Q: Good morning Van. It’s my pleasure to connect with you today.

V: Hello Quynh. How are you today?

Q: Pretty good. Have you just returned to Ho Chi Minh City after the Tet holiday?
V: That’s right. I just had a wonderful time with my family.
Q: Wow. So Admirable. I have just been in Vietnam for 2 days. It’s a shame that I can’t
enjoy Tet in Vietnam.
V: Never mind. I can tell you some information about Tet.
Q: So fantastic.
V: Tet is one of the most important holiday in Viet Nam and many Asian countries. Tet or
Lunar New year is often held at the end of January or the beginning of February. Before Tet
some weeks, people always repaint their house, clean the house and around. They also
decorate their houses with Kumquat tree, cherry blossom branches or many colourful
flowers. Then they make many traditional food such as Chung cake, pickled onions.
Children are bought new clothes by their parents.
Q: That sound fascinating! Apart from those events, Tet is also a chance for people who live
far away to attend family get-togethers in their own country, right?
V: Precisely.
Q: I have heard that “banh chung” and “banh tet” are symbols of the Lunar New Year. Are
they have any deeper meaning?
V: Absolutely. “Banh chung” and “banh tet” are representing the Earth and the sky,
respectively, reflecting the Vietnamese belief in the importance of harmony and balance in
the universe. The round shape of these cakes also symbolizes the cycle of life and the
coming together of family members.
Q: So significant. I have a thing for those cakes. Tet is a really rich and meaningful
celebration. And I love how much thought and symbolism goes into every aspect of Tet.
V: I still have banh tet at my house. You can come to my house, I will fry it to you try.
Q: Fry it? How absorbing! Is that a different way of eating banh tet?
V: Exactly right. How about you come over this weekend? I'll fry some banh tet for you, and
we can continue our conversation about Tet and perhaps watch some Tet-related
documentaries together.
Q: That sounds like a wonderful plan! I'd love to taste the fried banh tet and learn more
about Tet traditions. Thank you for the invitation, Van. I'll definitely come over this
weekend.
V: Great! I'm looking forward to it. See you soon, Quynh!
to have a thing for something: to have a very keen or particular interest in something; to
really like or enjoy something.