Banh chung, 2026 Lunar New Year and overseas Vietnamese around the world

THE HANOI TIMES — In snow-covered Ufa, capital of Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, the aroma of sticky rice, mung beans and pork wrapped in green leaves stirred memories of Vietnam thousands of miles away.

Under festive music, six teams from the Vietnamese community in Ufa competed in a banh chung wrapping contest last weekend.

Participants folded leaves, measured rice, spread mung beans and placed pork before shaping each cake by hand. Laughter rang out in the freezing air, softening the harsh winter chill.

When the contest ended, teams exchanged handshakes and New Year greetings while sharing stories from the past year. The cakes were gathered and boiled for public sharing at the upcoming community Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration.

The outcome mattered less than the shared joy and the scent of freshly wrapped banh chung that filled the hall. For many, tradition endures despite the distance from home.

Banh chung represents reunion, gratitude and memories of families staying up through the final night of the year to tend a pot over an open fire.

For families, especially children born and raised in Russia, the contest served as a practical lesson in Tet customs and cultural values. Each folded leaf carried family history and strengthened ties to their roots.

Beyond the contest, the community staged cultural performances featuring folk dances and songs about spring, homeland and love. Residents choreographed and rehearsed the program themselves.

To May, Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, said preserving traditions such as banh chung wrapping builds solidarity, mutual support and shared responsibility within the community.

He said the contest also helps transmit cultural values to second- and third-generation Vietnamese growing up abroad.

Nguyen Hue Linh, an eighth-grade student, said she has never celebrated Tet in Vietnam. She learned about holiday traditions through community events, her parents’ stories and media reports.

She said she looks forward most to receiving lucky money at the start of the new year. Born and raised in Ufa, Linh speaks Vietnamese fluently and hopes to return to Vietnam with her parents next Tet.

She told the Vietnam News Agency she wants to experience family reunions, traditional food, home decoration and visits to pagodas at the start of the year.

Beyond Ufa, Vietnamese communities worldwide marked the 2026 Lunar New Year with similar celebrations.

Despite snowfall and freezing temperatures in Tokyo, more than 800 Vietnamese residents and local friends attended the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) program last weekend.

The event featured performances by Vietnamese youth and amateur artists, New Year calligraphy and a traditional food area.

Dang Tu Quynh, a first-year student at the University of Tokyo, said this marks her third Tet in Japan and her second time attending Homeland Spring.

She said Tet events abroad provide comfort to international students and create lasting memories during their years overseas.

Nguyen Duy Anh, Honorary President of the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka and member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, said Homeland Spring strengthens community bonds each year.

He said the program allows overseas Vietnamese to fully experience Tet while living abroad. After seven editions, he said, the community has become more proactive in preserving its identity while integrating locally.

Hoang Xuan Dung, President of the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka, said the program is very important in terms of preserving Vietnam’s culture.

He said young people who proudly wear ao dai, perform on the Kyushu Got Talent stage and join traditional games demonstrate that Vietnamese culture continues across generations.

At a Homeland Spring event in the United States, Nguyen Lan Phuong said overseas Vietnamese think of their grandparents and relatives in Vietnam during Tet.

She expressed hope that Vietnam will achieve further development and attain high-income status following the 14th National Party Congress.

Can Thanh Thuy, who lives in Canberra, said Homeland Spring gatherings bring joy through reunion and help ease homesickness.

She said she always remembers Vietnam and its warm, generous people despite living far away.

Phan Thi Quynh Trang, Director of the Canada-Vietnam Culture and Education Council, said films highlighting Vietnam’s achievements over the past year moved her deeply.

She said attending the event reinforced her commitment to promoting Vietnamese culture internationally.

Cindy Nguyen, who has lived in Toronto for more than 40 years, said joining the Tet celebration and hearing her mother tongue revived childhood memories of traditional cakes, blossoms and holiday dishes.

Tet celebrations by international friends

At the Sapa Trade Center in Prague, the “Spring Celebration 2026” program expanded exchanges between the Vietnamese community and local authorities and residents, strengthening ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

Prague residents, international tourists and Vietnamese attendees sampled Tet dishes such as banh chung, fried spring rolls, pork sausage and pickled scallions. The celebration was combined with the Czech Masopust festival.

Senator Jana Mrackova Vildumetzova said she welcomes the opportunity to watch performances reflecting the cultures of both countries.

She said combining Tet with Masopust enhances community engagement, helping Vietnamese understand Czech traditions and encouraging Czechs to appreciate Vietnamese culture.

In Canada, Brian Allemekinders, an expert at the Privy Council Office and former Head of Cooperation at the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, said living and working in Hanoi deepen his understanding of Tet.

He described Tet as a vital period for family reunion and said he values the experience he gained in Vietnam.

In Brussels, Olivier Desmedt, who married into a Vietnamese family, said he considers Vietnam his second home.

He said each festival allows him to share in the warm atmosphere and strong community spirit.

Vietnamese communities abroad – an integral part of the nation

Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung said Tet is a sacred moment for Vietnamese people everywhere to turn toward their homeland and roots.

He said the Party and State view overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of national unity and a key resource for development.

He highlighted contributions by Vietnamese Americans in science, technology, education, healthcare, business, arts and social life as valuable to national development and bilateral ties.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu welcomed the growth of the 700,000-strong Vietnamese community in Japan and its contributions to bilateral relations.

He cited community efforts to support disaster victims in Vietnam as proof of solidarity and enduring ties to the homeland.

In Australia, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam said he is proud to celebrate with overseas Vietnamese and witness progress in Vietnam and Vietnam-Australia relations.

He praised their contributions to bilateral ties and assistance to disaster-affected communities.

Tam expressed hope that solidarity will continue to deepen in 2026, strengthening the Vietnamese community in Australia.

Tran Hoa Phuong, a Vietnamese Canadian, said overseas Vietnamese remain closely connected to their roots and take pride in Vietnam’s rising global standing.

He said that pride strengthens community cohesion and the resolve to preserve cultural traditions.

Agreeing with the view, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan said traditional values must reach younger generations abroad so they understand and value their heritage.

He said the event strengthened unity among overseas Vietnamese as they look toward Vietnam from afar.