Vietnamese Tet through the eyes of foreign diplomats

Having lived in Vietnam for 5 years, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam, Mr. Guido Hildner, shares: “This is my 5th time experiencing Tet in Vietnam. Every year, I discover something new. This is a very special time. When Tet comes, the festive atmosphere envelops everything, and all the hustle and bustle of daily life seems to come to a halt. People focus on the core things, which are family and friends.”

In addition to sharing about the impression of traditional Tet in Vietnam, the Ambassador appreciates Vietnam’s position and role in the international arena in recent times. According to Mr. Guido Hildner, Vietnam plays an important role in the Asia-Pacific region. This is a crucial factor that contributes to the increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are delighted to have a strong partner like Vietnam in this region, and we hope that Vietnam’s economy will continue to develop and take on more responsibilities in the future. We believe that this will contribute to the stability of the region,” the Ambassador added.

Expressing admiration for Vietnam’s foreign achievements in recent times, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Vietnam, Mr. Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre, stated that Vietnam has made significant contributions to the region. The Philippines highly values the great economic achievements that Vietnam has achieved in 2023, despite the global economic context facing many challenges.

“At the same time, with its bamboo diplomacy, Vietnam has maintained strong diplomatic relations at bilateral, regional, and international levels. All of these contribute to affirming Vietnam’s role and protecting its interests in the region,” Mr. Montealegre emphasized.

Having experienced Tet in Vietnam three times, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Vietnam, Mr. Denny Abdi, shared that the end of 2023 is the best time for him to enjoy the Tet atmosphere as in previous years, in 2021 and 2022, Vietnam had to implement social distancing measures and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I believe Tet is the biggest event in Vietnam. Everyone is excited about Tet. On this festive occasion, I would like to send New Year’s wishes to everyone in the Year of the Wood Horse 2024,” he said.

Sharing his impressions of over a year in Vietnam, the most impressive thing for Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam, Mr. Thomas Gass, is that Vietnamese people are extremely warm, kind, and resourceful.

“Vietnamese people always find solutions to problems. In addition, there is motivation, determination, and passion. That is the strength of the Vietnamese people. I believe that Vietnam can do more because the strength of Vietnam lies in the diversity of its hundreds of millions of people, not only in terms of culture, but also in terms of ideas and voices. When mobilizing that strength, nothing can stop Vietnam’s progress,” the Ambassador shared.

On this occasion, Ambassador Thomas Gass also sent greetings from the entire Swiss nation and people to the people of Vietnam, wishing them a peaceful, prosperous New Year full of health and happiness.

Mrs. Nathalie Gass-Lussi, the spouse of the Swiss Ambassador and Chairwoman of the group of spouses and partners of diplomats, also shared: “I really love Vietnam and its people. I highly appreciate the Vietnamese officials working at the Embassy and the way Vietnamese people interact with foreigners on the streets.”

The spouse of the Swiss Ambassador feels: “During the Lunar New Year, people are busy shopping and excitedly preparing for their families. For us, the atmosphere during Tet is similar to Christmas in my country. I love watching people prepare for the holiday and decorate their homes. All the decorations on each row of trees and on the streets are wonderful.”

For every Vietnamese person living abroad, Tet is truly a meaningful time. Although it is not possible to return to the homeland this Tet, Mr. Philipp Rösler, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland and former Deputy Prime Minister of Germany, sends a message to all Vietnamese people: “Wherever you live, whether it’s Vietnam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or even Zurich, we are one family. Let’s work and succeed for this wonderful family.”

Experiencing Tet in Vietnam not only allows diplomats to immerse themselves in the local life but also helps them better understand and love the cultural beauty and customs of Vietnam, from familiar dishes like banh chung to reminders of Tet such as peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, kumquat trees, or the tradition of giving lucky money with beautiful wishes./.