International students wear Ao Dai, wrap Banh Tet to give to the poor

Many international students enjoy the experience of making banh tet and the special activities of the traditional Vietnamese New Year.

Many international students are excited to wrap banh tet in Vietnam for the first time - Photo: TRONG NHAN

Park SeoYeon is a student at Gachon University (Korea) and is on a volunteer trip in Vietnam, starting at the end of December.

During your last week in Vietnam, you and other foreign student volunteers were able to wrap banh tet at Saigontourist College of Tourism and Hospitality.

When hearing about this event, SeoYeon was very excited because this was the first time she got to actually make a banh tet.

"I carefully learned from my teachers how to spread sticky rice, put mung bean paste and pork belly in the middle, then roll it all up. The first banh tet were quite clumsy, the banana leaves were torn or the strings weren't tied tightly," SeoYeon said.

For Yoon Ah, the time before Tet in Vietnam brings her a feeling of both familiarity and complete novelty. In Korea, the Lunar New Year is also celebrated, but mainly families gather together to perform ancestral rituals.

In Vietnam, there are many vibrant and warm community activities such as making banh tet, which makes her feel the festive atmosphere everywhere.

Many people have difficulty wrapping a beautiful banh tet.

Meanwhile, Annie McCarthy is currently a Nursing student at Flinders University, South Australia (Australia). Annie McCarthy has a vocational degree and is studying for a bachelor's degree.

She took advantage of her volunteer trip in Vietnam to volunteer at hospitals. She shared that some hospitals in the South Australian area where she lives have many Vietnamese people, so she really wanted to have real-life experiences right in Vietnam.

Although Annie had heard about Tet through books and newspapers, she never truly understood the profound meaning of this holiday until she got to… wrap banh tet. People explained to her that it was not just a dish, but also a symbol of reunion and love.

"Tying the string tightly without breaking the banh tet requires skill. I'm not used to it so I'm worried I'll ruin the cake. I think wrapping banh tet also teaches me patience," Annie said.

You shared that after your volunteer trip in Ho Chi Minh City, you will go to Hanoi during Tet. A Vietnamese friend in Hanoi invited you to stay at his house in Hanoi to celebrate Tet together. Annie was very excited.

Finished banh tet

Helen Castle, a British therapist who teaches English as a volunteer, has difficulty with banana leaves. Because banana leaves are soft but tear easily, Westerners like her can easily damage them when rolling them.

It was also difficult to measure the amount of sticky rice, mung beans and meat so that the cake was not too big or too small. It took her more than half an hour to wrap the first cake.

"The greatest joy is probably when we finish making the first cake, even though it is distorted or imperfect, but it is praised and warmly received by everyone. We feel the connection and warmth during the traditional Vietnamese New Year," said Ms. Helen Castle.

The cooked banh tet will be donated to charity.

A representative of Saigontourist College of Tourism and Hospitality said the banh tet wrapping competition is an annual activity, and this year is entering its 7th year.

In 2025, the competition will gather 36 teams including 20 teams of students from Saigontourist University majoring in culinary arts, baking, hotel management, restaurant management, tour guiding, etc.

In particular, the finished banh tet cakes of the competing teams along with meaningful gifts were delivered directly to families in difficult circumstances in Nha Be district (HCMC).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-quoc-te-mac-ao-dai-goi-banh-tet-tang-nguoi-ngheo-20250109102503259.htm