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A Romanian’s Heartwarming Affection for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year

by Brian Jeffrey 3 months ago 47.5k Views

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From Student to Family Man: Valentin’s Tet Experience

Valentin moved to Vietnam at 19 for his studies and made it his home, getting married and establishing a life there. Now at 39, he cherishes Tet as a significant family event.

This year was special as he wrapped his first banh chung (Vietnamese square sticky rice cake), a traditional Tet food, reflecting on the challenge of making it perfectly.

Feeling accomplished, he remarked, “Crafting a nice banh chung is tougher than I imagined.”

Valentin also embraced the Tet spirit by choosing a peach blossom branch to adorn his home after visiting the Tet market.

In his pre-marriage days, Tet involved celebrating with friends and enjoying the festivities together. However, since his wedding, he has celebrated each Tet with his wife’s family.

Initially, he lived with his in-laws in Dong Da District, Hanoi for two years. After relocating to Ho Chi Minh City, they still made it a point to return to Hanoi for Tet when possible.

“I’ve never traveled during Tet. For me, the holiday centers around family. While many choose to vacation, I prefer to stay home,” he expressed.

This year, though they were journeying across the country, they ensured they arrived in Hanoi just in time for the celebrations.

As part of Tet preparations, Valentin participated in house cleaning and meal prep. On New Year’s Eve, the family shared light snacks, enjoyed some wine, watched the Tet TV show Táo Quân, and caught up with each other late into the night. Following that, they visited pagodas and exchanged New Year’s wishes with relatives.

“These are the treasured moments I look forward to each Tet,” he shared.

His favorite aspect of Tet is the food. “I enjoy almost all of it, especially fried banh chung. The only dish that doesn’t appeal to me much is thit kho tau (braised pork with eggs) as it’s too sweet for my taste.”

While he doesn’t feel adept enough to cook an entire Tet feast on his own, he loves assisting in the kitchen. Knowing how much effort goes into holiday preparations, he actively helps his wife and mother-in-law.

When asked about any dislikes regarding Tet, Valentin laughed, admitting, “I’m not fond of the extensive house cleaning. Tet cleaning is an entirely different experience, requiring meticulous attention than regular cleaning.”

Despite this, he appreciates that modern conveniences have eased the burden of Tet preparations.

“Now, we can hire cleaning services or purchase ready-made meals instead of cooking for extended periods. As long as the family comes together with joy and laughter, Tet remains significant. Using such services doesn’t detract from the holiday spirit,” he noted.

If he could change one thing about Tet, it would be the habit of excessive food preparation. “Every year, people make or buy too much, leading to waste after Tet. It would be better to cook just enough,” he suggested.