The southern atmosphere of Tet holiday

When the peach branches in the North show their red color announcing the arrival of Spring, the yellow apricot petals blooming in the warm sun also show that Tet has returned to the Southern land. Southern people celebrate Tet with many customs and habits imbued with regional culture.

Whenever Tet comes, people in the South (including the southern central provinces, Ho Chi Minh City, and the eastern and southwestern provinces) no matter what job they do, wherever they are that always look forward to returning home for a family reunion. Yellow apricot flowers - an indispensable thing - the messenger of spring in the South - a fairy of luck and prosperity in the new year. The apricot flower petals  begin to show off their bright colors, the air is fresh, the street is filled with spring colors, and everyone is having excitement, an indescribable feeling, the feeling of waiting for the arrival of the new year.

Tet is one of the biggest events of the year, Tet brings a feeling of peace after months of working hard.

Tet is an opportunity for everyone to gather, reunite, take care of their beloved people, meet friends, colleagues, soulmates, etc. Tet brings joy and excitement to people, things, and festivals, relieving the stress to find luck, the best upcoming things.

Vietnamese people are living to the fullest to welcome the bustling atmosphere, highlighting the word "Tet" in a beautiful and vibrant way. Then everyone took care of their family like cleaning the house, sweeping the cobwebs, playing with children, and cooking their own favorite delicious dishes. The simple happiness but they love it.

It is wonderful to enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the streets and houses on the days before Tet, local inhabitants are busy preparing for the important festival, people joyfully welcome Tet at Ong Do Street, and the flower market fills the street. In the old days, every time Tet came, all family members have gathered to pack Banh Tet (round glutinous rice cake), made traditional jam dishes such as crispy coconut rolls, sponge cakes, coconut jam, caramelized pork and eggs, Vietnamese pork stuffed bitter melon soup, etc. to get ready for a New Year with joy and good fortune. Nowadays, people mostly stay away from home for busy works so they don't have much free time to make jams anymore, instead, they choose available jams at supermarkets, commercial centers, and order online.

In the old days, houses hung firecrackers in front of the gate to set off on the 30th night (Lunar Calendar), the crackling sound of firecrackers echoed throughout the village, children rushed to collect unexploded firecrackers to continue burning. Today, instead, fireworks are organized in large venues, the crowded streets are filled with cars and people. On New Year's Eve, the family expects and welcomes the sacred moment between the old year and the new year, the most joyful and happy feeling of the year, surrounded by their beloved family.

On the first day of Tet, the whole family gathers to eat a close-knit meal and hands the red envelopes over to parents and wishes them all the best in life. In the old days, people usually went to relatives' and friends' houses to make Tet wishes, eat and talk together, then welcome the first relatives to visit the house, laughing and talking. These days, people only send wishes online with some bustling greeting cards and beautiful Tet music.

Tet is simply a moment of family gatherings, an occasion for Vietnamese to look back at their life for the past year, to appreciate themselves, and to be grateful to those who have boned with or even just passed by, but at least made us what we are today. Tet is also the beginning of the new and best thing, a reminder for us to return to family and hometown after busy days at work.

MSc. Chau Tan Phat
Lecturer of the Faculty of Applied Technology