"Vietnamese Tet In Me" brings traditional festival to Europe through art
Three months into the contest, the "Vietnamese Tet in Me" writing contest received a large number of Vietnamese people living in Europe, driven by nostalgia and the desire to share the beauty of their traditional new year celebrations.
THE HANOI TIMES — The awards ceremony for the "Vietnamese Tet in Me" contest is set to take place on June 8 at the Royal Citadel in the Sapa Trade Center in Prague, Czech Republic.
This year's contest, themed “A Joyful Tet – A Spring of Aspiration,” attracted 251 submissions from 15 European countries. The oldest participant was 83-year-old Nguyen Xuan Nhung from Poland, while the youngest was five-year-old Danny Nguyen from the UK. Notably, eight foreign nationals took part, with four earning awards.
The contest, co-hosted by the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Union of Vietnamese Women’s Associations in Europe, is one of the most anticipated cultural events among the Vietnamese diaspora.
Through their entries, Vietnamese living abroad have the chance to express their heartfelt nostalgia for their homeland and empathize with fellow members of the diaspora. The entries also serve as cultural bridges, sharing the beauty of Vietnam’s traditional Tet holiday with the world and transcending language barriers.
An artwork submitted to this year's contest.
According to the organizers, the awards venue will feature traditional Vietnamese décor, providing participants with an emotionally immersive experience and helping them reflect, connect, and celebrate the spirit of Tet in the heart of Europe.
The event will also welcome representatives from Vietnamese government bodies, community associations, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals, as well as a large turnout of overseas Vietnamese from across the continent.
The total prize amounts to $14,700, including ten group prizes, thirty-nine individual prizes (three first prizes, nine-second prizes, twelve third prizes, and fifteen consolation prizes), and twenty honorable mentions.
In the Czech Republic, the Vietnamese community of 65,000 people ranks third largest national minority, after Slovaks and Ukrainians.
