Tieng Viet lovers club

[Singkieu]

Originally Posted by volcano

i ever go all the way to Los Angeles to watch Paris By Night...

Which year did you go? Easy to get tickets?

[volcano]

Originally Posted by Singkieu

Which year did you go? Easy to get tickets?

i went in 2008,not sure if its easy to get bcos my friend's mother get it.

the price is $100.

[jackbl]

Learn Vietnamese with Video - What's in Your Daily Cycle of Vietnamese?

[jackbl]

Kitchen God Day - Tet Tao Quan
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Well-known for the long-lasting history and rich culture, Vietnam is the land of festivities and celebrations. December of Lunar Calendar (normally January of Gregorian Calendar) is usually the busiest month as everybody is in a rush to prepare for some biggest festivals of the whole year. Besides Tet Festival, Tet Tao Quan on the 23rd of December is considered one of the most essential festivals in Vietnamese religious beliefs.

The story behind a tradition

The tradition of celebrating Tet Tao Quan comes from a popular fairy tale about “2 men and a woman”, who later would become the trio of Deities, or “Tao Quan”.

The story began with the couple of Trong Cao- the husband, and Thi Nhi- the wife. They had got married for such a long time but had not had any children yet, which made them very upset and quarrel with each other frequently. One day, Trong Cao was so angry at his wife that he casted her out. Thi Nhi left home, and after that married Pham Lang.

As time went by, Trong Cao realized his fault, and went out to find his beloved woman. He spent every single coin on his way and unwillingly became a beggar. He met Thi Nhi by chance at her new home. Cao’s explanation touched Thi Nhi and they talked for hours about the past and their current life.

As Pham Lang came home, Thi Nhi thought it would be awkward if the two men saw each other so she told Trong Cao to hide inside the stack of straw in the backyard. Pham Lang burnt the straw into ashes for fertilizing the field, accidentally cremated Trong Cao. The story had a tragic ending when Thi Nhi decided to jump into the fire to die with Trong Cao, and Pham Lang also killed himself after witnessing the death of his wife. However, when their souls flied to the Heavens, Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) conferred them with the title of ‘Tao Quan”: Pham Lang would be Deity of Kitchen, Trong Cao would be the Deity of Land and House, and Thi Nhi would be the Deity of Market. Together, they looked after the well-being of people’ house and property. Every year, on the 23rd day of December in Lunar New Year, they would travel up to the Heavens to give the annual report as well as pray for next year’s prosperity. They would come back to Earth on the New Year’s Eve, continuing their duties for the rest of the year.

And current practices

The meaning of Tet Tao Quan is all about preparing a grand farewell for three Deities on their journey to the Heavens, and the ceremony is held at every Vietnamese household. On the 23r day of December, normally, grandmothers and mothers of the family will cook a lot of delicacies such as new harvest steamed sticky rice or plain porridge. They clean and decorate the altar with fresh flowers and fruits. On the altar also laid three votive paper caps, the yellow one in the middle for Mrs. Tao and two black ones for two Mr. Tao.

Along with these preparations, a large bowl of water with one live large golden carp or three small ones is kept aside. The carps are all alive and will be freed into a pond, lake or river after the worshipping ceremonies are finished. Tao Quan can only travel up to the Heavens with the help of golden carps, as carp is used to be the Heavens’ animal and is a very good swimmer.

Freeing the carps is also to show human’s respect and gratitude towards animal worlds, and wishing for the good fortune of the upcoming year. Nowadays, the image of Tao Quan is so familiar that they even appear in many dramatics, movies or TV shows on the occasion of Tet Festival.

[jackbl]

Essential Foods for Tet holidays
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Vietnamese people have a very good habit of saving, which are reflected by the regular meals – rice with a main dishes (meat or fish/shrimp), a vegetable food and a bowl of soup. Vietnam food is thus often jokingly labelled "food for peasants". However, this statement no longer holds water during Tet holiday, when Vietnamese let themselves taste more protein-rich and sophisticatedly made dishes. Following are the most typical food found in Vietnamese' Tet holiday:


BANH CHUNG/ BANH TET - SQUARE CAKE:

Banh Chung (steamed square cake) and its Southern variety called Banh Tet - is unique to Vietnam's Tet holiday, though many other countries (China, Japan, Korean, Singapore, Taiwan) celebrate this holiday as well. Banh Chung is a food made from glutinous rice, mung bean and pork, added with many other ingredients. Banh Chung is covered by green leaves (usually banana leaves) and symbolizes the Earth, invented by the prince Lang Lieu from Hung King dynasty. Besides traditional reason, Banh Chung is chosen as the main food for Tet holiday because of it can last long for days in the severe weather of Vietnam (Banh Chung can survive at room temperature for nearly 1 month).



