Every time Tet approaches, Phan Thanh Dat - a young photography enthusiast currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, clearly feels the difference between the Tet atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City and his hometown in the West. For him, although Saigon is always bustling, vibrant and full of brilliant colors, in the heart of a child of the West, memories of his hometown Tet are always present, creating an indescribable nostalgia and longing.
Bringing Tet home on the street
Tet in Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling time with festivals, flower markets, and streets filled with spring colors. "Saigon has a very bustling Tet atmosphere, much more crowded than the West, with many festivals, flower markets... Although each place has its own unique features, Tet in Ho Chi Minh City and Tet in the West both have very typical traditional cultural features of Vietnam such as preparing to clean and decorate the house, going to flower markets, Tet markets, worshiping Ong Tao, worshiping at the end of the year...", Dat shared.
Spring is everywhere on the streets of Saigon, where every corner is bright with lights and Tet flowers.
However, the atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City gives him a different feeling, especially when he still has to stay in the city to work in the days before Tet. Seeing people rushing to shop and prepare for spring, Dat's heart also feels excited. However, he still can't help but miss his hometown, where Tet is always prepared in a simple and warm way. "There are memories of Tet in the past that we rarely find in modern life today, such as wrapping banh tet, banh chung, making jam. Life in the city is so rushed that it seems like people prefer to go to the market to buy things for convenience. From then on, Tet also lacks a bit of the family atmosphere," he expressed.
Whenever he thinks about Tet, Dat cannot forget the images of the dishes his mother cooked, such as coconut jam, ginger jam, banh tet, and braised pork with duck eggs. These are not only typical dishes during Tet but also symbols of love and family connection. His mother made jam, and his father carried pots of marigolds to display in front of the house. Those scents not only created a cozy Tet atmosphere but also remained a permanent memory in his mind, no matter where he went or what he did.
Bustling scene at Tet markets, where people shop to prepare for spring
Although Tet in Ho Chi Minh City and the West have similarities, Dat also noticed clear differences in the way of preparation. People in the West still maintain long-standing traditions such as raising livestock, growing crops and making Tet cakes. “In the West, people prepare ingredients by themselves, make Tet cakes, Tet jams, and especially the habit of gathering the family to prepare for Tet together,” Dat said. For him, the most interesting thing is going to the Tet market with his mother, carrying a lot of shopping bags, then coming home with his mother to make coconut jam and ginger jam.
Saigon people not only shop, but also prepare everything for a complete Tet season.
In recent years, Tet in Ho Chi Minh City has changed significantly. The city is not only more vibrant with festival activities, but the Tet atmosphere is also richer and more diverse. The streets are splendidly decorated, Tet markets sell all kinds of items, from fresh flowers to candies. "Every year, Ho Chi Minh City has more activities, new festivals, and the decorated streets add to the excitement of spring," Dat said. What is special is that the culture of taking photos of Tet Ao Dai has become an indispensable part of Tet for young people. Photo albums taken in spaces with bright spring colors are not only a trend but also a way for people to preserve beautiful Tet moments.
However, according to Dat, if he wanted to capture the most authentic Tet moments in the city named after Uncle Ho, he would choose old apartment buildings, small alleys and traditional markets. “In these places, the Tet atmosphere is most clearly expressed. Grandmothers and mothers are busy preparing food, making pickled onions, cakes and candies… Those familiar sounds create a lively and intimate Tet atmosphere,” Dat shared.
Every corner of Saigon, from alleys to old apartments, contains a warm Tet atmosphere.
Ho Chi Minh City is like a vibrant, bustling and colorful picture. The streets are filled with lights, the Tet market is bustling, and the atmosphere of reunion permeates every corner. Although the hurried pace of life is still relentless, in these moments, the city brings a feeling of warmth and closeness, like an invitation to return, to welcome the spring full of hope.
