Due to geographical distance and the hustle and bustle of work and life, not all Quang Tri workers in Japan have the opportunity to return home for Tet. To ease their homesickness, these days, they prepare for themselves and their families and contribute so that everyone can have a peaceful and happy traditional Tet.

Young Vietnamese people in Japan gather to celebrate Tet - Photo: NVCC

Tet is far away but very near

During Tet, the apartment of Truong Quang Tung (born in 1989), residing in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, is more crowded than usual. After work, Tung and his wife and friends gather together to cook and enjoy traditional dishes, then chat and confide in each other about past Tet seasons.

Hearing that Mr. Tung and his wife were staying in Japan to celebrate Tet, many young people from Quang Tri who had been taken care of and helped by the couple in their early days in Japan also visited and sent their congratulations. That seemingly simple and rustic thing became a fire to warm the couple's hearts, helping them to ease their longing for their relatives and friends in their hometown of Quang Tri.

Up to now, Mr. Tung has lived and worked in Japan for nearly 7 years. During that time, he and his wife have only returned home twice to celebrate Tet. However, no matter where they celebrate the new year, Mr. Tung and his wife still arrange and prepare quite carefully. Especially since their two children were born and grew up, they have focused more on preparing for a complete Tet celebration.

More than anyone else, Mr. Tung and his wife want their children to deeply understand the meaning and fully feel the flavor of the traditional Tet holiday. This year, near Tet, they cleaned and decorated the house together; prepared ingredients to prepare traditional dishes; found someone to write parallel sentences... "I think that Tet is always in our hearts. No matter where we are, what we do, we still think about this meaningful day, think about our homeland... which means Tet is still here," Mr. Tung said thoughtfully.

Mr. Truong Quang Tung and his wife took a souvenir photo when participating in the "Spring of Love" program held in Japan - Photo: NVCC

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Quang Tri Association in Japan, Mr. Tung and other members have recently paid much attention to the thoughts and feelings of members, especially during the Tet holiday. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 6,000 Quang Tri people living and working in Japan. Most of them are young people who have not been to Japan for long.

Therefore, when seeing the atmosphere of the new year filling their hometown through social networks, most of the children living far away from home feel a little sad. Understanding that, the Quang Tri Association in Japan regularly organizes activities to connect and exchange during the coming of Tet and spring. They encourage members to visit, prepare and celebrate Tet together.

The efforts of the Quang Tri Association in Japan have contributed to filling the void in the hearts of those living far from home. After 4 years of celebrating Vietnamese New Year in Japan, Mr. Cao Xuan Tho (born in 1998), residing in Osaka City, is always grateful for the good fortune that helped him join the association, thereby meeting and becoming acquainted with many Quang Tri people in a foreign land.

From here, he not only felt less lonely but also received care and support. Every time the traditional Tet holiday comes, Tho and his friends gather together. Those who have gone before encourage and guide those who have come after. Tho shared: “Every time Tet comes, the feeling of missing my relatives rises strongly in me. Through Zalo and Facebook, seeing the whole family preparing to welcome the new year, I also feel a little excited. Thanks to the Tet and spring activities of the association and the affection everyone has for each other, the feeling of missing my homeland and family in me has lessened.”

For more love in Tet

In early 2024, a serious earthquake occurred in Japan, causing great loss of life and property. Living and working in Japan, many Vietnamese workers, including those from Quang Tri, encountered many difficulties. With a heart of sharing, right after the earthquake, many members of the Quang Tri Association in Japan visited, encouraged and supported. Before the season change, these activities were multiplied with the motto: "Joining hands so that everyone can have Tet".

Quang Tri Association in Japan organizes football tournament to raise funds to help children in mountainous areas - Photo: NVCC

Sharing about this, Mr. Tung, a member of the Board of Directors of the Quang Tri Association in Japan, said that this is not the first time that the children of the Lao wind and white sand region have shared and connected love. As a beautiful tradition, for many years now, whenever they hear that any Quang Tri children in Japan are in trouble or in trouble, the members of the association are present, joining hands and contributing to help.

Most recently, a Quang Tri worker unfortunately passed away in Japan at the end of the year. Knowing that this worker’s family was in dire straits, everyone contributed money to bring his body back to Vietnam. The remaining money was given to relatives to help the family stabilize their lives. Stories like this further enhance the love of fellow countrymen in a foreign land.

Not only do they look to each other, live and work in the land of the rising sun, most of the Quang Tri people in Japan always look to their homeland with all their hearts. Tet is also an occasion for them to fully express that look. That is also the reason why the Quang Tri Association in Japan often chooses this time to organize charity fundraising activities.

In the past three years, the OPEN CUP spring football tournament has been one of the activities that has attracted the participation of many Quang Tri workers from all over Japan. In addition to exchanging and competing, many people also participated in the tournament to join hands to support Quang Tri people in difficult circumstances.

This year, from the third OPEN CUP football tournament, the organizing committee has raised more than 84 million VND. The donated money will be transferred to units and businesses before the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024 to organize the charity program "Warm Tet in the highlands", supporting students of A Doi Primary and Secondary School, Huong Hoa district.

In Japan, these days, seeing the images of children in the mountains receiving meaningful gifts with smiles on their faces, the children of Quang Tri far from home all feel like they are celebrating Tet in their hearts. Everyone feels like there is an invisible thread that ties them closer to their homeland, helping them to better understand what is called homeland love and compatriot love. From here, Quang Tri workers in Japan have more motivation to step into a new year with more faith and hope.

Tay Long