VIETNAMESE SAUSAGE:

Gio Cha (Vietnamese ham/sausage) is another traditional food in Tet holiday, and usually served with Xoi (sticky rice) and Banh Chung. Gio is different from Cha since Gio is boiled and Cha is deep-fried. Vietnamese people make Gio from lean meat, added fish sauce and covered by leaves then boiled for hours. Cha is also made of lean pork and ingredients, but Cha is not wrapped by leaves and boiled but deep-fried in oil. Cha just survive for some days when Gio can last for month due to its covers. There are many kind of Gio, categorized by its origins: Gio Lua (made from pork), Gio Ga (made from chicken), Gio Bo (made from beef). All these types are used not only in Tet holidays but also over the year.


STICKY RICE - XOI:

Xoi (Sticky rice) is also a very important part of Tet holiday in Vietnam, since the meals to worship the ancestors can not missing this dish. Moreover, along with Banh Chung, xoi is the main staple foods for Tet holiday. Xoi in Tet holidays can be seen in many forms: Xoi Lac (sticky rice with peanuts), Xoi Do Xanh (sticky rice with mung bean), Xoi Gac (sticky rice with special “gac” fruit). Among these types, xoi gac is favorite the most by people because of its special red color – symbolizes the luck and new achievement for the New Year. Xoi is usually served with Gio Cha or boiled chicken in Tet meals. Sometimes it can be served with Che (sweet soup) like a dessert.


BOILED CHICKEN - THIT GA:

Thit ga (boiled or steamed chicken) plays an important role in Tet holiday cuisine because all the tribute meals to the ancestors must contain a boiled chicken, whole or chopped. Chicken meat in Tet meals are various in forms: usually chicken are boiled and sliced, but sometimes people can place the whole chicken in a plate, or nowadays some families use roasted or fired chicken to replace the original boiled ones. Chicken meat is served with Xoi (sticky rice) and Banh Chung, and become one of the most popular main dishes in Tet holidays. Boiled chicken are always go with sliced lemon leaves and salt-and-pepper sauce, as a tradition. Chicken (especially bones, legs and heads) can be used to prepare the broths for other soups.


MUT - CANDIED FRUITS

Mut Tet (Tet jam) is not a food to serve in a meal during Tet holiday, but more like a snack to welcome guests in this special period. Mut is always kept in beautiful boxes and placed at the table in the living room, and it is the main food for the owners and guests to taste when they’re talking, enjoyed over a cup of tea. Unlike Western jam, which is usually in liquid form and served with bread, "Vietnamese jam" is mainly in dry form, usually dried fruits and some kind of seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds). This once-in-year mix of snack is very large in variety, with so many tastes: ginger, carrot, coconut, pineapple, pumpkin, lotus seed, star fruit, sweet potato. Nowadays, cake and sweet are slowly replacing jam in Tet period, but many people still love the taste this unique food – an angle of Vietnamese culture.

[jackbl]

5 most popular roasted nuts and seeds for Tet holiday
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During Tet, every family in Vietnam prepares a special tray of snack to offer guests, containing a variety candies, biscuits, jam, fruits; and roasted nuts are indispensible components of the tray. Vietnamese people eat roasted nuts with the main purpose to create a cheerful and friendly environment in which the hosts and the guests enjoy nuts together. Unlike the already de-shelled seeds found in bulk store, cooked seeds are kept intact in Vietnam and sometimes trying to separate the edible part from the hull can be both an art and a time-consuming activity. Who would want to rush in Tet anyway? A cup of tea would be even more perfect and the discussion can last forever, just plainly with tea and nuts. In addition, each type of nut has its own nutrition considered to be good for health and the diverse flavor that can only feel by tasting them all. Below are top 5 most common roasted nuts and seeds in Vietnam during Tet.

1. Hạt dưa (Watermelon seeds)

If you have enjoyed watermelon, you should have seen numbers of black seeds inside the fruit. Those are actually hạt dưa we are discussing about. However, only the biggest nuts will be chosen to be dried under the heat and then be roasted in big pans to have the final product. There are 2 type of hạt dưa: red and black depending on the natural pigment used to color them.

Hạt dưa is a clean and healthy nut with a lot of nutrition such as protein, glucid, lipid; vitamins B1, B2, E; calcium, iron, zinc, etc. Especially, protid inside hạt dưa is an essential component for nervous system and the growing of muscles, blood and bones. Eating a handful of hạt dưa everyday may enhance memory and protect from coronary heart diseases.

2. Hạt bí (Pumpkin seeds)

Selecting from the biggest seeds of ripe pumpkin, hạt bí is among the most favorable nuts during Tet since it is easier to open than hạt dưa. The process of cooking hạt bí is exactly the same with hạt dưa, however, there is not any pigment to color the nuts.

