In the distant past, the country was primarily agricultural, so more people stayed at home than went away. Most people were born and raised in their hometowns, connected to the fields and farms. Those who left their hometowns mainly joined the army, became police officers, teachers, attended vocational schools, or worked as agricultural or forestry workers, etc.
Only children yearn for Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Tet means a break from school, opportunities to play, new clothes, and lucky money... Time seems to slow down. From the twelfth lunar month, we have our own "countdown clocks," eagerly awaiting each day to welcome Tet.
At just nine or ten years old, we could already mentally calculate and know which families in our village had people who had "escaped" (referring to leaving the country to join the government)! We didn't know how to distinguish who was better than whom. We just knew that they "ate for the government," had leave, wrote letters, some spoke a mix of Nghe An and Northern dialects, had watches, etc., and that meant they were "higher class," better than those at home (!).
When the northeast monsoon brought the cold, the biting rain, and the rice planting season was in full swing, a few people from afar began returning home. The children, like "radars," picked up the signals quickly. We toddled along, curious about anything interesting, exclaiming and discussing it. Barefoot and shabbily dressed, none of us knew how to greet anyone; we just looked around aimlessly, waiting for gifts!
Some vendors would bring out entire packets of Hai Chau candies, asking whose children they were, then dividing a few pieces of peanut candy and a couple of small, square, pretty candies for each of us. We'd carefully examine the flowers and read the letters on the candy wrappers. Inside, there was a layer of translucent wax, which was edible! There were also more luxurious candies, wrapped in colorful cellophane; after eating them, we'd use the cellophane as a protective covering to hang them up or carefully store them for later cutting. Back then, all candies were delicious, worth saving, and incredibly tasty!
Some people would come home and immediately set off a pack of firecrackers. In the countryside, nobody knew how to make firecrackers. The whole country was famous for the Binh Da firecrackers. These were small, crackling firecrackers. Later, there were the Dien Quang firecrackers, which were much bigger and louder! When the firecrackers exploded, all the children would rush over, covering their ears and jumping for joy. As soon as the explosions stopped, they would all scramble to find the unexploded firecrackers. Dogs would run around, hiding in the bushes!
During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), people who live far from home often return to their hometowns to stroll around the neighborhood. They visit relatives, exchange New Year greetings, give gifts, and offer lucky money to the elderly and children.
Then there were those who lived far away, too busy with work to return. They sent New Year's greetings letters, scented with perfume – a very elegant and luxurious gift. On the left side, there were printed delicate pink peach blossoms; they meticulously wrote their New Year's wishes. A household that received a New Year's greeting letter was considered very precious and cherished. The letter was proudly displayed on the porch, and the homeowner seemed proud; they would still talk about it many years later!
These days, more people travel far than stay at home. Shops and restaurants have reached even the smallest neighborhoods. The market is almost saturated. You can find boxes of candy and jam right outside your door, just like in the city. Mobile phones have shortened the distance and time between places. Most children are no longer as excited about sweets, clothes, and other things as they used to be. They don't really care who comes and goes!
Nostalgia for a bygone era – a humble Tet holiday in a poor village, yet so warm and full of love.
Article by: Mr. Dang
Illustrative image: Archival material
