International students throw ducks, ask for calligraphy to celebrate Vietnamese New Year

(Dan Tri) - Hundreds of foreign students threw ducks, wrapped banh chung, and asked for calligraphy to experience Vietnamese Tet at Hanoi University this morning (January 17).

Students from Poland and Japan (red shirts) learn how to wrap banh chung (Photo: My Ha).

Dressed in traditional Vietnamese traditional dress, throwing rings around ducks’ necks (a traditional Tet game), wrapping banh chung, asking for calligraphy from calligraphers…, hundreds of international students from Hanoi University are enjoying the full flavor of the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday.

This is the second year that Saku (Japan) celebrates Vietnamese Tet. She said she chose Vietnam to study abroad because she really loves the traditions and rapid changes in economic development of this country.

International students wrap banh chung (Photo: M. Ha).

According to Saku, on Tet holiday, Japanese people often eat Soba noodles (Longevity noodles), this dish is cooked very quickly, while in Vietnam there is a custom of wrapping Chung cakes, making spring rolls...

"I really like Vietnamese banh chung. Last Tet I ate a lot of banh chung, tried shrimp cakes and fried spring rolls. This year, we plan to wrap banh chung, wear ao dai, and buy peach and apricot blossoms," Saku said.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan, Head of the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies, Hanoi University, this is the school's annual event for international students.

Experiences of Lunar New Year customs help each international student feel warm and understand and love the country and people of Vietnam more.

In particular, the program will help international students connect more closely with each other and become bridges between cultures around the world.

Students ask for calligraphy from a calligrapher (Photo: My Ha).

Sharing with the school's international students, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice Principal of Hanoi University, said that Lunar New Year is very special, unique, and very special to Vietnamese people. It is an occasion for reunion, gathering, and connecting all family members and the whole society.

During Tet, every Vietnamese person, no matter who is studying or working far away, tries to return home to be with their family, to have a meal with all family members, to share about what they have done and their wishes and plans for the future.

Students throw rings around ducks' necks (Photo: My Ha).

Tet for Vietnamese people is also an occasion to express respect to ancestors. This is an extremely valuable tradition, teaching Vietnamese people "When drinking water, remember its source".

With that meaning, every year the school organizes the Vietnamese Tet program for international students to have the opportunity to learn about the big traditional festival of Vietnam, enjoy traditional flavors and dishes, and participate in Vietnamese folk games in the spring.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/sinh-vien-quoc-te-nem-vit-xin-chu-ong-do-don-tet-viet-20250117154103482.htm