Both traditional and modern medicine proved that hạt bí containing many substances which benefits human health such as protid, lipid, glucid, calcium, magnesium, fiber and L-tryptophan. This nut is now being remedy for diseases like kidney disease, intestinal disease and coronary heart disease.

3. Hạt hướng dương (Sunflower seeds)

The name of this nut indicated its origin quite clearly that is collected after sunflowers fully grown. After being dried and roasted under adequate heart and sometime added with additional flavor like salt and licorice, delicious hướng dương is ready to be enjoyed. This nut is the favorite snack of children and youngsters in Vietnam that it is eaten in the whole year, especially with ice-tea or lemon tea, not only during Tet. Besides possessing similar amount of nutrition like other nuts mentioned above, hạt hướng dương can also be used to slow the aging process of human, accelerate cell generation process and enhance memory.

4. Hạt điều (Cashew nuts)

Hạt điều has its origin from Northern China and Mongolia is among the most luxury type of roasted nuts because its trees can only produce fruits one time per 4-5 years. Hạt điều is usually roasted with salt for better preservation as well as improve its taste. In Vietnam, the food is regarded as a symbol of luck.

Hạt điều contains many healthy substances like vitamin B1, B2, B3, calcium, protein, phosphorous and cholesterol-free. Monounsaturated in Hạt Điều may reduce the risk of having cancer; and an ideal choice for people who are on diet due to a huge amount of fiber.

5. Hạt dẻ cười (Pistachio)

Pistachio is originated from Persia (Iran) is the most luxury and expensive type of roasted nuts available in Vietnam. Due to similar shape and the way to eat with chestnut, pistachio is called hạt dẻ cười (Chesnut is “hạt dẻ” in Vietnamese). The nuts is especially match with a cup of tea or snack for beers and wine since alcohol is the most common drink in Vietnam during Tet.

With its rich amount of nutrition, pistachio may reduce the oxidation process and stress; good for digestive system as it contains the highest level of fiber in all types of nuts. Heart diseases is also believed to be demolished by eating pistachio frequently.

[jackbl]

New Year's Flowers
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Tet holidays are the days of relaxation, happiness and joy. And similar to pine tree for Christmas holiday in the West, Vietnamese also use many kinds of flowers and plants to decorate their house in this special period. Some names can be listed out: Chrysanths, marigold, Mao Ga flower, paperwhite flower, lavender, to name a few. Some people nowadays even use orchid and rose, although this is not yet popular. And above all, there are 3 kinds of plants that can not be missing in Tet holidays: peach flower, ochna integerrima and marumi kumquat.

Peach flower and marumi kumquat are familiar in the North while South people prefer ochna itegerrima for Tet holidays. Another reason is the characteristics of the plants. While marumi kumquat and peach trees grow well in cold weather, ochna integerrima just can survive in tropical lands with lots of sunshine.

People in 2 different parts of Vietnam have various explanations for this tradition. Northern people say that peach flowers blossom in spring – during Tet holidays while most other flowers still stay silent, symbolizing the strong vitality and a brave heart. Moreover, the pink colour of peach flowers shows the love and joy spread among people in this unique time of the year. Peach flower has 2 kinds: light peach with light pink colour and Nhat Tan – Ha Noi’s specialty peach with dark pink colour (nearly red).

Marumi kumquat bears different story. A tree with all 5 characteristics: full of fruits, flowers, leaves, branches and roots is a symbol for wealth and happiness for the new year. The tips for choosing a good plant are generated accordingly: the tree must have both ripe and green fruits, mature leaves and new bud - which represents wealth and luck brought to the family in the new year.

The ochna integerrima in the South has another meaning. The golden yellow of the flower means the noble roots of Vietnamese (folktales said that the ancestors of Vietnamese is a couple of dragon and fairy). In addition, the high rate of blossom of the flower in Tet holidays also symbolizes the wealth and passionate love among people.

Vietnamese usually buy those special plants from lunar mid-December from the flower market (some even try to have peach flower branches/trees from the mountains because of its impressive vitality) and keep them until lunar mid-January of the New Year. Some families keep the branches to the end of the lunar January.

[jackbl]

Gifts for Tet festival
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Giving gifts on Tet Festival, which has been long a traditional custom in Vietnam’s ancient culture, represents not only the close relationship but also the thorough and subtle of human behaviors. Vietnamese are extremely careful in talking and behaving on the very first days of New Year, as it can determine the good fortune throughout the year.

