Westerners celebrate Tet in Nghe An

(Baonghean) - For foreigners living and working in Nghe An, Lunar New Year is a special occasion to explore and experience unique and interesting cultural life.

Taras Ivanov (Russia, student of Vietnamese Language Faculty, Vietnam National University, Hanoi):“I have visited Nghe An many times, including during Tet. I really enjoyed wrapping banh chung and making coconut jam with my family and friends in Que Phong district. I have been to some areas in Western Nghe An but unfortunately I have never participated in any New Year festivals there. During the Binh Than Tet, I hope to be able to arrange time to participate in the spring festival, meet ethnic people and learn about folk games, to broaden my cultural understanding of Western Nghe An.”

Taras Ivanov (right) and Russian friends in traditional Vietnamese costumes.

Dustin Gerding (American teacher at ASEM English Center):“I have been in Nghe An for more than 2 years, I love the people and landscapes of Nghe An and am excited to welcome the traditional New Year here. Last year, at 0:00, I was at Ho Chi Minh Square with a few close friends to watch fireworks and sing to celebrate the New Year. I was especially impressed with the Vietnamese people's custom of giving lucky money. I received lucky money from a friend's parents and good wishes. This year, I plan to continue to celebrate New Year's Eve at Ho Chi Minh Square (Vinh City), then return to Nghi Loc to enjoy the New Year's party. I have prepared some new money to give lucky money to everyone.”

Dustin Gerding (3rd from right) attends the year-end party in Nghe An.

JohnPerryman (US Veteran):“I was happy to explore Nghe An during the Lunar New Year, staying at local people’s homes and seeing how they decorated and prepared for the New Year. Unlike in the US, where we often gather to eat and talk at restaurants and bars during Christmas and New Year, the spring atmosphere in Nghe An is very warm. In the city, children dress brightly and are taken by their parents to wish their neighbors, relatives and loved ones a Happy New Year. During my travels, the most impressive thing for me was the bright, innocent smiles of children in the highlands, even though they still suffer from many deprivations.”

John Perryman with a Vietnamese student.

Sean Laurence (American teacher, teaching at Global English Center):“For me, Nghe An is the most wonderful place, because here, I married a beautiful, intelligent and kind girl from Nghe An. This is the first year we celebrate the traditional New Year together, so I am very excited. Waiting for the New Year's Eve with my wife's family, chatting about history and culture with the elderly in her relatives, those will certainly be wonderful experiences and emotions. I am learning how to make spring rolls and traditional dishes to cook for the new year. At the beginning of the year, we plan to visit Pu Mat National Park. Regarding the Vietnamese custom of giving lucky money, I find it very interesting, it is like giving Christmas gifts in the West. Along with that, everyone happily gives each other the warmest wishes.”

Sean Laurence with Nghe An children.

Kim Ji Hong (Korea, Restaurant Manager):“In Korea, we also celebrate Lunar New Year, but there are many cultural features that are different from Vietnam. For example, on New Year's Eve, no one sleeps because people believe that if they sleep, the next morning their hair and eyelashes will turn white, and their minds will be dull and unclear. When making offerings, Koreans must place more than 20 dishes on the altar, such as ttok-kuk (a type of pho), dumplings, cinnamon sweet soup, and other traditional foods... But in general, like in Vietnam, Tet is an occasion for family members to return to reunite, gather together, and exchange loving and good wishes. This year, due to the nature of my work, I will be in Nghe An from the 4th day of Tet. With cultural similarities and uniqueness compared to Korea, I am quite excited to welcome Vietnam's traditional Tet.”

Kim Ji Hong (right) at the first "I love Korea" photo contest awards ceremony in Nghe An.

Hoang Van (written)