The flavors of Vietnamese Tet linger around the world
From Osaka in Japan to Lorient in France, Vietnamese communities are spreading the spirit of Tet through vibrant cultural celebrations.
THE HANOI TIMES — Lunar New Year events took place last week, drawing overseas Vietnamese communities worldwide together through their shared attachment to their homeland and strengthened cultural ties between Vietnam and host countries.
For the first time, Vietnamese-language schools in OsakaP, Japan together held a Spring Fair to promote the Vietnamese language and culture during the Lunar New Year.
Vietnamese Spring Fair in Osaka, Japan. Photo: Association of Vietnamese in the Kansai region.
The event sought to strengthen students’ ties to their homeland and encourage them to preserve their cultural identity while living and studying overseas.
Through reading sessions, singing, dancing and interactive activities, students in Osaka had the opportunity to “live in Vietnamese”, deepening their connection to their roots and their sense of cultural responsibility.
The fair followed an experiential education model that encouraged students to use Vietnamese in daily life rather than limit it to the classroom, said Le Thuong, principal of the Bamboo School of Vietnamese Language and a Vietnamese Language Ambassador for 2026.
Family-run booths prepared by parents and students were a highlight. Children sold food and handicrafts, organized folk games and handled real transactions using Japanese yen.
“These activities helped them develop communication, numeracy and teamwork skills while practicing Vietnamese in practical settings,” Thuong said at the event on February 21.
A mobile Vietnamese community book station at the venue attracted large numbers of students and parents.
The station showcased a range of Vietnamese-language children’s books and cultural and historical titles through group reading and storytelling sessions.
On February 20, the Russian-Vietnamese Cultural Center at Herzen State Pedagogical University held a Lunar New Year celebration in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The event brought festive cheer to Vietnamese expatriates and promoted cultural exchange between young people from both countries.
Anastasia Galitskaya, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, said the Lunar New Year has spread globally and reached St. Petersburg.
She attributed the Lunar New Year for connecting the two countries and cultures and congratulated Vietnamese students with their traditional celebrations.
Students from both countries staged performances. Organizers decorated the venue with peach blossoms, sticky rice cakes and fruit trays, presenting a vivid image of Vietnam’s cultural traditions in the historic Russian city.
In Lorient, France, nearly 1,000 French residents, members of the Vietnamese community and international friends gathered at the National Convention Center to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Art program to celebrate Lunar New Year in Lorient, western France. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper
More than 100 professional and amateur performers joined French and Vietnamese volunteers, students and young Vietnamese from various cities in the artistic program on February 15.
A saxophone performance by Kevin Nguyen, a Frenchman of Vietnamese descent, stood out and underscored the intergenerational transmission of Vietnamese cultural identity in France.
Visitors took part in activities highlighting Vietnam’s traditional values.
A calligraphy booth drew strong interest, allowing participants to write their names in Vietnamese script and learn about messages of good fortune and prosperity.
The Hung Long Traditional Martial Arts Club from Mordelles demonstrated martial arts rooted in Vietnam’s warrior heritage. A fashion show featuring ao dai designs by Bich Ha Sarah showcased the elegance of Vietnam’s traditional dress.
Beyond food, music and art, the celebration created space for cultural exchange, enabling local residents to engage more closely with Vietnamese customs.
“We are honored to share and promote Vietnamese culture in Lorient. This event offers an opportunity to preserve and pass on our heritage to younger generations of Vietnamese in France,” said Thuy Kernen, President of the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association and head of the organizing committee.
The program strengthened community bonds and contributed to closer ties between Vietnam and France at the local level.
Lorient Mayor Fabrice Loher welcomed the celebration as the city marked its 360th anniversary, calling the occasion especially meaningful.
The mayor said the event honors the historic, cultural and economic ties Lorient has built with many international communities, including the Vietnamese.
According to Loher, the festival with the Vietnamese plays an important role in the French city’s life and reflects the growing bond between France and Vietnam.