In the past and present

Hundred years ago, Vietnamese, most living in rural areas, had a convention of exchanging agricultural products as the gifts whenever the Lunar New Year came. A pair of sticky rice square cakes, a cock or wine kept in pottery gourd was believed to contained the essence of heaven and earth; thus would show the amiability among families and signified their dream of prosperity and a full future. In the past, the tough living conditions made it difficult for people to have new clothes frequently but only on the occasion of New Year. This reason explained why children often gave a new piece of red cloth or velvet scarf for parents, in order to express their respect, gratitude, and the hope for good health. Over times, giving gifts on Tet Holiday has become a special piece of traditional culture that is well-preserving and passing to the following generations. Since the society is modernized and relationship among people has altered to catch up with the speed of development, giving gifts is not a must for token of exchange anymore, but a part of rules of propriety. Besides the traditional meanings as neighbors, friends and families ties; giving gifts represents the long-lasting corporation between colleagues or business partners as well. Nowadays, people are willing to pay millions for luxuriously limited “baskets” of gifts, giving to bosses, wishing for support for future career.

What to give in Tet Festival?

Choosing gifts for Tet Festival is definitely not an easy task, due to the complicated norms and religion beliefs. Normally, Vietnamese will avoid giving kittens (as their meow sounds like “ngheo”- poor in Vietnamese), ink (because the color of black is considered bad fortune) and sharp items such as knives and forks. While clothes, scarfs and sticky rice square cakes are still the traditionally meaningful gifts that parents and the elderly often receive from children; there are many modern products that can be used as gifts also.

Here are among the most popular gifts given for Tet Festival:

A branch of peach blossom

Together with kumquat tree, peach blossom is regarded as the irreplaceable decoration for Tet Festival in Vietnam. Legend has it that peach blossom is the home of two deities who can control evil spirits, thus, a branch of peach blossom in New Year will drive all the ghosts and bad fortune away. There are a few kinds of peach blossom, from the red, pink to the white ones, depending on whether it is grown in mountainous or plain area. In Hanoi, Nhat Tan’s flower garden is most famous for carefully-planted peach blossom, while in Moc Chau, we can easily see wildly high peach blossom trees.

Wine and gift baskets

If in the past, wine is kept in pottery gourds, nowadays; those old gourds are replaced by modern wine bottles with well-known brands coming from both local and all over the world. However, the meaning of wine as the gift of New Year has remained unchanged. It takes a lot of time for wine to ferment and distil; so wine is highly appreciated by Vietnamese. Nevertheless, drinking wine can make people feel warm and energetic, which are exactly what people wish for their upcoming year.

If you have a Vietnamese business partner, it is time to further enhance your bonds by sending them a gift basket with branded wine.

Red items

Spring is the season of the brightest and most effulgent colors. Especially in Asia’s beliefs, red is considered good luck, prosperity, joyfulness and contentment. We can see the red color everywhere, from the ornaments, lucky envelopes, to the clothes of the elderly on the first days of New Year. Coming to Vietnam during the Tet Festival, tourists can see the whole streets covered with the color of red. Whichever gifts you plan to give, place a priority on red and yellow and avoid dark colours. For example, if you want to buy children new clothes, try to pick the most bright coloured ones.

Greeting cards

Sending greeting cards is the custom having its roots from the contemporary era. It is fast, convenient, and certainly very suitable for today’s busy modern life. If you are a foreigner and confused about the Tet Festival gift a Vietnamese friend, there is nothing better than a greeting card. Typically, Tet Festival’s greeting cards are printed with vivid colors like red or yellow, and distinctive images such as apricot and peach blossom, square sticky rice cake, parallel sentences, etc. Common greetings can be told are “Happy New Year”, “All wishes come true”, and ‘I wish you a healthy and wealthy new year!”. Around a week before the holiday, at Vietnamese schools, teachers often help pupils making their own handmade cards. Pupils then will bring their cards home and give to show their love to parents and other family’s members.

[jackbl]

Visiting pagodas and temples in the New Year
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Together with the festive atmosphere Tet brings to Vietnam every year, the event also the best time of the year for Vietnamese to spend time on their spiritual life and pay respect to religious institutions.Visiting pagodas on the first days of the year has long been a deep-rooted tradition.

The meaning of visiting pagodas and temples

It has been a long-lasted custom of the people in this country each time a New Year arrive to visit pagoda. In Vietnam, the custom is described as “Lễ Chùa” – in which “lễ” means not only visiting but also showing respects in all sincerity to Buddha and Gods of the pagodas or temples. No matter how busy Vietnamese are during the hilarious atmosphere of Tet, everyone attempts to burn an incense to wish for best wishes for the New Year like healthiness, happiness and wealthiness.

Not only is that, praying at pagodas and temples is among the best way to go out and enjoy the spring. Mixing ones’ soul with the spiritual spaces, breathing in the aroma of burning incense and flowers and enjoying relaxing glimpse in the garden of the pagodas help demolishing all the stresses and worries of the previous year.

