How do the first-generation Vietnamese children born abroad celebrate Tet? Will Tet’s traditions fade in the hearts of those who are living away from their home-country?
As Vietnamese Americans, we always think Tet holds a special meaning, regardless of whether we are living in our homeland or living and working in a foreign country. Although I grew up in Vietnam and only moved to American recently, my heart already yearns for my home country especially during Tet. I always want to know the feeling that the children of the first generation (First Generation – whose parents are Vietnamese but born and raised abroad) thought of Tet and what does Tet mean to them?
To answer that question, I decided to interview a couple of Vietnamese American youths who I know from the Vietnamese community. To protect their privacy, I have changed their names to Sophia, Kim and Tim . Sophia and Kim were born and raised in the United States, while Tim immigrated to America at the age of 4 with his family. All three grew up in a multi-ethnic country and have friends who live in a small Vietnamese community.
So, what does Tet mean to them?
How do your parents explain Tet?
Kim: Tet is the time when all family members gather together, eat and drink, and look back on the past year. Living in a community with very few Vietnamese in America, we cannot celebrate Tet with many fellow countrymen. However, we still have family by our side, and our parents always emphasize that not only is it the new year, but it is also an opportunity to visit families in Vietnam. My parents immigrated to the US 20 years ago, along with my father’s siblings.
Sophia: When I was little, my parents said Tet was the Vietnamese version of the new year and new beginning. Therefore, for me, Tet is the occasion to celebrate the second new year, next to January 1.
Tim: Vietnamese New Year.
How does your family celebrate Tet?
Kim: My family will call my great-grandparents in Can Tho. The family will pass each other the phone and tell the grandparents what the whole family has been up to. After that, we will wish our grandparents health and prosperity. My brother and I will wish my parents the same and they give us red red packets. Next we will go to meet relatives and wish the new year for you. Eventually the whole family will eat pho and a few other dishes.
Sophia: My mother will go out into the yard and cut a tree branch, then I will decorate that branch with the apricot flowers that the whole family bought in Vietnam. Every year our family has a tray of fruits of all kinds, but we never lack the following fruits: custard apple, coconut, papaya, watermelon and mango because mother said these 5 fruits represent the saying of “We don’t a lot of blessing and prosperity, we only need enough to be content”
Besides the fruit and apricot flowers, my mother also cooked a large pot of meat. Mom always uses coconut water to cook, before I didn’t understand why, but later I realized it was because there were a lot of fresh coconuts in Vietnam. In addition, my father normally does not allow me to buy banh Tet because I have a very funny habit of eating only the sticky rice, leaving the filling. But if it’s Tet, we have the right to buy as many banh chung and banh Tet as well.
And of course, the most wonderful thing about Tet is that children get li xi (red envelope with money inside). I’ve always liked cute designs on red envelopes, and lucky money (laughs). Tet is also an opportunity for the whole family to play games like tiger fish gourd, bingo, seahorses, and card games. I like to play seahorse the most, and I always choose the red horse.
Tim: Because most of our relatives live in Vietnam, our family in America does not usually celebrate Tet. But the whole family will still call “home” to ask the aunts and uncles about how everyone is preparing for Tet. And we will celebrate the new year and the health of the whole family.
Speaking of Tet, what do you miss the most?
Kim: Tet is one of my favorite holidays of the year. For me, New Year is the new year. It is an opportunity for me to practice small traditions with my family. The greetings before the lucky money and the red envelopes are very important to me, because it is a traditional custom that the Vietnamese and the young Viet Kieu (Vietnamese American Youths) share. Plus, I really like banh tet and banh chung “vietnamese new year rice cakes”, and this is the only time of the year when I eat it, because I want to keep this cake as a special memory.
I had the opportunity to experience “Tet in Seattle” This is where they learn and maintain traditional Vietnamese culture and customs. New Year in Seattle was held in a large hall with a lot of food. Everyone – regardless of old and young – danced and sang together. It was one of the first times I had Tet with my college friends and strangers. It was very fun, and I really enjoyed the dance and the festive atmosphere.
Sophia: For me, Tet is always fun. I always wear ao dai (one of our traditional vietnamese clothes) on Tet holiday. When I have the opportunity to return to Vietnam, I would have more ao dai tailored (although I have quite a lot in my closet). Normally, I rarely care what I wear, but wearing ao dai is different, it is full of pride and I want to show that representation of Vietnamese culture.
However, I am very afraid of Ong Dia when I watch the lion dance. Another memory is when I was a kid, I always bowed to the elders and they would give me lucky money. And up to now, bowing to adults has become a routine of mine, not just during Tet. I think Tet is affecting my life more than I thought.
Tim: Tet reminds me of the red envelopes, generosity and good wishes that adults give to my children and grandchildren. Every year when I was a child I got lucky money, but now it’s over. I grew up with little contact with the Vietnamese community. In 9th grade, I learned about the Lunar New Year event and it left a deep impression on me. Since then, Tet has taken on a very different meaning to me.
Do you prefer American New Year or Tet?
Kim: Of course Tet. It has many cultural elements and has a profound impact on me more.
Sophia: I have a little more favor for Tet because it evokes a lot of emotions and nostalgia.
Tim: I choose Tet.
How do you personally want to celebrate Tet? And where are the traditional traits you will keep and pass on to the next generation?
Kim: I really cherish the moment family members welcome the New Year together. I want to pass on to the next generation traditional dishes and also give each other red packets. Most importantly, during Tet, I often call my relatives in Vietnam too.
Sophia: I just like to have Tet with my dearest people. When I was a kid, I tended to enjoy Tet by going to festivals and performing there. But now that I get older, I just want to cherish every moment with my family. In the future, I will pass on to the children all the traditional elements that my parents taught me. In addition, I also hope to be able to enjoy Tet in Vietnam with my children because up to now, I haven’t had that chance yet.
Tim: I am currently learning to cook. I hope I can make all the Vietnamese dishes that my mother usually makes in the near future. In the future, I hope that I can share those delicacies with my best friends, while enjoying the New Year atmosphere together. If we have children, of course I will pass on to them the custom of red red packets. Besides, since young adults like us rarely have the opportunity to be exposed to traditional elements, it is possible that the way to celebrate Tet in our family will be a little different in the future. But no matter what, I will still preserve the core value of Tet, which is to care and support the next generations.
Have you ever had Tet in Vietnam? If so, how did you feel at that time?
Kim: Never, but if someone ‘sponsors’ plane tickets, I won’t hesitate at all (laugh).
Sophia: I never did. But I really longed to have Tet at home once. Because I’ve heard that nothing can compare with Tet in Vietnam.
Tim: I used to enjoy Tet in Vietnam. My most recent Tet experience in Vietnam was in 2019. The atmosphere at that time left me with many emotions. Perhaps it stems from settling with his family in the US since the age of 4. So since I was a child, I never had the opportunity to enjoy the true Tet atmosphere. One of the most memorable moments was when I helped my relatives pack banh chung, went to church at 5 a.m. for three days in a row, and had a party with my nearly 100-year-old great-grandfather. Although the ‘Tet festival’ process consumes a lot of energy, it is still a cherished memory that I will remember forever.
I hope you all enjoy this article whether you are Vietnamese or not. I hope that you are able to have little more understanding of what Vietnamese New Year “Tet” is like especially for those living abroad. Happy Lunar New Year! Chuc Mung Nam Moi!