During Tet, expatriates get into the holiday spirit too

From his narrow storefront on Xuan Dieu street in Hanoi, Marco Sarli, the owner of Oasis Deli, has been busy arranging goods and processing orders for his customers.

The Oasis Western grocery is well known to most of the expats who call Hanoi home. Sarli is proud that Oasis offers Hanoi’s largest selection of fresh cheese, cold cuts, imported and local groceries, sandwiches, daily special homemade pasta, ravioli, lasagna, sauces, freshly baked bread, and other gourmet items that appeal to the eclectic international tastes expats bring with them.

Having lived in Vietnam for more than 15 years, Sarli has always stayed in the country for Tet with his Vietnamese wife. He likes the quiet atmosphere during Tet, the couple days without noise and traffic.

Tet time is always good for business at Oasis Deli, when households need many things to prepare for the long holiday ahead.

“Our location at 24 Xuan Dieu will be open according to our normal trading hours. The other locations will close for the two New Year days,” Sarli told VIR.

“We are also selling quite a few Tet baskets, which we put together upon request. The customer tells us what they would like to have in the baskets and we prepare them.”

Tet is also a special occasion for hotel managers. Vincent Gernigon, executive assistant manager at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, has been in Vietnam for four years. He has had the pleasure to experience Tet indirectly, staying on duty so his Vietnamese colleagues are able to celebrate with their families.

“I have therefore had the pleasure to observe it in Hanoi and at the hotel. Large families regrouping together and enjoying a delectable meal,” Gernigon said.

Gernigon was impressed the first year he discovered the Tet culture in Vietnam. “It is a celebration shared among family, friends, and colleagues. You feel the energy of Tet coming in the streets, a special moment that you cannot explain but need to experience,” he told VIR.

Tet is one of the most important days of the year for managers and staff at the hotel. At this time of year, the hotel is beautifully decorated with Tet ornaments, lanterns, peach blossoms, and kumquat trees.

“We have also been organising our traditional Tet market for more than 10 years now to offer a unique Tet experience for locals, expats, and our in-house guests. Visitors are also welcomed to savour our authentic Tet menus at Spices Garden during these festive days,” Gernigon said.

The Tet market aims to bring an authentic and traditional Tet experience to the hotel’s in-house guests as well as residents in Hanoi.

“We have managed to incorporate the most important customs of a country market, such as dragon dance, calligraphy, banh chung making. We hope that through this market, foreign visitors will have a better understanding of Vietnamese culture and also an unforgettable experience while travelling and living overseas,” Gernigon said.

There are many foreigners who go to restaurants, bars and pubs, and hotels and recreation areas throughout the country during Tet.

And those who serve them have a good understanding of the country’s traditional customs, and have been doing their best to make the foreign community in Vietnam feel that they are at home and part of the Vietnamese community.