Differences in visiting pagodas in the North and the South

Although people in both areas visiting pagodas with the same purpose and the same meanings of this lofty tradition, the way they conduct this activity is of some different.

Northern Vietnamese seem to be more sophisticated in this spiritual custom in which a long list of scarifying items ranging from pork, meat-roll and chicken to fruits, flowers, incense, hell-notes, real money and petition note written in Nho script with wishes for the new year on. When praying, people speak their wishes like a fold song with rhyme and tune. On the other hand, Southern people do not often bring so many offering items to pagodas, nor praying in rhyme and tune. They simply ask for what they wish, and this is called “khấn nôm”.

No matter how different they are in the two area, the noble tradition of visiting pagodas skill remains its real meaning, in which any barrier of age, status or sex are eliminated, everyone unite there, in a mutual spiritual world.

Picking Bud

After having done all the praying, no Vietnamese forget to pluck buds from pagodas. Buds picked by people could be a small flower like the very meaning of it, however, the most common bud we are discussing about is a small branch of trees in the pagoda’s garden. Vietnamese consider plant like a symbol of immortal life; growth and prosperity as no kind on this earth grow faster, more stable and more long-lasting than plant. Bring a small sacred branch of tree from pagodas would bring healthiness and prosperity to ones’ home.

Lots drawing & Fortune telling

Another interesting activity Vietnamese people often do while visiting pagodas and temples is lots drawing. Those lots have short paragraph to forecast about ones’ fortune in the New Year. Although this activity is kind of superstitious, people still enjoy it because whether it says good or bad ones can still interpret positively. For example, if good fortune is forecasted, people would be much happier to welcome the New Year while unlucky ones would be more careful in every act, thanks to this, they would even more successful rather than bad luck.

Pilgrimage

Vietnamese people often visit pagodas and temples right after the New Year’s Eve moment, and going out of the house on the very moment of the New Year is also counted a traditional custom of Vietnamese. This is called “xuất hành đầu năm” in Vietnamese, simply translated as the first going out in the New Year to bring lucky home. With this custom, people carefully pick elements that match ones’ zodiac such as day, time, and most importantly, direction. There are two common directions ones may prefer: “Tài Thần” and “Hỉ Thần”. The first one is believed to bring about wealthiness and fame while the second one is expected to come along with happiness. Certainly, happiness direction is more preferable by Vietnamese people because in the end the day, no matter how wealthy and successful people are, happiness is what ones seeking for.

[jackbl]

Origin of Vietnam tradition Xông đất
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Year by year, Tết holiday has repeated in the role of the most fundamental and also biggest festival of a year to Vietnamese, from Kinh people to ethnic communities. In this crucial event, Xông đất (first visit to a home in a year) appears to be one of the indispensable rites. People in Vietnam have appreciated more and more the importance of this culture. It has been modified a lot with a considerable number of rules and requirements, which both preserve the essence of Xong Dat tradition while adapting to the modern life of a Vietnamese.

If one does a survey asking Vietnamese about the origin of “Xông Đất”, a majority of asked people might not be able to answer. Only a few elderlies and experts on Vietnamese culture have adequate knowledge to tell the stories about the origin of this traditional rite, but these stories are also different and sometimes confusing.

“Xông đất” and the connection with Taoism

Many Vietnamese people and cultural experts believe that Xông đất originated from Taoism when it was universalized in Vietnam thousands years ago. The main doctrine of this tradition generated from the elite of agricultural culture in the South of China, therefore it more concentrates on living harmonically and peacefully with the nature and people around.

In Vietnam, Taoism has been spread and become popular thousands year ago among normal people like farmers, merchants or vendors because of its emphasizing on nature. Therefore, this religious tradition has significantly impacted Vietnamese culture.

Vietnamese always keep in mind a desire of long last living and fortune for everything they do and seek ways to satisfy their demand. And with the doctrine of Taoism of the harmony of 5 nature elements (fire, water, earth, metal and wood), Vietnamese began to invite people who are suitable for them, expecting luck and success for the new year. For example, Vietnamese believe that water nurtures trees, so that people with “Water” clause are suitable for the first visiting (xông đất) people with “Tree” clause. The truth is that this harmony belief is also applied to many other affairs of Vietnamese such as building houses or purchasing cars and apartment.

Doctrine of the 12 Zodiac animals and impact on the appearance of “Xông Đất”

Another theory is stated that “Xông đất” might originate from traditional rites of Vietnamese people to worship the 12 Zodiac animals.

12 Zodiac animal theory refers to the collection of 12 animals that represent year and age of people, including: Rat, Buffalo (Ox in Chinese culture), Tiger, Cat (or Rabbit in Chinese culture), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Hen, Dog, Pig. They are made up to 6 pairs that negatively impact each other. Also, there are pairs that positively influence each other which means that bringing fortune, success and good to each other.

