their best to raise their children well...

Mr. Phan Van Nhien happily shared: “The couple are elderly, so Vinh and Hang single-handedly manage everything. Besides the two acres of rice fields, Vinh and Hang also raise livestock. There are always 14-15 pigs in the barn, mostly slaughtered at home and sold to neighbors; hundreds of pigeons, over a hundred chickens, and three fish ponds, a rice mill… Vinh also sets eel traps in the fields when he has free time. There’s no need to worry about food at home; even though they live in the countryside, they always have fresh, delicious food. Thanks to their daughter-in-law’s care, they are still very healthy.”

A family meal.

After saying goodbye to Ms. Hang's family, we visited the family of Ms. Le Thi Ninh and Mr. Le Ngoc Nam in Hamlet 9, Nghi Lien Commune, Vinh City. Ms. Ninh said: Her greatest joy is cooking delicious meals for her husband and children every day, teaching her grandchildren good values, and taking care of her garden and fish pond in her free time. It's heartening that three generations live together in her family, and her three daughters-in-law, despite living in the same house, get along very well and are very responsible for their family life. Speaking about the role of women in the family, Mr. Le Ngoc Nam (66 years old), Ms. Ninh's husband, said: "From ancient times, our ancestors had a saying, 'Men build houses, women build homes,' to emphasize the crucial role of women in 'lighting the fire' of the home. They have a particularly important impact on family members, especially in the education of children." While the father tends to focus on instilling perseverance, ambition, and career aspirations in his children, the mother tends to nurture their character, emotions, and souls. In his own family, without the tireless dedication and sacrifice of his wife and mother, all three of his sons would not have achieved the success they have today. Throughout his youth, Mr. Nam served in the army and then worked in the medical field, keeping him away from his family, so Mrs. Ninh single-handedly managed everything at home. Now that the children are grown and mature, Mrs. Ninh has also served as a bridge, fostering love and empathy among her daughters-in-law.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Sam (64 years old) from Hamlet 22, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City, to keep the flame of a happy family alive, one should start with the simplest things. She believes that women play a crucial role in building a happy home. For her, daily care for her husband and children, preparing delicious and palatable meals, celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries together, cooking and chatting, or participating in social activities like exercise together... all contribute to enhancing the joy of life and strengthening family bonds.

Ms. Hoang Thi Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed her view: Traditional Vietnamese families placed great emphasis on building family values, customs, and rituals. Traditional family culture is rich in humanistic values, upholding moral values, building a cultured and orderly lifestyle, nurturing the soul and character of individuals, making the family a healthy cell of society. Each good family ensures a prosperous people, a strong nation, and a developed and civilized society. Currently, many families are affected by the market mechanism; parents are preoccupied with making money and do not adequately value morality and intellect, neglecting their children, leading to children becoming delinquent, addicted to drugs, and subjected to sexual abuse, etc. Gender inequality, divorce, and domestic violence are increasing at an alarming rate. The good customs, identity, and traditions of Vietnamese families are increasingly fading. Recognizing family culture as the "root" of village and national culture, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently promoted the movement to build culturally exemplary families and villages throughout the province. As a result, the percentage of culturally exemplary families has steadily increased, and the quality of these titles has improved. Several districts, cities, and towns have proactively and creatively developed the title of "Culturally Exemplary Clan." In various localities, on the occasion of Vietnamese Family Day (June 28th), they organize ceremonies to commend and reward families with multiple generations living together harmoniously; families raising healthy and well-behaved children; Catholic families who "live a good life and uphold moral values"; and families excelling in economic activities. This movement has contributed to preserving Vietnamese family traditions while enriching the cultural life in residential areas, especially in rural and mountainous regions.

In addition, the sector implemented the project "Propagating and educating on the ethics and lifestyle of Vietnamese families," piloted in Dong Van commune, Thanh Chuong district, and achieved many good results. In the future, this project will be expanded throughout the province, thereby making an important contribution to building traditional cultural families.

Thanh Thuy