International students immerse themselves in Vietnamese Lunar New Year traditions
DNO - Da Nang's universities have organized a range of cultural exchange activities enabling international students to experience the atmosphere of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) and gain deeper insights into the country’s cultural identity.
For many international students, these programmes provide their first direct encounter with Tet.
Phonesoulinthon Souksavanh from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a fourth-year student majoring in Vietnamese Language and Culture at the Faculty of International Studies, University of Foreign Language Studies, shared that participating in traditional Tet cooking activities allowed her to better understand the meaning and values of Tet.
Through hands-on experiences, she said, international students are able to engage more closely with Vietnamese cultural traditions while strengthening connections and mutual understanding with local students.
The activities also contribute to a more inclusive and culturally diverse learning environment.
In line with the growing internationalization of higher education, several universities have launched annual Tet-themed programmes for international students.
Included were “Tet in My Heart 2026” at the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies, “Vietnamese Tet for International Students,” and “Spring Connections - Experiencing Vietnamese Culture” organized by the Da Nang University of Education.
The above-mentioned events not only introduce international students to the distinctive features of Vietnamese culture but also provide a platform for cultural sharing, where participants can present stories and traditions from their home countries.
Khalilov Alexander from the Russian Federation, a student at the Faculty of International Studies, the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies, said he was excited to take part in traditional activities such as calligraphy writing, cooking, and folk games for the first time.
According to Alexander, these experiences offered more than entertainment, helping international students better appreciate the depth of Vietnamese culture and the strong sense of community reflected in Tet celebrations.
He described the experience as one of the most memorable moments of his studies in Vietnam.
Joe, an American student majoring in Education and Politics at the Da Nang University of Education, has lived and studied in Vietnam for three years and previously celebrated Tet.
However, he said the “Vietnamese Tet for International Students” programme still brought a renewed sense of excitement. This year, Joe also filmed videos and conducted interviews to create digital content aimed at sharing the beauty of Tet with international audiences.
According to Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hieu, the Vice Rector of the Da Nang University of Education, Tet is the most significant annual festival in Vietnam.
The university organizes Tet activities each year to create a warm and welcoming space where international students can directly experience traditional customs, including writing New Year wishes, wrapping “banh chung” and “banh tet”, practicing calligraphy and tasting traditional sweets.
Sharing the same view, Dr. Nguyen Huu Binh, the Vice Rector of the University of Foreign Language Studies, said Tet represents a sacred moment of reunion in Vietnamese culture.
Maintaining programs such as “Tet in My Heart” allows students to experience Tet in a vivid and authentic way, while encouraging cultural exchange and mutual understanding among students from different countries.
Through these initiatives, both Vietnamese and international students have the chance to get engaged in real-life cultural experiences, practicing language skills, and sharing emotions, thereby fostering a deeper appreciation for Vietnam’s culture and people.