"I expect to enjoy Tet Holidays in Vietnam," Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Chile

I was quite new in Vietnam, when I was invited by a friend to spend two days at his family’s home, 40 km away from Hanoi. I felt really lucky and honoured for that opportunity to celebrate Tet, and I tried to do my best, what ever I was expected to do.

 

Previously I had heard about some general Vietnamese traditions for that great event, but I was a bit afraid to make unintentional mistakes or something socially incorrect. Fortunately, social rules are more flexible for foreigners, and I was able to relax and enjoy the time from the beginning.

 

I had the good idea to buy lots of attractive candies, thus, as I correctly presumed, in that village there were a lot of children. I filled many envelopes with ‘lucky money’ and I brought some bottles of Chilean wine for the adults. Furthermore, I brought a pair of pan flutes, which is a flute made of several bamboo canes, to dedicate some tunes to the host family.

 

I was warmly welcomed by the members of the family, especially by children, who showed a candid curiosity towards me. I was surprised so many times I had the honour to toast on the name of President Ho Chi Minh with home made Vietnamese brandy. I was delighted by the original and never-seen-before food displayed on the table. We went to the temple and visited other homes of relatives and friends. I played my flute and I taught a simple tune to an 11 year-old boy bringing admiration and joy to his parents.

 

Other old friends came to visit my host family and they were glad to meet a foreigner who could drink so bravely the Vietnamese brandy (which I don’t call wine due to its alcoholic degree), so I had to raise my elbow more than enough for an entire week!

 

I still wonder why some Vietnamese like to drink so many different things during a single night, like beer, French wine -white or red-, cognac, whisky and Vietnamese brandy. I always advise people not to mix too much, for it may be unhealthy. Eventually that brandy was not so strong as I feared, and I felt quite well during that unique experience. Naturally, I am expecting now who will invite me for next Tet holidays!