Vibrant activities to celebrate Tet by OV communities

The Dong Xuan Market in Berlin, Germany, is alive with activity as the Vietnamese community prepares for the Tet celebration. Despite the holiday falling on a weekday, many Vietnamese living in Berlin take time off work to visit the market, where they can purchase traditional Tet items like “banh chung” (square sticky rice cake).

For those eager to make their own Tet specialties, ingredients like “dong” leaves and sticky rice are also readily available. The market offers an opportunity for the Vietnamese diaspora to reconnect with their cultural roots and share the festive spirit with their families, easing the homesickness that often accompanies life abroad.

In addition to the bustling market, Vietnamese traditions are further celebrated at the Pho Da Pagoda in Berlin, where a community gathering is held to prepare bánh chưng as part of a charitable event.

Similarly, in Russia, where many Vietnamese live thousands of kilometers from home, the Liublino Market in Moscow offers everything needed for a complete Tet celebration. From banh chung to fresh flowers, the market provides items to help Vietnamese families celebrate the holiday and pass on traditions to younger generations.

For young Vietnamese like Nguyen Hoang Anh Dung, this marks a special moment of connection to their heritage, as they make banh chung with their families. The celebration extends beyond the Vietnamese community, with local Russian friends learning about the cultural significance of Tet and participating in the festivities.

On January 26, the Vietnamese community and Women's Associations in Leipzig held a Tet celebration. Ambassador Vu Quang Minh praised the community’s contributions to Leipzig’s political, cultural, and economic life, and announced plans for future collaborations between the city and Vietnam.

Sebastian Kratsch, head of Business Services in Leipzig, highlighted the growing Vietnamese presence in the city, with over 4,300 Vietnamese residents, contributing significantly to local development.

In Cottbus, the Vietnamese community also celebrated Tet, with Chargé d’Affaires Chu Tuan Duc expressing his gratitude for the city’s support of integration efforts. He noted the community’s spirit of charity, exemplified by their fundraising for victims of Typhoon Yagi in 2024. Freising also saw a warm Tet celebration with over 300 attendees, where Consul General Lu Xuan Dong praised the community’s cultural initiatives and emphasised the importance of teaching Vietnamese to younger generations.

On the occasion of Tet, Viettel Cambodia (Metfone), a subsidiary of Viettel, hosted a traditional banh chung making event in Phnom Penh on January 27. This event aimed to bring the Tet atmosphere to Vietnamese expatriates working in Cambodia while promoting solidarity and preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions.

By the end of the event, more than 300 banh chung and banh tet were made and distributed to Metfone’s offices and branches across Cambodia as Tet gifts.

Metfone’s CEO, Cao Manh Duc, emphasised that such activities help preserve Vietnam’s cultural heritage and foster a sense of unity within the company. He expressed his hope that despite being far from home, Vietnamese expatriates could still feel the warmth of Tet. The event also helped strengthen cultural exchange between Vietnamese and Cambodian communities, enhancing the friendship between the two nations, he added.

Mey Ling, a Cambodian employee, expressed her joy in participating, noting similarities between Vietnamese and Cambodian Tet traditions, such as making banh tet during Cambodia's Chol Chhnam Thmey festival. Many other Vietnamese organisations in Cambodia are also holding similar Tet celebrations to spread the festive spirit.

Also on January 27, the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania held the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) celebration, bringing together the Vietnamese community, expatriates, and embassy staff in Tanzania and other East African countries. The event highlighted Tet as a time for family reunion and the celebration of cultural values.

Ambassador Vu Thanh Huyen outlined Vietnam's impressive achievements in 2024, including a 7% GDP growth and significant foreign policy successes that enhanced the country's global position. She underlined that the Vietnamese Government commits to supporting overseas citizens, particularly in Tanzania.

The ambassador praised the community’s contributions and the charitable efforts of companies like Halotel-Tanzania and Lumitel-Burundi, which have strengthened ties with the local population. Additionally, she thanked the community for donations to victims of Typhoon Yagi and expressed her gratitude to Honourary Consul of Vietnam to Uganda King Ceasor for his collaboration with the embassy.

In 2025, Vietnam will celebrate key milestones, including the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of reunification. Ambassador Huyen called for continued cooperation from the community.