Welcome to the Southern Vietnamese Language Channel for Foreigners!
As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, the teachers at SVFF want to share their thoughts, experiences, and traditions related to Tet. From our favorite moments to what we love (and dislike) about the holiday, join us in this special Tet edition!
Meet the SVFF Teaching Team
Tet is a time for reflection and connection, so let's take a moment to introduce ourselves:
- Phi – A Vietnamese language teacher at SVFF for nearly 10 years.
- Thuong – Has been teaching for 8–9 years.
- Kim Hang – Teaching Southern Vietnamese for over 4 years.
- Lai – Has been with SVFF for around 3 years.
- Linh Den – Teaching for nearly 3 years.
- Thao Nguyen – More than 2 years at SVFF.
- Thuong (another one!) – Over 1.5 years of experience.
- Thao Tam – Almost 2 years of teaching.
- Thanh Ngan – Teaching for 1 year.
- Phuong – With SVFF for about 6 months.
- Thinh – Just started his third month at SVFF!
- Chau – Teaching for nearly 4 months but already feels like SVFF is a second family.
Each of us has a unique perspective on Tet, and we’re excited to share our thoughts with you!
What We Love (and Dislike) About Tet
Tet brings joy, celebrations, and family gatherings, but it also comes with challenges. Here are our thoughts:
What We Love:
✅ Family Reunions: Spending time with loved ones, especially those we haven’t seen in a long time.
✅ Festive Atmosphere: Beautiful decorations, flower markets, and streets full of people in traditional áo dài.
✅ New Clothes & Lucky Money (Lì Xì): Even as adults, we still love receiving lì xì!
✅ Special Tet Foods: We indulge in bánh chưng, bánh tét, thịt kho hột vịt (braised pork with eggs), and pickled vegetables.
What We Dislike:
❌ Feeling Older: Unlike birthdays, Tet makes us feel like we’ve instantly aged another year!
❌ Uncomfortable Questions: “When will you get married?” “How much do you earn?” – questions we’d rather avoid.
❌ Crowds & Traffic: Traveling during Tet can be stressful due to the large number of people on the move.
❌ Pre-Tet Cleaning: We love a clean house, but the intense deep-cleaning tradition before Tet can be exhausting.
Our Favorite Tet Foods
Tet is all about delicious food! Here are some of our top picks:
🍚 Bánh Chưng & Bánh Tét – Traditional sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves.
🥩 Thịt Kho Hột Vịt – Braised pork with eggs, a must-have in every Southern Vietnamese household.
🥗 Pickled Vegetables – A perfect side dish to balance out the richness of Tet meals.
🍬 Candied Fruits & Snacks – While some of us prefer savory treats, others love munching on traditional candied coconut, lotus seeds, and watermelon seeds.
Tet Plans & Traditions
How do we celebrate Tet? It depends on each person's plans! Some of us stay home and enjoy quality time with family, while others travel or visit friends.
🧧 Visiting Family & Friends: The first day is for family, the second for friends, and the third for teachers and mentors.
🌼 Going to Flower Markets: Shopping for kumquat trees, peach blossoms, and yellow apricot flowers.
🎲 Playing Traditional Games: A rare time when playing card games for fun (with small bets) is socially accepted!
✈️ Post-Tet Travel: Since Tet can be crowded, some of us prefer to take a vacation after the holiday rush.
Tet is More Than Just a Holiday
For many of us, Tet isn’t just about celebrations—it’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the year ahead. Whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones, embracing traditions, or simply enjoying a break, Tet holds a special place in our hearts.
💬 How do you celebrate Tet or New Year in your country? What do you love (or dislike) about it? Let us know in the comments!
👉 From all of us at SVFF, Happy Lunar New Year! Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! 🎉🐉
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