Dr. Thomas Guidat, who celebrated five Tets (the Lunar New Year) in Vietnam, said his experience of the traditional Vietnamese holiday is “unforgettable.”
His sharing with The Hanoi Times will help foreign expats understand more about the millennial-long culture in this Southeast Asian country.
Dr. Thomas Guidat, a lecturer at Vietnam-German University, spends his five Tet holidays in Vietnam. |
I am glad to celebrate my 5th Tet in Vietnam in 2023. Since my first work mission at the Vietnamese-German University, Tet demonstrates perfectly how my perception of the local culture evolved. My first Tet spent in Vietnam coincided with the writing phase of my doctoral thesis, and I only noticed that my neighbors and the local businesses were closed for a week. At that time, I focused only on my work and did not invest time in making new friends, so I knew little about Vietnamese culture. As a lecturer, I also have difficulties receiving feedback from my students, who seem intimidated.
As related by many former expats, settling in a new country without your family can result in a lonely and depressing time. I am very grateful that Tet has saved me from such a situation. In 2020, I was invited by a friend to celebrate Tet in the city of Long Xuyen in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. This experience was life-changing as it did not only allow me to understand Vietnamese culture better, but I also experienced a wonderful time of celebration of family love, friendship moments, and gift sharing. Every Tet since then, I have come back to my friend's family in Long Xuyen to celebrate the Lunar new year together.
I believe my story to be an unforgettable experience of the life of a foreigner in Vietnam. This country has a millennial-long culture and tradition which underpin many aspects of society. I especially admire the link between culture and values, as Tet is the expression of family love and care. Beyond being an essential moment to celebrate, Tet makes me fall in love with Vietnam a little more every year.
Other News
- Year-end parties: Time of joy or source of stress?
- Private funding for intelligent transport system in Hanoi
- Hanoi as hub of youth energy - the creative core of smart cities
- Hanoi spearheads anti-waste measures to accelerate urban development
- The dark side of social media: Are we playing with fire?
- Hanoi's fight against illegal racing: short-term police crackdown, long-term education key
- Ethnic minorities want more policies for socio-economic improvement
- Expatriate workforce in Hanoi: Growth engine requring thorough administration
- Hanoi to have no overlap between greenery and underground infrastructure
- A breath of fresh air: Hanoi’s path to greener future
Trending
-
Hanoi holds grand ceremony for 80th anniversary of Vietnam People's Army
-
Vietnam news in brief - December 22
-
Hanoi holds requiem for martyrs and victims of 1972 B-52 bombing massacre
-
Vietnam Defense Expo 2024 secures $286.3 million in deals
-
Memories and Faith" features war memorabilia
-
Smart solutions - Key for Hanoi tourism in 2025
-
HABECO – The spirit of Vietnam rising
-
Bia Ha Noi brings you golden luck in Lunar New Year
-
Quintessence of Tonkin: Modern approach to experiencing Vietnamese culture