When the yellow apricot flowers compete to show off their colors, the Khmer villages and hamlets are also bustling with the atmosphere of preparing to welcome Spring.
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| Many Khmer pagodas in the villages of Soc Trang province are beautifully decorated to welcome Spring. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
As an ethnic group with many festivals throughout the year, for a long time, the Khmer people living in the Mekong Delta have considered the Lunar New Year of the Kinh people as one of their own national holidays (called Vietnamese Tet).
This spring, when you come to Soc Trang to areas where many Khmer people live, you will hear the bustling sounds and feel more clearly a new vitality rising. Phum Soc today has truly "changed its skin" thanks to the Party and State's wholehearted care, especially the efforts of Party committees at all levels, local authorities and Khmer people.
Mr. Thach Ro Thi in Phnor Kom Pot hamlet (Tham Don commune, My Xuyen district) boasted: “This year my whole family is having a big Tet. After a year of hard work, the family has saved up some money to prepare for the New Year. Although it is a traditional Vietnamese New Year, the Khmer people still celebrate it together. We consider Tet Nguyen Dan an indispensable activity alongside Sen Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay.”
Talking about preparing for the New Year, Mr. Thach Cong, Head of the Front Committee of Phnor Kom Pot hamlet (Tham Don commune, My Xuyen district) shared: “About half a month before Tet, the Tet atmosphere was already filling the hamlets and villages. We encouraged people to clean their yards and public roads to make them more spacious. Those who could afford it repaired their houses to make them more spacious. Like the Vietnamese, we believe that cleaning our houses to welcome Tet will bring good things in the New Year.”
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| Khmer people often go to pagodas during the first days of the year. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
No one knows when, but Khmer people have had the habit of planting mai trees outside their alleys. The large mai trees with bright yellow flowers make spring even more beautiful. A special feature of Khmer Tet customs is that many families take the opportunity to go to the temple to worship Buddha on the last day of the year.
Mr. Lam Suol in Dai Ui hamlet (Phu My commune, My Tu district) said: “No matter what they do, Khmer people must go to the pagoda because that is our culture. After that, everyone returns home to worship their ancestors and welcome the New Year like the Kinh people. Similar to other ethnic groups, Tet Nguyen Dan is also an occasion for Khmer people to gather with their families. On New Year's Eve, Khmer people prepare a tray of food to worship their ancestors. In addition to focusing on the winter-spring rice crop, we also grow more crops, raise chickens and ducks to sell before Tet, prepare money to buy clothes for our children and grandchildren, food, drinks, decorate the house, shop... Many families also visit relatives living far away."
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| A spring corner in Tha La hamlet (Ngoc Bien commune, Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province) with the Khmer people's Lunar New Year celebration more bustling. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Coming to Tha La hamlet (Ngoc Bien commune, Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province), in recent times, the Party and State have had many investment programs and projects to improve the lives of Khmer people. The economy is stable, houses are decent, children can go to school, this makes the atmosphere of Tet holiday more bustling for the people. Mr. Danh Phinê, in Tha La hamlet said: “Khmer people consider Tet holiday as important as Sen Dolta, Chol Chnam Thmay to commemorate grandparents and ancestors. Tet holiday is an occasion for families to reunite and commemorate ancestors. During Tet, some Khmer pagodas also organize cultural activities for us to enjoy, making the atmosphere of Tet more bustling”.
With the enthusiastic spirit of welcoming the Spring of At Ty 2025, Mr. Thach Thuong, a prestigious person in the community in Soc Tre hamlet (Phu Can commune, Tieu Can district, Tra Vinh province) and the Khmer people in the hamlet are looking forward to a better, more prosperous life in the future. Mr. Kien Thuong said: “I tell the people that this Tet, Khmer people must be happier, trying to escape poverty. In particular, we must strictly follow the rules of ensuring security and order when participating in parties, to look forward to a happy and peaceful spring.”
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| Southern Khmer people always preserve and promote their national cultural identity. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Lunar New Year, although not the official New Year of the Khmer people, but every spring, when the yellow apricot blossoms compete to show their beauty, the Khmer villages and hamlets are also bustling with the atmosphere of welcoming spring with many joyful, meaningful cultural and artistic activities, imbued with community solidarity.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tet-nguyen-dan-o-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-khmer-302775.html
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