Schools across Gia Lai province are marking the approach of the Lunar New Year with large-scale experiential programmes designed to immerse students in the traditions of Tet, Vietnam’s most important holiday, while reinforcing cultural pride and practical skills.
At Hoa Mi Kindergarten in Ia Hiao commune, more than 730 students, teachers and parents gathered for the “Spring Fair 2026-Children joyfully welcome Tet”, transforming the school grounds into a lively celebration space. The annual event, now in its third consecutive year, featured Tet food stalls, folk games, statue painting and drawing activities, alongside a calligraphy booth that proved especially popular.
Holding a calligraphy brush for the first time, Ksor H’Chúc said she was delighted to take part. “I’m very happy to try calligraphy and visit the Spring Fair with my friends. I hope there will be more activities like this so I can learn more about the traditions of Tet”, she said.
Principal Tran Thi My Quyen said the programme aims to create a friendly educational environment while allowing children, most of whom come from local ethnic minority families, to experience the atmosphere of traditional Tet at school.
“Through these experiential activities, we hope the children will better understand, love and take pride in their traditional culture,” she said, adding that the initiative follows the motto of “learning through experience” to strengthen communication skills and confidence.
In Lo Pang commune, Lo Pang Kindergarten No. 3 organised its own Spring Festival Day 2026 to celebrate the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year. The highlight was a hands-on session making banh chung, the square sticky rice cakes that symbolise Tet. Guided by teachers and parents, children learned about dong leaves, sticky rice, mung beans and pork before attempting to wrap the cakes themselves.
“My mom and the teachers showed me how to wrap the cakes, and I was very happy”, said Hung, a four-year-old student. The school also recreated a “Spring Market” with booths displaying traditional Tet products such as cakes, candied fruits, flowers, parallel sentences and folk toys.
At Trung Vuong Secondary School in Dien Hong ward, more than 1,000 students, teachers and parents took part in the extracurricular event “Our School’s Spring Festival - Spring for Friends.” Structured as a competition among grade levels, the festival assigned each group activities closely linked to Tet customs.
Ninth graders competed in making banh chung, eighth graders crafted apricot and peach blossoms, seventh graders focused on painting, calligraphy and designing spring greeting cards, while sixth graders prepared traditional cakes such as banh in and banh phuc linh.
Nguyen Chi Nhan, a ninth-grade student, said his class prepared ingredients, wrapped and cooked the cakes themselves. The finished products will be donated to classmates facing difficult circumstances. “Participating in the festival helped me better understand traditional customs and learn how to make banh chung so I can help my family”, he said.
In another area of the school grounds, sixth-grade students shaped more than 40 banh in in a single day. Homeroom teacher Bui Thi Thuy said that although only a few students initially handled the work, they quickly mastered the process after one demonstration. The activity, she added, offered both enjoyment and an opportunity to develop dexterity while learning about traditional cuisine.
Seventh graders spent a week preparing spring paintings and greeting cards reflecting themes of unity and shared identity. Dang Phuc Thai An said her group chose to depict both rural and urban settings to symbolise national cohesion. “Participating in this activity gave me a chance to showcase my talents and helped me better understand and appreciate the value of our traditional Tet”, she said.
Parents have also welcomed the initiatives. Vo Thi Thanh Vy said students who initially struggled with calligraphy showed rapid improvement after several days of practice, gaining both enjoyment and a deeper understanding of Tet’s cultural meaning.
Through these coordinated festivals and classroom experiences, schools across Gia Lai are not only creating a festive atmosphere as spring approaches, but also embedding traditional cultural values within the educational environment, ensuring that the spirit of Tet continues to resonate with younger generations.
