Vietnamese Tet in the eyes of friends.
What does Vietnamese Tet look like to you? Here are the answers from our foreign friends, captured in photographs. Each photograph holds a memory, a feeling, a nostalgia.
Tet in those days
The years 1980-1982 were difficult times in Vietnam. Most people were poor, struggling to find food every day. Families had to save money all year so that during the Tet holiday they could have a peach blossom branch, a new shirt, some cakes and sweets, and some wine in the house. At that time, I wasn't allowed to talk to Vietnamese people as freely as I am now, and even taking photos had to be done from a distance; color photos were a luxury back then.
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These photos were taken in Hanoi during the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of 1981. People lined up at department stores to buy some New Year's goods using ration coupons, or to buy couplets or cheerful paintings to hang in their homes for good luck in the new year. My favorite couplet from that time was: "The land and water celebrate the Spring of renewal. Our family welcomes the New Year with joy." The weariness on everyone's faces turned into joy after buying their goods, especially during the days leading up to the New Year.
Things are different now. Vietnamese people now eat well and dress well, instead of just eating enough and wearing warm clothes like before. Every time I take these color photos to an exhibition or show them to friends, everyone is delighted, reminiscing about the past. I've celebrated Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in Vietnam 15 times, five times in the North and ten times in the South. Tet is different every year. But one thing has never changed over the years: no matter how difficult things get, on Tet, everyone's face is filled with a joyful smile.
Eva Lindskog (Sweden, sociologist)
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On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, 2004 (Year of the Monkey), in the main square of Sa Pa, two Hmong children, having just finished church, ran to a peach tree. They carefully attached small pieces of colored paper to the branches of the tree. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that each piece of paper represented a wish for the new year.
I also attached a piece of colored paper to the tree and sent in a wish. I don't know what the children wished for, but I wished them a bright future.
Nick Gray (UK, English teacher)
Afternoon of the 30th
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Tet in Vietnam is truly special, especially the moment of New Year's Eve. Even after experiencing just one Tet, the beauty of Vietnamese culture has left a lasting impression on me as I leave.
Norikazu Shimpo (Japan, IT engineer)
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I took this photo on Hang Ma Street (Hanoi) one afternoon before the Lunar New Year of 2007. A mother is hastily eating a bowl of pho at lunchtime while her shop is quiet, having spent the whole day busy with the crowds shopping for Tet. Around her, she is surrounded by the red and yellow colors of Tet decorations.
The atmosphere and people in Vietnam in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) are bustling. But then, on the first day of the new year, everything becomes neat, clean, and peaceful.
Peter Garnhum (Canada, English teacher)
Good
The first day of the Lunar New Year is very important because people believe that anything that happens on this day will affect the whole year. On the morning of the first day, many families go to temples, light incense sticks, and respectfully pray. Like the woman in this photo from Do Son (Hai Phong), she said she doesn't pray for wealth or material possessions, but only for good health, happiness, and prosperity for her family.
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Celebrating Tet in Vietnam means meeting different people, experiencing different cultures, and having different ways of thinking, but I deeply respect that culture. Because for all Vietnamese people, Tet is an occasion to do good deeds and strive for good things throughout the year.
Pieter Janssen (Netherlands, photographer)
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During Tet (Lunar New Year), Nguyen Hue Boulevard in Ho Chi Minh City is known as the "Flower Street." Everywhere you look, there are flowers and smiles. I was delighted to see Vietnamese girls wearing ao dai and headscarves appearing in this vibrant and joyful setting.
My most interesting observation about Tet in Vietnam is the difference in how it's celebrated between the North and South, yet everywhere is filled with excitement, flowers, and friendly people. For me, Tet has become a familiar word, needing no translation.
Daniel Noll (USA, photographer)
New Year's Eve party
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I'm sure I'll never forget this and will attend this party again. I'm here and ready for the New Year of the Rat 2008.
Francois Oliver (France, painter)
According to Tuoi Tre newspaper
