On 5-6 February, the Women’s Union of Ia Hrung Commune partnered with the local Red Cross to launch the “Joining hands to bring Tet to the Village” programme in Bo and Jut 2 villages.
Forty-one branch leaders and local women made 160 bánh chưng to distribute to disadvantaged women, orphans, children in difficult circumstances and policy-beneficiary families.
The organisers also delivered 100 Tet gift packages, each worth 400,000 VND (approx. USD 16), aiming to ensure all households enjoy a warm holiday and to encourage cultural exchange among ethnic groups, said Bui Thu Hang, chairwoman of the commune’s Women’s Union.
In Chu Se Commune, Tet celebrations began early on 1 February as the Women’s Union, My Thach Pagoda and local benefactors funded more than 66 million VND (approx. USD 2,600) for the “Tet comes to the village” event in Pan and Queng Mep villages.
Villagers prepared sticky rice, mung beans, pork, banana leaves and firewood to cook nearly 400 bánh tét, which were later gifted to disadvantaged women. Another 110 gift packages worth 500,000 VND (approx. USD 20) each were handed to struggling households.
Siu Hdơt, deputy secretary of the Pan village Party Cell, said the shared cake-making created “a cheerful, cohesive Tet atmosphere” and allowed villagers to exchange customs while learning livelihood skills from Kinh communities.
For many Jrai families, bánh tét has become a familiar Tet staple. In Ia Hiao Commune, Rcom H’Rê began preparing sticky rice, banana leaves and pork from 9 February, earlier than usual, after finishing seasonal work. She said Jrai households only began learning to make bánh tét from Kinh neighbours after 2000, but it is now embraced widely. “Tet feels incomplete without bánh tét”, she said while wrapping cakes.
Women such as Ksor Lan Huong and Y Sinh, who joined the cake-making for the first time, said the activity not only taught them new culinary skills but also deepened communal ties. Many plan to prepare both bánh chưng and bánh tét for their families and guests during the Lunar New Year.
