Nowadays, many young people, instead of spending New Year holiday at home, pack their luggage and set off for New year vocations...
Nowadays, many young people, instead of spending New Year holiday at home, pack their luggage and set off for spring vocations to mountainous areas to offer lucky money to disadvantaged children or to places of cultural and historical interest.
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| Giving lucky money to children in Cau Ba. |
On the morning of the last day of the year, Truong Phuc Trinh, Ngoc Hiep Ward, Nha Trang City prepared nearly 1,000 red packets of lucky money, some new clothes and toys for the New Year trip with her husband and friends. This is the third year her family has taken such a charity spring tour. She recalled, “We saw kids without new clothes for the New Year holiday when we were on our trip to Da Lat City and called at Khanh Vinh District some years ago. Then, New Year voluntourism came to my mind. Since 2013, I and my husband together with our friends have chosen remote mountainous areas as our vacation destinations during the national holiday.”
The volunteers rode their bikes to the communes of Cau Ba, Song Cau and Son Thai to share a warm holiday with disadvantaged children. “VND50,000/ each child is not much but I hope it is a meaningful gift for them on the occasion of the lunar New Year. I have been to most of famous tourist attractions nationwide but the tour to such places is really a pleasant and meaningful experience for me,” says Nguyen Thanh Dung, a member of the charity group.
Besides charity tourism, teenagers are fond of tours to places of cultural and historical interest. Tran Dinh Long, Phuoc Tien Ward, Nha Trang City says, “My group has 5 members from Nha Trang City, Van Ninh District and Phu Yen Province. This Lunar New Year, our trip began at Dr. Yersin’s grave vestige, Hon Ba Peak and then to Da Lat City to visit places where Dr. Yersin when alive had used to set foot on. Then we followed the route Khanh Le - Lam Dong and called at Son Thai Commune, Khanh Vinh District to give lucky money to children in need as well as taste grilled chicken and rice cooked in bamboo tube at a local restaurant.” Reportedly, they took their 2015 New Year trip to Hoi An and visited all Cham towers on their way.
“In recent years, several young people in Nha Trang City have had a new way of enjoying the spring holiday. This is a great chance for them to discover new destinations. Son Thai located on the way to Da Lat has become a popular rest stop where they can meet and provide support for local children from disadvantaged families. Their New Year voluntourism is highly appreciated,” says Vo Xuan Canh, Vice- Chairman of Son Thai Commune People’s Committee.
Dinh Lam
Translated by N.T
