A warm Tet holiday in Ky Son, the heart of the flood-stricken area.

Residents in the flood-stricken area of ​​Hoa Son village, Ta Ca commune, Ky Son district, shared their experiences with a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Q.An

Application dateLunar New Year of the Year of the RabbitIn 2023, we visited Hoa Son village, Son Ha commune, Ta Ca district, which had just suffered the most severe consequences of the historic flash floods in early October 2022. The villagers were still haunted by the sight of the floodwaters sweeping away their houses and property, leaving behind an unprecedented scene of devastation.

Despite facing countless difficulties, the Thai and Hmong people here are still preparing for a warm and joyful Tet holiday.

Following the head of Hoa Son village, Vi Van Truyen, we visited the temporary home of Mrs. Lam Thi Duyen. At that time, villagers were helping her clean up her house and wrap Tet cakes. Mrs. Duyen explained that her husband passed away early, and her children had married and moved out, leaving her alone in her stilt house next to the Huoi Giang stream. In an instant, flash floods swept away all her belongings, and the house is now dilapidated and beyond repair.

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

While waiting for the arearesettlementRecently, Ms. Duyen received support from her children and villagers to build a temporary shelter for her using bamboo and tarpaulin to protect her from the sun and rain. Preparing all the ingredients and materials for making Tet cakes, Ms. Duyen confided: "Because I'm alone, I only use 2kg of sticky rice for the cakes, along with 2kg of pork and chicken that my children gave me... Just recently, I went to the commune to receive 25kg of regular rice, along with fish sauce, sweets... and 1.5 million dong in cash from benefactors, so now I have Tet," Ms. Duyen shared.

Binh Son 1 village, Ta Ca commune, during the time when floodwaters were still flowing in. Photo: Thanh Cuong.

Like Mrs. Duyen, Mrs. Lo Thi Lien's family is also busy cleaning their house and preparing ingredients for making Tet cakes. In their makeshift hut, sheltered by a tarpaulin, Mrs. Lien makes the most of the small space to neatly store her belongings. On the altar, besides a few packets of cakes and candies, a bottle of wine, some incense sticks, candles, etc., there are also fresh flowers.

According to Mr. Vi Van Truyen, head of Hoa Son village, every family in the village is making traditional rice cakes this Tet holiday. (Photo: Q.An)

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

Mr. Vi Van Truyen, head of Hoa Son village, said: "Never before have the people in the village experienced such a moving Tet holiday as this year. Many families have to celebrate Tet in makeshift huts because the flash floods swept away their homes. At this time, 22 families in the village are living in temporary houses or huts, 6 families are staying with relatives, and many families are renting houses."

These households face numerous hardships. However, to ensure a warm and joyful Tet (Lunar New Year), the villagers always encourage and support each other in whatever way they can. The community also shows great concern and shares much with the people here. Before Tet, whenever a charitable group or company/business comes to donate Tet gifts to the villagers, the commune immediately informs the people to come to the commune's People's Committee to receive the gifts in time.

Thai people wrap banh tet (Vietnamese sticky rice cakes) of moderate size for Tet (Lunar New Year), using glutinous rice and pork filling made from carefully selected, high-quality pigs raised by the locals themselves. Photo: Xuan Hoang

To varying degrees, every family affected by the recent flash floods received Tet gifts in kind and cash. This is a source of encouragement and support from organizations and individuals across the country towards the flood-stricken areas that occurred last October.

“To have meat for Tet (Lunar New Year), the villagers collectively slaughter pigs and cows. The local black pigs are raised by the villagers themselves, so the meat is delicious. Part of the pork is used as filling for banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and the rest is used to prepare other Tet dishes. Most families raise their own chickens, which reduces costs. Starting from the 29th day of the lunar month, every family gathers to wrap the cakes and cooks them over the fire all night. While waiting for the cakes to cook, families also take the opportunity to prepare traditional dishes, creating a joyful and warm Tet atmosphere in each home,” Mr. Vi Van Truyen shared.

Ms. Lo Thi Lien in Hoa Son village prepares the ancestral altar to welcome Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Quang An

Ms. Vi Thi Quyen – Vice Chairperson of the District People's CommitteeKy SonAccording to reports, with the motto that everyone should have a joyful and warm Tet holiday, the district directed all levels and sectors to assess the living conditions of the people, especially those in areas affected by the recent flash floods, in order to promptly share and encourage them to overcome difficulties and celebrate Tet.

During Tet (Lunar New Year), the government and the community always turn their attention to ethnic minority communities facing many difficulties, giving them gifts, including rice. Photo: Xuan Hoang