On February 8, more than 30 young participants gathered at Phim Bar in Quy Nhơn Ward for the “Nếp chưng xanh” event, organised by the Glocality Gia Lai Community. Students and foreign guests sat together around baskets of sticky rice, mung beans and pepper-marinated pork belly, learning to wrap bánh chưng, the square sticky rice cake central to Tet celebrations.
Laughter mixed with the sound of banana leaves being folded and bamboo strings tied. Though some cakes were imperfectly shaped, organisers said the value of the event lay not in the final product but in the experience itself.
Lê Minh Bộ, a member of the organising committee, said the group had arranged two Tet-themed activities this season, including an earlier programme titled “Mộng chiều xuân” featuring a discussion on “Tet through the eyes of children”.
“When you arrange the sticky rice and tie the strings yourself, you realise that Tet is not something distant, but a value you can preserve through your own actions”, he said.
For many participants, the experience offered a new perspective. Đỗ An Bách, wrapping bánh chưng for the first time, said he had previously watched older family members make the cakes with ease.
“But when I tried it myself, I realised every step requires patience. I feel closer to Tet when I can do it myself, not just watch”, he said.
The spirit of sharing extended beyond celebration. In 2026, the Youth Union of the 48th Border Guard Squadron, in collaboration with the Youth Union of Gia Lai Medical College and other units, organised the “Spring of Love” programme. The bánh chưng prepared during the initiative were delivered directly to disadvantaged families in Bắc Quy Nhơn Ward.
Senior Lieutenant Trương Tấn Sang, Public Affairs Officer of the 48th Border Guard Squadron, said the activity combined tradition with community care.
“Each cake carries with it a sense of sharing and the hope that everyone can have a warmer Tet,” he said.
Educational institutions have also turned Tet into an opportunity for cultural engagement. On January 27, Quy Nhơn College of Engineering and Technology hosted its “Celebrating the Party – Welcoming Spring 2026” festival, bringing together seven teams of students. Competitions ranged from making bánh chưng and bánh tét to arranging five-fruit trays, practising calligraphy and playing traditional folk games.
Lê Thị Kim Yến, a Business Administration student, said the preparations deepened her understanding of Tet symbolism.
“When preparing the five-fruit tray with friends, I realised each fruit has its own meaning. Tet feels more intimate when shared with the group,” she said.
Younger children are also being introduced to Tet traditions through interactive activities. On February 13, the Pleiku Ward Children’s House organised the “Green Bánh Chưng Festival,” combining cake-making with calligraphy sessions exploring the meanings of characters such as “Phúc” (Happiness), “Lộc” (Prosperity), “An” (Peace) and “Nhẫn” (Patience).
At Hồ Tùng Mậu Primary School in Biển Hồ Commune, the “Spring for Children – I Love Jrai Culture” programme on February 11 recreated the festive atmosphere of a traditional spring. Students in grades three to five built miniature Jrai communal houses using cardboard, twigs and bamboo sticks, while younger pupils drew and coloured Jrai brocade patterns.
Performances of t’rưng xylophone, xoang dance and gong ensembles by student groups, along with mass dances involving teachers and pupils, added to the celebration.
Ms Đưp, head of the school team, said the aim was to ensure children experienced Tet as part of their own lives rather than as abstract tradition.
“When they build communal houses, play gongs, dance xoang or draw brocade patterns themselves, they understand it is part of their own lives,” she said. “Through these concrete experiences, a love for culture will naturally form.”
Across Gia Lai, such initiatives suggest that while Tet is rooted in centuries-old customs, its spirit continues to evolve, carried forward by a generation choosing to preserve it through action, creativity and community.