Examples of the complementary astrology:

Household head: Mouse - First visitors: Monkey - Dragon - Buffalo
Household head: Buffalo - First visitors: Snake - Hen - Mouse
Household head: Tiger - First visitors: Horse- Dog- Pig
Household head: Cat - First visitors: Goa - Pig - Dog

Sometimes, choosing the first visitor to come to the family depends on other factors as well. Some people might not have the most matching astrology with the household head but they are known to be amiable and "luck-generator" which are preferred by the host. The vice versa also holds water. The Xong Dat tradition has grown in importance over years, as people place a higher value in spiritual and belief life and so is choosing the right one to Xong Dat.

[jackbl]

Do and Don't when Xong Dat
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Tet Nguyen Dan- the biggest festival of the year- plays an extremely essential role in Vietnamese’s beliefs and culture. Among many complicated religious rituals performed in this occasion, “xong dat” (first visit to a home in a year) is believed to decide the fortune of the host for the whole year.

Being the first visitor is not easy

Being invited to be the first guest of the year is both an honor and a challenging responsibility to anyone. The best time for “xong dat” is from the midnight of New Year’s Eve until the morning of the first day of Lunar Calendar’s New Year. However, the host and the guest normally come into an agreement in advance about the time deemed most suitable for the host’s zodiac sign.

A successful and humorous gentleman, smiling happily, giving wishes is believed to bring the lucky new year to every member in the house. Before coming to the host’s home, the guest is expected to spend time visiting pagodas or temples praying for the fortune, health and achievement for the upcoming New Year. Afterward, he can bring some buds, tree branches with fruits or a bottle of wine, which stand for vitality and wealth as gifts for the host. He can also give some lucky money wrapped in red envelope for small children, in the hope for health and wisdom.

Does it sound fun and easy? Definitely not if you know that you are likely to be responsible for the family’s whole year luckiness. Of course, no one blames you for their bad luck, yet they may not choose you as the first visitor for the next year.

All hosts are nice at the time of Xong dat?

The answer is yes. Showing the generous hospitality is essential for the host in preparation for the first visit of the year. To welcome the guest visiting the house, a small party with some simple Tet’s food such as “banh chung”- sticky rice cake or sweet preserved fruits, and rice wine is considered indispensable.

Moreover, the host also needs to wish the guest all the best for the New Year and gives him some lucky money in return. In the southern of Vietnam, the host puts a small bucket of water and a branch of apricot blossom so that the guest can splash the water and scatter the flower on the way leading to the house. Water and apricot blossom’s petals symbolize “multiplying the luck”, according to Vietnamese’s beliefs.

Visitor’s difficult task with many taboos

When entering Vietnamese’s house for the first time of the year, a visitor is required to remember the taboos as well. The guest should wear the bright clothes that appropriate with the occasion, and black and white combined is definitely unacceptable, since they are mourning colors. People all avoid getting angry and saying words relating to unfortunate topics like death, accident, failure or breaking up. Normally, girls and women are not selected to be the first visitors, especially if she is pregnant or just gave birth. The guest is expected to be a man who has an open personality and achieved much success the previous year.

Understanding the significance of “xong dat” in Vietnamese’s belief, on the first day of New Year, before paying a visit to friends or relatives’ house, people often call to ask whether the hosts have welcomed them as the first visitor or not, as being an unwilling guest may make both the visitor and the host confused and feel inconvenient.

[jackbl]

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New Year Wishes
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Tet holidays are the moments of happiness and family enjoy, therefore Vietnamese often dedicate the most beautiful words to their family and friends on this occasion. Here is the list of the most common ones:

1 - Năm mới dồi dào sức khỏe: I wish you a healthy new year

2 - Năm mới tấn tài tấn lộc: I wish you a wealthy new year

3 - Năm mới thăng quan tiến chức: I wish that you will get promoted in the new year

4 - Năm mới toàn gia bình an: I wish that the new year will bring health to all your family

5 - Năm mới thắng lợi mới: New year, new triumphs (often heard in political speech)

6 - Vạn sự như ý: All wishes come true

7 - Chúc hay ăn chóng lớn: Eat more, grow rapidly (for children)

8 - Chúc mau chóng tìm được người yêu: New lover will come in the new year (for single people)

9 - Tiền vào nhu nước sông Đà, tiền ra nhỏ giọt như cà phê phin: Money influx is as strong as Da's river; expenditure is as little as dripping coffee

Still there are plenty of wishes that people send to each others in Tet holiday, this list is simply an overview. Use them and impress your friends this coming Tet!

