Banh Chung, Ao Dai and the bustling Tet of Vietnamese people in Japan

Vietnamese people in Japan celebrate a warm Tet holiday, imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity, in an atmosphere of exchange with the local community and residents from countries that also celebrate Lunar New Year.

Vietnamese children in Fukuoka (Japan) practice wrapping banh chung for the Lunar New Year 2025

"Tet Exchange" in Fukuoka

Every Lunar New Year, residents from countries celebrating Lunar New Year in Fukuoka gather at Yoshizuka Asian Market to preserve traditional customs, exchange cultures and pass them on to future generations.

This year, the Lunar New Year program takes place on January 25-26 within the framework of the Tet Market at Yoshizuka Asian Market with the participation of communities from many countries such as Vietnam, China, Korea, Nepal, Malaysia, and Singapore.

According to Ms. Bui Thi Thu Sang, president of the Fukuoka International Residents Association (FIRA) - the organizer of the above program, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese people account for about 50% of the foreign community in Fukuoka City, so organizing a Lunar New Year program for the community is highly valued by the Fukuoka International Residents Association (FIRA).

Vietnamese dishes at the multicultural Tet in Fukuoka

This year, the program has many interesting activities such as art performances with dance, singing, traditional costume performances, musical instrument ensembles and folk games such as bamboo dancing, darts, shuttlecock kicking...

Attendees also had the opportunity to experience making Vietnamese banh chung and banh tet, Chinese dumplings, Korean tteokguk soup, and learn about Tet customs in other countries, along with other performances.

"In addition to the above program, the organizers also organize a ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods on January 22, the year-end party on January 28, and Tet on January 29. Because they coincide with weekdays, it mainly includes families participating in the children's cafeteria or multicultural learning space," according to Ms. Sang.

Regarding the Lunar New Year atmosphere, she said that her family and other Vietnamese families practice performing arts for their children to participate in performances at Tet events.

"Children really look forward to Tet so they can receive lucky money. My mother went to Japan to visit her family, and before returning to Vietnam, she prepared many types of ham and pickled onions for the family to have food for Tet. The family also went to the garden to buy peach and kumquat trees to celebrate Tet," she shared.

"At home, we decorate the house, display the five-fruit tray on the altar, wrap banh chung and prepare Tet feasts, and give lucky money to children like in Vietnam. The children all participate in activities with their parents and also record New Year greetings clips to send to their families in Vietnam," she added.

Spring in my hometown in Toyama

In Toyama Prefecture, this year's Lunar New Year is highlighted by the Homeland Spring 2025 program, organized by the Association of Vietnamese People in Toyama (HNV Toyama) in coordination with the Vietnam Friendship Association in Toyama Prefecture.

Sharing with Thanh Nien , Chairman of the Toyama Association of Vietnamese People Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Luan said that this is the second consecutive year that the Toyama Association of Vietnamese People and the Vietnam Friendship Association in Toyama have jointly organized the program, with the desire to bring a warm Tet atmosphere to the Vietnamese community in Toyama and neighboring provinces due to work conditions and many other reasons, they cannot return home to celebrate Tet.

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu speaks at the Spring Homeland 2025 program in Toyama

This year, the organizers have prepared many new activities to strengthen the friendship between local people and Japanese people, such as a booth to try on Vietnamese ao dai, Yosakoi dance exchange and performances of traditional Japanese Okinawan musical instruments.

In addition, there are other performances, a space for taking Tet photos is prepared to bring souvenir photos to attendees, next to Vietnamese booths such as Tet jam, popular Vietnamese dishes such as bread, grilled pork vermicelli, tapioca dumplings, steamed rice rolls...

Vietnamese Ao Dai experience area at the Spring Homeland 2025 program in Toyama

Attending the program on January 19, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu sent New Year greetings to the Vietnamese community in Japan in general and in Toyama in particular.

"This is the second time I have come here. Every time I come, I feel the wonderful beauty of the welcoming atmosphere of the open people in Toyama, especially the Vietnamese community, which is the largest foreign community in the province. I feel the joyful and connectedness of our community at the workplace," he shared.

According to him, Lunar New Year is a sacred occasion and also the time when Vietnamese people everywhere remember their homeland, their ancestors' homeland, and the good values ​​of Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Toyama Governor Nitta Hichirou thanked HVN Toyama and the Vietnam Friendship Association in Toyama for their many activities promoting friendly relations between the two countries and cities.

He said that there are currently 37 Toyama enterprises investing in 53 business establishments in Vietnam to promote business between the two countries. Currently, Toyama is building a multicultural society, allowing the foreign community, especially the Vietnamese, to live together and succeed with the Japanese to develop Toyama, according to Mr. Nitta.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/banh-chung-ao-dai-va-tet-ron-rang-cua-nguoi-viet-tai-nhat-185250125165314779.htm