For the past two years, every Tet holiday, Hai's family drives away from Hanoi to celebrate Tet 1,200km away from home.
For the past two years, after the Kitchen God worship ceremony, the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai (49 years old, in Hanoi) packs up and heads to Khanh Hoa.
Sticky rice, dong leaves, bamboo shoots, vermicelli, and even Nhat Tan peach blossoms were all packed and loaded onto the car by her, and the whole family traveled from Hanoi to the small house on Doc Let beach (Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa) - 40km from Nha Trang - to celebrate Tet away from home.
The couple has three children. Since the children were just a few months old, they have dragged them up the mountains and down the sea, traveling to all the islands from the Central region to the South.
Because of their love for the warm climate of the places they have visited, the couple has long dreamed of owning a beach house for convenient travel during each vacation.
More than 3 years ago, she decided to buy a piece of land by the sea of Doc Let - where the sea is blue, the sand is white, the sun is golden, the beach is still pristine and the people are friendly. Since building the house, every year her family has traveled from Hanoi to Doc Let to relax several times, sometimes by plane, sometimes by train, sometimes by car.
The rest of the time the house is empty, she rents it out to tourists as a homestay.
Celebrating Tet in another region is a new experience for Hai’s family. To have the atmosphere of Tet in the North, she still cooks banh chung, rolls fried spring rolls, cooks bamboo shoots and vermicelli, and displays peach blossoms. She also buys a mai tree and still celebrates Tet with her neighbors in the local style.
“While Tet in Hanoi is mostly cold and drizzly, here the sun is shining brightly. Boiling banh chung at night makes you feel hot all over, not like sitting by a wood stove to warm yourself.”
Ms. Hai said that people here have big New Year's Eve parties, inviting neighbors and friends over, but the food is not as elaborate as in Hanoi.
“My neighbors are from Ninh Hoa, most of them are simple and honest. They invited my family to have a year-end party and celebrate Tet. I also prepared a Northern-style feast with Hanoi spring rolls, bamboo shoot soup, and papaya salad to invite my neighbors back.”
With the desire to let their children experience diverse cultures and regions, Hai and her husband are very pleased when their children can immerse themselves in the vast ocean to feel the simple, peaceful things that Tet in Hanoi cannot bring.
Every time like that, she feels like she is "reborn", like she is returning to herself in relaxing moments with her children and nature.
“Hanoi during Tet is always full of laughter and colors, but also hasty and chaotic. My children, like many other children, are surrounded by Tet preparations, delicious food, and lucky money envelopes, but I decided to let them say goodbye to Hanoi and take them to the sea, so that they can not only understand Tet in the capital, but also experience a different Tet, a different space, full of vitality and freedom.”
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The house on Doc Let beach has been the ideal destination for her family for the past 2 years.
On the morning of the first day of Tet, while everyone was still sleeping, the whole family was on the beach, where the sun shone its warm rays on the smooth white sand.
“The first feeling I felt was one of peace and relaxation. The whole family walked together on the beach, playing in the sand. Time seemed to slow down, allowing each family member to fully feel the peace in those simple moments.
I want to 'go with my children to grow up' not only in Hanoi but also in other faraway places, so that they can not only learn about traditional rituals and unique Tet customs in the capital, but also experience other Tets, to see that Tet is not just about familiar things. Tet is also an opportunity to explore, mature and look at life from many different perspectives."
She believes that each trip and each new experience is an invaluable lesson that helps children gain a deeper understanding of the world around them, of family values, of love and solidarity.
After building the family’s second house next to Doc Let beach, Hai’s parents-in-law moved here 2 years ago because the mild climate has helped them relieve their joint pain. Although the grandparents miss their children and grandchildren every Tet holiday, they support their children’s active lifestyle.
After about ten days of celebrating Tet away from home, on the 4th day of Tet, the 5 members got back on the bus to Hanoi, returning to work and study after days of being "recharged with ocean energy".
The mother of three shared that the decision to buy land and build a house in Doc Let was a quick decision but not impulsive.
“After many years of thinking and searching, we realized this was a great opportunity to not only have a place to rest, but also a lasting memory for the children. I want them to have beautiful family memories every Tet holiday.
When I look at the small house on the land by the sea, I feel that every brick, every door, every space in the house is a joy. I want my children to understand that when they grow up, this is not just a house but a part of their wonderful childhood memories.
Photo: Character provided
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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/gia-dinh-ha-noi-cu-den-tet-lai-lai-xe-1-200km-di-tron-2367475.html
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