[jackbl]

Tet Nguyen Tieu - First full moon of the year
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Besides Tet, Tet Nguyen Tieu (First Full Moon of the New Year) is also a good opportunity for foreigners to experience Vietnamese culture thoroughly. Although Tet Nguyen Tieu originates from China, when being spread to Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Tieu has adopted to the particular cultural aspect of VIetnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life.

Most Vietnamese people believe that the First Full Moon of the New Year is the most important among all full moons throughout the year. On January 15th of Lunar Calendar, people are supposed to go to pagodas and pray for the best things coming to every family members and their beloved friends. It is not uncommon to see people eating vegan food and drinking plain water on the special day. Peaceful mind and lucks for the coming year are the general purposes.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Cho Lon in District 5 is the most exciting place to visit during Tet Nguyen Tieu. You may try che troi nuoc, a special kind dessert, the sweet soup with rounded ball made from glutinous rice and sugar sauce, which symbolizes for “Reunion”. The Cultural Center of District 5 is often the place where most activities to celebrate Tet Nguyen Tieu take place. By coming over the center from 12th-15th , visitors may get a chance to experience the exciting atmosphere of the Hoa community here. People gather to see the lion-dragon dance show. It is believed the lion-dragon’s appearance brings luck, prosperity and success for the New Year. Besides, visitors can enjoy the parades around the streets in District 5 with many people and decorated vehicles, which is somehow like a small street carnival. Please make sure your camera is fully charged so that you can shoot or record any moment you would like. You are surely interested in those activities which you may not find anywhere else at anytime else.

If you want to have a shot of lanterns without traveling to Hoi An which is too far away from Ho Chi Minh City, you may like Tet Nguyen Tieu at the Cultural Center of District 5. Lanterns are decorated and exhibited in a gorgeous way. Along the streets, lanterns are also hung up in rows. That’s why visitors who even have been to District 5 before still get amazed at what they are seeing at the moment and wonder if they are traveling to another country.

While District 1 is younger with lots of occidental architecture and sparkling luxurious buildings to welcome Tet, District 5, as time passes by, still remains its oriental beauty of old-styled houses and intrinsic cultural values gathered by the Hoa community living here. Tet Nguyen Tieu, one of the biggest events beside Tet, cannot be missed with any excuse because of the chance to feel and take a breath of a combined Vietnamese-Chinese culture that visitors can hardly find out at any other places.

In general, Tet Nguyen Tieu is celebrated among the Buddhist community, especially in the centre and southern part of Vietnam. Similar to Ho Chi Minh City, if you are in Hue and Danang during the occasion, you will see a grand, though a lot calmer, celebration of Tet Nguyen Tieu. Vegetarianism is widely practiced.

In the Northern part like Thanh Hoa or Hanoi, Tet Nguyen Tieu is more to pray to the ancestors: people will be busy shopping for grocery and paper offerings to present the most beautiful flowers and freshest fruits to put up on the family's altars.

In 2012, Tet Nguyen Tieu will fall on Monday February 6th so if you are in Vietnam from February 4th, you will sure feel the festive atmosphere.

[jackbl]

Vietnamese New Year (Tet)
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Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar, Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven days (with the exception of Tet 2012 when the holiday is expected to last for 9 days!). Vietnamese New Year in 2013 will last from February 10-13, and in 2014 from January 31st to Feb 4th.

How Tet is calculated?

Different from the Gregorian calendar, Lunar Calendar has a fix number of twelve months with 30 days each, and a leap-year will have a whole intercalary month instead of the 29th day of February. The new year of Lunar Calendar normally will start in late January or beginning of February according to Gregorian calendar. That explains why Tet days vary from year to year: it is because the leap month may fall shorter or longer which create a smaller or bigger gap between the two calendars.

When is Tet?

* In 2014, Tet is on January 31st
* In 2015, Tet is on February 19th

The actual holiday will last 1 day before and about 3-5 days after the day mentioned above.

What is Tet?

Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. Moreover, in the past, Tet was essential as it provided one of few long breaks during the agricultural year, which was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones. To make it easier, one can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year: every family will get together to have big meals, decorate Tet trees and eat Tet food but to welcome the new year instead of a religious cause.


How is Tet celebrated?

Since Tet occupies an important role in Vietnamese’s religious beliefs, Vietnamese will begin their preparations well in advance of the upcoming New Year. In an effort to get rid of the bad luck of the old year, people will spend a few days cleaning their homes, polishing every utensil, or even repaint and decorate the house with kumquat tree, branches of peach blossom, and many other colorful flowers. The ancestral altar is especially taken care of, with careful decoration of five kinds of fruits and votive papers, along with many religious rituals. Everybody, especially children, buy new clothes and shoes to wear on the first days of New Year. People also try to pay all their pending debts and resolve all the arguments among colleagues, friends or members of family.

