Traditional Tet from the perspective of young Vietnamese people

Tet represents the longest holiday of the year and a time for families to reunite after a year full of hardships and worries. Those who live far away eagerly anticipate Tet as they gather together to enjoy the warmth of family company. For those who are far from home, Tet is the moment in which to return to where they were born and raised, to reconnect with childhood memories, and to be with grandparents and parents.

Today’s youth each have their own concept and way of celebrating the festive period. Many harmoniously combine traditional elements with modern ones. They always seek and discover the unique, contemporary aspects that make the traditional festival more joyful, complete, and meaningful. But no matter how they celebrate, they all look back to their roots and cherish the beautiful traditions which have been passed down from generations.

Like many other young people, Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh, a student at Dai Nam University (originally from Tien Du in Bac Ninh), always values and eagerly awaits the moment when she can return home and celebrate Tet with her family.

Phuong Anh shared that when she was a child, she and her sister used to be very excited and eager for Tet to come as it meant receiving lucky money and going out with their parents to visit relatives. Her memories often include the green square cakes (Banh Chung), new clothes, peach blossoms, and sweets. The image of her grandmother and mother diligently wrapping square cakes outside in the yard is a beautiful and familiar scene, signaling that Tet has arrived at their doorstep.

“Tet is a time full of emotions, bringing me back to the nostalgic days of childhood. It’s when I went shopping with my mother for Tet at the local market, on the 30th night of Tet, waiting with my parents by the cake pot, eagerly tasting the first piece of cake of the new year, excited to try on the new clothes my mother bought for me,” Phuong Anh said.

She added that for many years, the way her family celebrates Tet has remained unchanged. On the 29th and 30th of Tet, she and her younger brother clean the house, even moving furniture outside for scrubbing and washing. On the morning of the first day of Tet, she wakes up early and then cooks the first meal of the year with her mother to offer to their ancestors. Then, the whole family goes to wish relatives a happy new year before visiting pagodas to pray for a lucky and peaceful new year.

“The thing I love most during Tet is when the whole family gathers together, enjoying the first meal of the new year and listening to the vibrant spring songs; the spring music and traditional dishes make me feel full of happiness and stir up indescribable emotions. I just wish time could pass more slowly so I could be with my parents longer and enjoy more of the flavors of Tet from my hometown,” she shared.

Being from the land of Kinh Bac, Phuong Anh does not distinguish between traditional Tet and modern Tet, because for her, every Tet is the same. Tet is a time for family members to gather and be together. Although the concept of Tet and the way it is celebrated has changed over time, the cultural practices and traditions of the Tet holiday remain. Returning home for the festive period and being with the family during the holiday is still how Phuong Anh chooses to celebrate.

For Tran Tien Duc, a third-year student of International Law at the Foreign Trade University of Vietnam, Tet is the longest break of the year for him to return home and reunite with his family.

In Duc’s memory, Tet is a beautiful time when the village is filled with the colours of spring flowers. In his childhood, the holiday was personified with the fragrant smell of square cakes by the fire, the bright red of the couplets, and the cheerful laughter of the whole family around the spring feast. It was also the excitement of receiving lucky money, wearing new clothes, and running around the neighbourhood. Everything was simple but incredibly warm.

“Now, as I’ve grown and have to study away from home, I am even more eager and excited for Tet than ever before. Because Tet is not just a time to rest after a busy year, but also a time to return to the family, to reconnect with childhood memories that modern life sometimes makes us forget, and to feel the warmth that only home can provide,” Tien Duc shared.

To prepare for Tet, Duc always tries to help his parents with chores like cleaning the house, washing furniture, and organizing things neatly to welcome in the new year. During the holiday, he goes with his parents to visit grandparents and relatives, wishing them well for the new year and experiencing the warmth of family reunions.

