Lao students experience Vietnamese New Year celebration

Many Lao students have decided to remain in Vietnam to spend Lunar New Year due to Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Celebrating Vietnamese New Year reminds of Bun Pi May

 

Luangaphai Phetmeezai, a third year student of pharmacy, Nha Trang University is very excited to spend the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. The Tet culture is so impressive to her. She and her friends will tidy up and decorate their dorm rooms to welcome the Lunar New Year. “Lao New Year falls in April instead of February like in Vietnam this year. Celebrating Vietnamese New Year reminds me of my traditional holiday in my hometown," she said.

 

 

Lao students at Nha Trang University are excited about the chung cake wrapping day.

 

 

Another student named Vorlavong Phoutsakan, a fourth-year student of electricity and electronics (Industrial electricity) recalled her Lunar New Year known as Bun Pi May. During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles, including traditional Lao music and social dancing. During the daytime many people go to the temple to worship and pray for good health and happiness in the new year. During the evening, they go out to take part in festive activities. "Although unable to return home during Lunar New Year, we can take part in a festive program held by the university for Lao students at dorms with the attendance of many teachers and friends. I feel like at home during the New Year’s Day,” she said.

 

 

 

 

Cultural exchange

 

In order to create a joyful atmosphere for foreign students celebrating Lunar New Year far from home, Nha Trang University organized the program on wrapping Vietnamese square sticky rice cakes or chung cakes. Tran Doan Hung, Vice-Rector of Nha Trang University said, "This year, the university organized the program for international students remaining at school during Tet holiday. They learned how to wrap the cakes, having fun together and understanding more about Vietnamese culture. The cakes will be cooked and shared among the students during Tet.”

 

Early in the morning, many Lao students were present at school to prepare all ingredients. They gathered to clean banana leaves and wrap cakes in a cozy atmosphere. Thavixay Manichanh, a final year student, is so delighted and excited to join the activity, learning how to wrap Vietnamese square sticky rice cakes, so that she can understand more about the culture of the country where she is studying.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first time Luangaphai Phetmeezai has learned such an interesting thing. She came early as she was so curious about ingredients and devices for making the cakes, banana leaves, molds and bamboo strings which are quite different from her country. She gave it a first try. “My first wrapping does not look very nice,” she happily said.

 

Many students carefully followed wrapping instructions, then they started to trim leaves, put ingredients into molds and so on. They were so excited to gather together spending fun moments and taking photos of their first experience of wrapping Vietnamese chung cakes.

 

 

 

 

T.Truc

Translated by N.T