Like other Asian countries, Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring good fortune, which may explain why these colors can be seen everywhere in Lunar New Year. People consider what they do on the dawn of Tet will determine their fate for the whole year, hence people always smile and behave as nice as they can in the hope for a better year. Besides, gifts are exchanged between family members and friends and relatives, while children receive lucky money kept in red envelope.

No matter where Tet is celebrated, it must be clarified from the beginning that Tet is not a day, but several days of celebration.

The general process is as follow (all dates quoted in lunar calendar):

1. Ông Công, Ông Táo Day (Kitchen God day) - December 23rd

2. Wrapping Chung cake - December 26-28th

3. Family reunion and Tất niên - December 30th

4. Giao thừa - New Year's Eve: including praying sessions to God and Ancestors, Xông đất (First visit to a family in the new year)

5. First three days of the new year: visit paternal side on the first day, maternal side on the second day and teachers on the third day

6. Visit relatives, friends and neighbours: can take place from January 3rd - 5th

7. Hóa vàng - burn the offerings near Tet's end for ancestors: January 4th

8. Reopen business: usually owners pick a good date that matches their age

9. Tết Nguyên Tiêu: January 15th

Food for Tet

The following food is often consumed during Tet; some are particular to Tet and often associated with the grand celebration:

- Banh Chung/ Banh Tet

- Pickled onions

- Boiled chicken

- Mung bean pudding

- Vietnamese sausage - giò chả

- Xôi Gấc - Red Sticky Rice

- Roasted nuts and seeds


Travelling to Vietnam during Tet

Tet has a very special attached meaning to all Vietnamese. It is the time for everybody to come back to their hometown, gathering with family, visiting relatives and having a good relaxing time after a hard-working year. If you have the opportunity to visit Vietnam during Tet holiday, make sure you join this festive and happy moments of Vietnamese!

[jackbl]

My heart can feel Tet
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Tet, the Lunar new year, is the most awaited time of the year. It brings about changes in everyday pace, much hope for a new start after tough times, a bit calm to the bursting flow of life and above all else, joy to the warm-hearted people of Vietnam.

Early spring sprouts new life after the dull winter months. Tet usually comes with a grey sky still, the leftover of the harsh cold winter. But when the occasional sun pierces through that cloud, it brings a wave of golden warmth that all manages to chase away the gloominess still linger in people’s mind. For the poetic composer in all of us, the days leading up to Tet are often drowned in a hazy mist that makes even the most common thing surreal. When the sun lights up the day and warms the heart, one knows that Tet is finally coming.

Tet is like rain coming down on the small alleys. Everyone seems able to hear its rhythm, and feel its touch. And it’s just like a warm refreshing rain, Tet urges people to hurry for the unfinished tasks, while at the same time slow down to be more careful and listening to changes in the air. Tet is not a torrential shower though, since it brings up smile on every face. Streets will choke with travelers all day long, but honks will not blare like usual. Everyone is onto something, but one can hardly see an unhappy face, for it is a time to rejoice and look forward to a new beginning.

As the blooming peach brightens days in the north, and golden apricot further heats up the sunlight of the south, the people of Vietnam are in full overdrive mode to prepare for Tet. Just about when families bid farewell and send red carps to accompany the kitchen gods to heaven, streets will take up a new vibrant coat. The flowers come to town, in bicycle-driven carts to bring Tet to each and every family, and public space is utilized to add the most dazzling colorful ones to shine in the dull concrete jungle. This year has been fruitful for the flower farmers, since temperate weather yields a good crop. By the sheer number of trees and the beaming smiles, the New Year will sure make some very happy.

It is a custom of the old days, but still very alive even now. Tet is a fresh start, and one has to come into the New Year full and abundantly. People will buy and sell a lot more in the days leading up to Tet. Perhaps it is another reason smiles are beaming on everyone. The occasion can make the most prudent savers spending a bit. There are a lot of activities going on, which convinces some that preparing for Tet is actually the best part of it.

In a twist of the thoughtful mind, some comment on a tough time in the year of the cat and how that can turn on a good Tet. The economic downturn has not spared many, and some will indeed have a less-abundant Tet than the previous year, but a meager Tet is indeed a more joyful Tet. It is a break for the people to actually ease from all the hardship that they have endured for an entire year. It will be a new beginning. The milestone is reached, and one has hope for a better day. Tet shall bring much hope for prosperity in the new year of the Dragon. After all, it is hope that can give even the most unfortunates the will to carry on. And it is Hope that Tet offers plenty.

Wait for the incense to fill every corner of the land! It is an unmistakable trademark scent that reminds every Vietnamese soul of her beloved New Year.