 Dam village households are wrapping the chung cakes. Photo: nhandan.vn
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Tet in the village
Residents in Dam village, Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province, are busy making delicious Chung cakes for holiday sales. Dam villagers make Chung cakes to order all year round, but things get busier as Tet approaches, and the scent of smoke fills the air as Chung cake pots are boiling over open fires.
“So much fun! Every house, every person is hectic, wrapping and cooking Chung cakes. Tet is fun, of-course.”
“This Tet we can’t keep up with the orders. The demand for chung cakes is very high.”
“As Tet nears, the village roads become crowded with traders coming to get Chung cakes for sale and people transporting leaves and other supplies. It's so crowded day and night.”
 Dam village's chung cake is all wrapped by hand, the cakes are square and neat.
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Chung cakes made in Dam village are famous for their delicious taste. For a long time the villagers have preserved their tradition of wrapping the cakes by hand, without using a mold, and carefully selecting sticky rice, plump green beans, good quality pork belly, and “Dong” leaves, which should be not too old or too young. Their secret is using rainwater to boil the cakes for 12 hours.
Villager Pham Van Luan said, “Every household in my village has a tank of rainwater which is used just to boil Chung cakes. Rainwater makes the cakes softer, tastier, and last longer.”
The Dam villagers say that as long as Vietnamese people want to eat Chung cakes during Tet, they will keep making them. What they are preserving is not just a dish, but the soul of Vietnam. Chung cakes are Tet.
A local named Bui Minh Tuan said, "Chung cakes symbolize love and care in each family and the Earth. They’re made of rice, beans, and meat, which represent abundance. That has been a Vietnamese tradition since ancient times. Today Chung cakes still represent the wish for a prosperous life.”
New Year in the flood-prone area
 A new house is handed over to people in Huoi Ke resettlement area, Linh village, Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district. Photo: Vu Loi/VOV
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Solidarity and love have always been a tradition of the Vietnamese people, not only within each family but also throughout the broader community. This Lunar New Year, people in disaster-stricken, flood-prone areas are welcoming the Spring with warmth and care from millions of others. More importantly, they are confidently rebuilding their lives, striving for a peaceful, happy, and more resilient life in the face of natural disasters.
On the last day of the old year, the resettlement area of Huoi Ke, Linh village, Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien province, was filled with joy as the community gathered in their new, solid, spacious homes to celebrate an early New Year.
 The new houses in the Muong Pon flood area are a clear demonstration of solidarity, mutual support and love among ethnic groups. Photo: Vu Loi/VOV
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Spring has arrived in the post-flood resettlement villages. Following the devastating flash floods in July, many areas have taken on a new appearance. The 35 new homes are not just shelters. They’re places where people come together to embrace a new year filled with peace and abundance.
"Everyone is excited and deeply grateful for the support from the Party and the State. We will plant flowers in front of our new houses to make the village more beautiful."
"This New Year my children and I are living in a new home. The dream we've had for so many years has finally come true. We are so grateful to the State."
"Since the storms, the community has received a great deal of support. As the new Spring arrives, we hope to quickly rebuild our lives and step into the new year with confidence."
In the resettlement area of Lang Nu village, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month the atmosphere was lively from early morning.
A month ago, Mr. Son’s family was one of the households in Lang Nu village to receive a new home in the resettlement area, not far from their old home, which was completely destroyed in the historic flood three months ago.
"I never thought I would build such a beautiful house. These past few days, my wife and I have been busy preparing meals to invite our neighbors and friends to celebrate with us."
Mrs. Thuy, Mr. Son’s wife, still couldn't quite believe it, as everything had come so quickly, like a dream. Opening the door to their new home, the family felt as though a new future was unfolding before them
"We stayed up all night, so excited we couldn’t sleep. At 4 in the morning we were already hanging curtains, cleaning, and preparing chickens and ducks for the meal," Thuy said.
Having gone through hardships, those who remain are striving to stay strong and stabilize their lives. The new Spring has arrived filled with hope for the future and a reminder of human kindness as they work together to build a model happy village.
Tet away from home – overseas Vietnamese reconnect with their homeland
 Vietnamese-Thais sing together about their homeland Vietnam at the Spring Homeland program celebrating the Year of the Snake 2025 held in Bangkok. Photo: nhandan.vn
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During the Lunar New Year, overseas Vietnamese, despite being busy with work and life abroad, remain committed to preserving and promoting Vietnam's New Year traditions. They remember their roots, expressing hopes for the progress and development of their homeland.
Tran Thi Hong May, who has been living in Morocco for over 50 years, always cherishes every moment when she returned to Vietnam to celebrate Tet. Her memories come alive when she tells her children and grandchildren about Tet in Vietnam. For Mrs. May, celebrating Tết in a distant country with a different culture makes her feel even more homesick.
“Every year after the solar New Year, I start thinking of the traditional Lunar New Year. I look at pictures of Vietnam in my album and tell my grandchildren about Vietnam so they will not forget their roots.
Nguyen Van Hoa, who was born and grew up in Thailand, is living with his family in Pathum Thani province. Every year he starts preparing for Tet after the worship of the Kitchen God, just one week away from the Lunar New Year.
“The worship of the Kitchen God takes place on the 23rd day of the last lunar month. We teach our children to observe this ritual, preparing everything according to Vietnamese customs, including food, offerings, and votive paper, to ensure the ritual is performed properly.”
Tet, for many Thai expatriates, is a time for family reunion and community gathering. Truong Thi Be, Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in Phuket, traveled nearly 900 km from Phuket province in southern Thailand to Bangkok to attend the Homeland Spring program.
“We are so happy to meet many other overseas Vietnamese across Thailand to join this happy Tet celebration.”
 Luong Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Thai of Vietnamese origin Association in Udon Thani province. Photo: nhandan.vn
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Luong Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Thai of Vietnamese origin Association in Udon Thani province, told VOV, “This year’s Spring Homeland program is held in Bangkok. Overseas Vietnamese from 26 provinces and cities across Thailand come here to have fun together. It's been a long time since we've such a joyful event.”
 Nguyen Ngoc Thin, President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Thailand. Photo: nhandan.vn
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Nguyen Ngoc Thin, President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Thailand, said Tet is an occasion for family reunions and a moment of reflection, as they turn their thoughts toward their homeland.
“Although thousands of miles away, Tet remains a sacred time for every Vietnamese to honor their patriotism and compatriotship. It serves as a reminder that the homeland is an unwavering source of support.”
 Dance performance by the Vietnamese community at the “Vietnamese Spring Festival” program at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Photo: Organizing Committee
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The cozy and familiar atmosphere of the Homeland Spring program helps overcome homesickness. Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long of the Australian National University said that he always looks forward to joining Tet celebrations abroad with the hope of preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions.
“Tet is also an occasion for us to come together as a large family of Vietnamese in Australia. Like an extended family, we have members from multiple generations, each with their own responsibilities and social obligations, yet we all share one thing in common – a deep pride in our heritage and culture.”
The Tet gathering is an occasion for overseas Vietnamese to share their wishes and plans for contributing to their homeland, especially as Vietnam is undergoing rapid transformation with science and technology driving strategic breakthroughs.
“During get-togethers, we discussed the recent changes in our country. We all agreed that Vietnam has made remarkable progress. Personally, I strive to enhance exchanges and cooperation with colleagues in Vietnam. I am also committed to building a strong overseas Vietnamese community that will make significant contributions to the homeland.”
“Vietnam has made huge leap forward in infrastructure or socio-economic development. Although we may not have contributed much to our homeland yet, in our hearts and minds, we always long to return and offer our strength and knowledge to support its growth.”