Born in Hanoi , settled in Melbourne (Australia) for 8 years, Ms. Pham Thanh Ha (35 years old) still maintains a strong bond with her homeland - that is family meals, offerings on holidays and Tet.

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13-dish vegetarian tray that Ms. Ha and her family made during Vu Lan season

In addition to her farm business, she devotes much of her time to the kitchen, preserving the Vietnamese flavor in her family. She has never forgotten the custom of worship, especially during the Vu Lan season.

The vegetarian tray with many dishes was meticulously prepared and arranged by Ms. Ha.

“This means a lot to me. I hope my family and children, even though they live abroad, will not forget their roots,” Ms. Ha shared.

Childhood memories

Recalling her childhood, Ms. Ha fondly remembers the image of her parents rushing to the market and waking up early to prepare offerings for each holiday.

Ms. Ha performs both indoor and outdoor worship rituals.

“At that time, I was still young and didn’t know what holiday it was. I only remember my parents were very thoughtful, waking up early to prepare the offerings and displaying fruits on the altar. The offerings were carefully prepared by my parents. After the offerings, the whole family gathered to eat and drink, very happy.

When I grew up and understood the meaning, I loved my parents even more and wanted to continue that tradition," she confided.

It was her childhood memories that motivated her to maintain the old ways in a foreign land.

On the occasion of the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, Ms. Ha prepared a vegetarian meal with 13 dishes: sticky rice with gac fruit, mango salad, stir-fried vermicelli, boiled vegetables, mixed soup..., dessert with bean sweet soup and fruit.

She bought the ingredients the day before at a Vietnamese market about an hour's drive from home. Her husband and children also helped.

“Even though it is a vegetarian dish, I still carefully prepare and present it beautifully, considering it a way to show respect to our ancestors. When the whole family gathers to cook together, that is when family ties become stronger,” said Ms. Ha.

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All dishes are decorated and trimmed carefully.

This year’s full moon in July is close to the 80th anniversary of National Day, September 2nd, so the offering tray is even more meaningful. She cooked red sticky rice with gac fruit and decorated it with a yellow star made of green beans to evoke the image of the national flag. On the altar there is also mochi cake in the shape of the S-shaped country.

She carved the flowers for the tray herself from white radishes, following an online video tutorial. “Luckily, it was a success the first time,” she said.

Ms. Ha said that in Australia, the Vietnamese community maintains traditional customs quite completely. Every full moon festival or major holidays, each family follows the example of the other, gradually forming a small Vietnamese community in the heart of Melbourne.

Filial piety "from afar"

Every year, Ms. Ha tries to return to her hometown once, but Vu Lan season always leaves her with many regrets. Her father passed away 3 years ago, now only her mother is left in Vietnam.

“When I think of my father, I always feel sorry for him because his contribution to giving birth to me is so great that his children have not yet had the chance to repay him. As for my mother, I am far away and cannot take care of her as I wish, so I am very worried about her,” she choked up.

As a meticulous person, when preparing a feast, it must be beautiful and complete.

In a foreign land, she only knows how to wish her mother peace and good health. Besides gifts and greetings, she believes that living a kind and responsible life every day is the best way to make her parents feel at ease.

“For me, filial piety is not only expressed through the holiday meal, but also living responsibly in my own life. That is the way to repay the kindness of birth and upbringing,” she confided.

Photo: NVCC

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lam-mam-co-vu-lan-tren-dat-uc-con-gai-nho-nha-chi-mong-me-binh-an-2439278.html