The whole neighborhood wraps banh chung and celebrates Tet.
In District 7, on the eve of Tet, Ms. Doan Thi Kim Cuc (Ward 14, Tan Thuan Tay Ward) was busy preparing ingredients to wrap 30 Chung cakes and Tet cakes with the people in the neighborhood. Alley 70 Tan My Street became bustling with stalls decorated with spring colors.
“Every year, when each family celebrates Tet, I go to the market to buy cakes. This year, the neighbors discussed making cakes together. Although it was a bit hard, it was fun and full of Tet flavor,” Mrs. Cuc happily said, adding that her daughter and son-in-law also joined her.
In the early evening, the sound of laughter and chatter resounded as people gathered firewood and watched over the pots of banh chung and banh tet. Mr. Nguyen Trung Hau (Tan Thuan Tay ward), who was assigned to cook the cakes, shared: "It is expected to take 8 hours to cook, so it will be finished around midnight. We will take turns watching. It has been a long time since Tet has been this bustling."
Ms. Tran Viet Anh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tan Thuan Tay Ward, said that the Banh Chung and Banh Tet wrapping contest is one of the activities of the festival. The ward also organized a general cleaning, mobilized people to hang national flags, decorated alleys, boat races, chess competitions, tug of war, a zero-dong market and supported 500 gifts for poor and disadvantaged households.
“Nearly 250 households participated in the festival. This year, the festival brought a warm and meaningful Tet to the people,” Ms. Viet Anh affirmed.
Tet is more fulfilling for those in difficult circumstances
In District 1, Ward 14, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward also organized the “Spring of Solidarity - Tet of Love” festival at an apartment building on Cong Quynh Street. People experienced free haircuts, calligraphy, shopping at the zero-dong booth and together wrapped Chung cakes to give to poor and disadvantaged households.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tinh (76 years old, Ward 14) expressed his impression of this year's Tet atmosphere: "Everyone responded to the festival, sat together to chat, and wrapped cakes, making me feel that this year's spring is very warm and affectionate."
Ms. Luu Thi Hanh (63 years old, Ward 14), emotionally shared: “In the past, I lived by working as a handyman, but due to a stroke, I can no longer work. Now I am very happy to participate in the festival, and I also have more gifts to celebrate Tet more fully and completely.”
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tan, Secretary of the Party Cell of Ward 14, said that this year the ward organized a festival with the participation of many residents, in addition to decorating the street corner like every year. The ward also gave 28 gifts to poor and disadvantaged households and wrapped 100 banh chung to give to the people. "We are very happy to help people have more gifts and a warmer Tet," said Mr. Tan.
2025 is the first year that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has directed wards, communes and towns to select a residential area to organize the "Spring of Solidarity - Tet of Love" festival with activities suitable for each locality. The whole city has 273 neighborhoods and hamlets organizing the festival. The main contents include decorating street corners, wrapping Chung cakes, Tet cakes, decorating apricot and peach branches, displaying five-fruit trays, making Tet jam, spring flower festivals and entertainment, cultural and artistic activities.
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, hopes that the festival will help the community unite, bond, love, share, encourage and support each other more, creating a good starting point for the new year.