“The Tet holiday always brings me a lot of emotions. The songs about spring play everywhere, filling my heart with joy. It feels like a new beginning with many hopes. Additionally, traditional Tet foods like square cakes, pickled onions, and Tet candies always evoke feelings of familiarity and love. Each flavor carries the love of the family and ties me to the memories of my childhood and hometown. The combination of music, food, and family affection makes Tet special in my heart,” Tien Duc expressed.

He noted that the traditional Tet holiday is a time in which to return to our roots, whilst also honouring our family and national cultural values. It is a time to be with loved ones, remember ancestors through offerings and long-standing customs such as making square cakes, decorating the house, and visiting grandparents and relatives. Traditional Tet brings a sense of peace, warmth, and connection.

Modern Tet, although it still retains traditional elements, is heavily influenced by the fast-paced lifestyle and the development of society. Today, people can enjoy a long holiday with activities like travel, shopping, or personal relaxation. However, despite facing these changes, modern Tet should not forget the core values of traditional Tet, as these represent the foundation which helps us to understand and preserve our national cultural identity.

According to Tien Duc, today’s Tet still retains many traditional features, but the busy lifestyle and modern consumer trends have made preparations for the holiday quicker. People can easily shop, travel, or make use of technology to send greetings instead of meeting in person. However, Tien Duc’s family still preserves the traditional way of celebrating, from preparing offerings for ancestors, making square cakes, to gathering together, wishing relatives a happy new year, and visiting extended family. Although there have been changes, family values and affection remain the most important aspect of every Tet celebration.

“I think the concept of Tet for each person has changed, especially among young people, as they seek new experiences and want to break away from the familiar atmosphere of traditional Tet celebrations. Traveling during Tet can bring a sense of freedom, relaxation, and exploration, helping people escape the busyness and stress of work, and providing motivation for them to work better in the new year,” Tien Duc said.

Unlike Phuong Anh and Tien Duc, 25-year Thu Hong from Hanoi has a different view of the festive period. She believes that Tet is a long break, a time for her to live for herself. During this holiday, she can freely rest, travel with friends and family, or enjoy the holiday in her own way. However, she does not forget the traditional customs and familiar flavours of the traditional Tet holiday with square cakes, lucky money, peach branches, and kumquat trees. She always knows how to balance a modern and traditional Tet.

For many years, she has traveled during Tet holidays. She spends four to five days traveling and returns home on the second or third day of Tet to visit her family and wish relatives a happy new year. For those who are far away, she often sends Tet greetings via phone, Facebook, or Zalo.

The traditional Tet of the Vietnamese people, despite undergoing changes over time, remains a time for people to return to their roots, connect with family and friends, and welcome in a new year filled with peace and happiness.

Psychologists say that the way young people celebrate Tet today clearly has its own distinct characteristics, specifically as it is modern and lighter, but still manages to preserve the traditional values of Tet.

According to Dr. Nguyen Phuong Linh, director of the Institute for Sustainable Development Management Research, it is not necessary to emphasize whether Tet is old-fashioned or modern because the most important thing is to maintain the core values of the period. Indeed, it is a time for families to reunite, remember ancestors, show their love, and welcome in a new beginning. No matter how advanced life and technology may become, we should adapt flexibly such as taking advantage of conveniences like social media and online shopping, while cherishing traditional customs like celebrating the Lunar New Year, eating square cakes, giving lucky money, and visiting relatives.

“Tet is also a time for family reunions. Even though everyone is busy or tired with traveling or organizing parties, the connection with family is very important. The key is sharing and willingly spending time with one another, because Tet is not just holidays, but an opportunity for us to reconnect with family and friends. Tet is not only for grandparents and parents, but also for children. Let’s not allow generational gaps to create distances during Tet,” Dr. Linh shared.

According to Dr. Linh, amid digitalization and modernization, each person will have a different opinion about Tet. Some may want to keep old traditions, while others are open to embracing new changes. To harmonise “integration without losing identity”, we first need to appreciate and understand the beauty of the culture such as family affection, gratitude, and hope for the new year. By doing this, we can still blend into the busy pace of life without losing the “soul of Tet” that has been nurtured through many generations.