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Foreigners impressed by Vietnam's Tet festivities
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“Unique”, “Pleasureful”, “Exciting”, “Beautiful”, “Different”, “Great”. These are all words used by foreign visitors to describe their impressions of the festivities of Vietnam's Tet Holiday, even if they have only been staying in Vietnam for a very short time, or are just in Vietnam for a short business trip or holiday.

Chameston, from Australia, who spent the past 8 days in Vietnam on holiday says: “Hanoi has a great atmosphere, a great variety of food, and lots of things to see and do.” Although he has never seen Tet before, and does not know much about the traditions of Tet, he affirmed that it is indeed a pleasure to be in Vietnam during such a special time.

“The people seem to be friendly and peaceful,” he added. “They are also very enterprising, industrious and welcoming. I look forward to seeing more of your country, people and traditions.”

Before the arrival of Tet, Vietnamese people often spend a great deal of time preparing for it, including cleaning and decorating their houses, in order to welcome in the Lunar New Year, with the hope of bringing good luck and happiness for the rest of the year. The many decoration impressed Lei Kan, from China, who just arrived in Vietnam only two days ago.

“I have not had the opportunity to see inside a Vietnamese house that has been prepared for Tet, but I’ve seen many booths and street sellers selling the materials to decorate people's houses,” he said.

Some of the traditional and typical materials used for decoration in Vietnamese houses during Tet are kumquat, cherry blossoms (more common in the North) and apricot blossoms (more common in the South). “I find the tradition of giving flowers and fruit trees very interesting, especially the special significance placed on the color, shape and number of petals of the flowers, and the shape of the tree and its branches,” said Michael Betz, an American and online newspaper sub-editor, who has been in Vietnam for nearly one year. “This giving of flowers and fruit trees, and the long and special history behind it, is very unique to Vietnam, and can be seen nowhere else in the world,” he added.

Tet is also a chance for family gatherings and enjoying special food, including traditional sticky rice cakes. That is why, when being interviewed, Ruard Brouwer, from the Netherlands, who has been on holiday in Vietnam for 4 days, said that his strongest impressions on Tet so far is the food and the many parties. “I like most all the gatherings and drinking with others during Tet,” he said.

Sharing part of Ruard Bouwer’s feelings, Yang Shu Jun, from China, who has worked in engineering management for five years in Vietnam, said that he was impressed with the fact that during Tet, all members of a family get together at their home and have special meals together. “It is a very happy and speical thing. Every house has a fresh appearance with the red couplets posted on the gate, and people in new clothes smiling here and there.”

Lei Kan again said: “I do not have any plans to spend Tet in Vietnam at this time. But if I have a chance in future, I would like to do it with a Vietnamese family, and experience the family atmosphere and see how they celebrate Tet.” He also said he liked the many celebrations, family get-togethers and the speical Tet food.

Tet is also unforgettable to people even after they have left the country for a very long time. “This Tet is the first Tet that I will celebrate again, as I am coming back here after 30 years away, since I left Vietnam in 1979,” said Thong Huynh, from the UK, who has been in Vietnam for 3 weeks. “I am very excited to see my relatives and have Vietnamese food, especially “banh chung” (sticky rice cakes). I feel quite happy, as I can spend Tet with my family for the first time in a long, long while.”

He also said he liked the dragon and lion dances which are held on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Tet is not only the most important annual festival for Vietnamese people, it also creates lasting impressions and brings out strong feelings in foreigners who stay and travel in Vietnam during Tet.

Source: CPV