Warm Tet in the heart of Ky Son flood

People in the flood-hit area of ​​Hoa Son village, Ta Ca commune, Ky Son district shared with Nghe An Newspaper reporters. Photo: Q.An

Date of applicationLunar New Year of the CatIn 2023, we were present at Hoa Son village, Son Ha, Ta Ca commune, which had just suffered the most severe consequences of the historic flash flood in early October 2022. The villagers were still haunted by the scene of floodwaters sweeping away houses and property, leaving the villagers with an unprecedented scene of devastation.

Despite facing hundreds of difficulties, the Thai and Mong people here are still preparing for a warm Tet holiday.

Following the village chief of Hoa Son, Vi Van Truyen, we visited the temporary house of Mrs. Lam Thi Duyen, at which time the villagers were helping her clean the house and wrap Tet cakes. Mrs. Duyen said that her husband died early, her children got married and moved out, so she lived alone in the stilt house next to Huoi Giang stream. In just a moment, flash floods swept away all the property in the house, and the house was dilapidated and could not be repaired.

People in the flooded area of ​​Ky Son help each other wrap Tet cakes. Photo: Xuan Hoang

While waiting for the arearesettlementRecently, Ms. Duyen was supported by her children and villagers to make a temporary hut out of bamboo and tarpaulin to protect from the sun and rain. Preparing all the ingredients and materials to wrap Tet cakes, Ms. Duyen confided: She is alone, so for Tet she only uses 2kg of sticky rice to wrap cakes, along with 2kg of pork and chicken, which her children gave her... "Recently, I went to the commune to receive 25kg of rice, along with fish sauce, candy... and 1.5 million VND in cash from benefactors, so we have Tet", Ms. Duyen confided.

Binh Son 1 village, Ta Ca commune when flood water was still pouring in. Photo: Thanh Cuong.

In the same situation as Ms. Duyen, Ms. Lo Thi Lien’s family is also busy cleaning the house and preparing ingredients to wrap Tet cakes. In a temporary tent covered by a tarp, Ms. Lien takes advantage of the small space to store things in the most neat way. On the altar, in addition to a few packages of candy, a bottle of wine, a few incense sticks, candles… there are also fresh flowers.

Mr. Vi Van Truyen - Head of Hoa Son village said that this Tet, every family in the village will organize the wrapping of banh chung. Photo: Q.An

Ms. Lien said that to welcome the new year, before Tet, she went to Muong Xen market to buy new clothes, new sandals... and some household items such as pots, baskets, trays, bowls and chopsticks... In the days before Tet, people in the village together cleaned the environment on the roads, hung national flags, many families decorated the village with flashing lights and sparkling LED lights.

Mr. Vi Van Truyen - Head of Hoa Son village said: Never before have people in the village celebrated Tet as emotionally as this year. Because many families had to celebrate Tet in makeshift huts, due to flash floods that swept away their homes. Up to this point, in the village there are 22 families living in temporary houses, temporary huts, 6 households staying with relatives and many households renting houses to live.

The lives of these households are lacking in many ways. However, to have a warm and happy Tet, the villagers always encourage and support each other to do everything possible. The social community also cares and shares a lot with the people here. Before Tet, when there is a volunteer group or a company or enterprise coming to give Tet gifts to the people, the commune immediately informs the people to come to the People's Committee of the commune to receive the gifts in time.

Thai people wrap banh tet for Tet in moderate size, the ingredients are sticky rice, the filling is pork, the people choose delicious pigs raised by themselves. Photo: Xuan Hoang

To a greater or lesser extent, each family affected by the recent flash floods received Tet gifts in kind and cash. This is a source of encouragement and sharing from organizations and individuals from all over the country towards the flood-affected areas that occurred last October.

“To have meat for Tet, villagers slaughter pigs and cows together. The local black pigs are raised by the villagers, so the meat is delicious. Part of the pork is used to make Chung cake and Tet cake fillings, the rest is processed into Tet dishes. Most families can raise chickens themselves, so costs are reduced. Starting from the 29th of Tet, every family gathers to wrap the cakes and boil them all night. While waiting for the cakes to cook, families also take the time to prepare traditional dishes, creating a joyful and warm Tet atmosphere in every home,” said Mr. Vi Van Truyen.

Ms. Lo Thi Lien in Hoa Son village prepares the family altar to celebrate Tet. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Vi Thi Quyen - Vice Chairman of the District People's CommitteeKy Sonsaid, with the motto that everyone has a happy and warm Tet, the district directed all levels and sectors to grasp the living situation of the people, especially the people in the areas damaged by the recent flash floods, in order to promptly share and encourage people to overcome difficulties and enjoy the Spring Festival.

On the occasion of Tet, the State and the community always turn to ethnic minority areas with many difficulties to give gifts, including rice. Photo: Xuan Hoang