Every year, when Tet comes, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is bustling with the spring atmosphere with many meaningful activities such as wrapping banh chung, erecting a pole, and festivals of ethnic minorities...
This is the common home of ethnic groups across the country, a place to preserve and recreate traditional cultural features, while spreading the spirit of solidarity and humanistic values of the Vietnamese people.
New Year at the common house
For many people celebrating Tet in the village for the first time, the feeling is very special. Ms. Ro Yech, a Ba Na ethnic from Gia Lai, shares about her first Tet away from home.
"This is the first year I celebrate Tet in the Village, the feeling is very different from back home. In Gia Lai, on Tet, people often gather at the communal house, drink wine together, celebrate the new year and then 'kho' (sleep). Here, although the atmosphere is not exactly the same, there is still a communal house and common living areas, so I feel familiar," she said.
For those who have been here longer, Tet at the Village is an opportunity to exchange and experience diverse cultures.
Ms. Lo Thi Chung, a Kho Mu ethnic person from Son La, expressed her joy at participating in Tet activities: "I have lived here for a year, and last year I also celebrated Tet at the Village. Activities such as wrapping Chung cakes and setting up the pole are very fun because the whole village does it together. Living together and celebrating Tet with different ethnic groups is a valuable experience. Although the festival is different from in the countryside, it is still very meaningful," Ms. Chung confided.
Homesickness and Joy of Reunion
Mrs. Lo Thi Vung, a Laotian from Son La, although homesick, still felt warm when celebrating Tet at the Village. She felt happy that the Village cared about and authentically recreated the customs and festivals of the Lao people.
Sharing about the difference between Tet in the countryside and here, Ms. Vung said: "Tet in my hometown has many festivals, such as Xen Ban and Xen Muong festivals in March, Tet Te Nuoc in May, Tet Khau Ho in September...".
She is happy that the Lao New Year customs are known to more tourists and people of other ethnic groups at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
Ms. Chu Thi Minh, a Nung ethnic from Thai Nguyen, after three years of living in the Village, has felt the value of cultural exchange.
"At home, Tet is usually busy with family work, not as lively as here. Celebrating Tet in the Village, I get to live in the atmosphere of many ethnic groups, each with their own way of celebrating Tet. Each person wraps banh chung in a different way, but everyone is happy to learn from each other," Ms. Minh shared.
Not only an occasion to unite the community, Tet at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is also a place where people can feel the spirit of solidarity, the exchange of cultures, and above all, sharing.
Through activities at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, the Management Board hopes to not only preserve the beauty of traditional culture but also arouse the spirit of humanity, wishing for a new year of favorable weather, national peace and prosperity.
Tet at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is a testament to the solidarity of the ethnic community, where every custom and every smile blends together to create a warm and meaningful Tet.
