About 15km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the southern gateway, Go hamlet - the common name of groups 16, 17 and 18 in Hamlet 1, Phong Phu commune, Binh Chanh district - used to be a land that few people expected to exist in the heart of the city.

Nearly ten years ago, Go hamlet was known as the "3 no's oasis": no roads, no electricity, no clean water. The only means of transportation for people to get in and out of the hamlet were simple boats and canoes, bobbing on the river.

However, time has brought changes. Now, just by going through two kilometers of paved roads and crossing a newly built, sturdy bridge connecting the two banks of the river, people can easily set foot in the center of Go hamlet. The appearance of the "3-no oasis" of the past has taken on a new look. Electricity has come to the village, and clean water has reached every family. However, amidst these signs of change, difficulties still cling to the lives of the people here.

Stopping by a house in the neighborhood, an elderly man was holding his grandchild, waiting for his children to return home for Tet. That was Mr. Sau - the man's name - born and raised in this Go hamlet.

In the last days of the year, when the city bustles with the atmosphere of Tet, Go hamlet has a quiet contrast. It is still deserted on all sides. Dogs still howl whenever a stranger enters, as if reminding us that this is still a separate land from the hustle and bustle outside. However, it seems that Spring has also stopped by here, breathing the breath of spring into every alley, every corner.

On the 28th of Tet, Mrs. Nga, Mr. Sau's wife, took the time to finish making the tomato jam, waiting until the 2nd or 3rd day when all the children were home to share.

"For Tet here, there is only a little dried fish, some banh tet, I also make tomato jam, pineapple jam for the kids to snack on. Everything here is natural, I rarely buy things from the market," Mrs. Nga smiled kindly.

Mrs. Nga's "freshly baked" batch of banh tet and tomato jam. Rustic dishes but full of Vietnamese Tet flavor.

Mr. Hung, another elderly resident in the neighborhood, takes on the responsibility of taking care of his grandchildren while they wait for them to come home for Tet. "The boy's mother works in the hospital and has to be on duty during Tet, but every year she tries to come home to reunite. Now I take care of the children so that their parents can work with peace of mind for the last few days of the year. Tet is all about having everyone together to be happy," he said, his eyes filled with hope.

According to Mr. Hung, in the past, people in the village mainly lived off of the water fern. However, polluted water sources caused the water fern to gradually die, and those who were attached to the profession of growing water fern are now old and no longer able to work. Thus, the profession of growing water fern gradually faded away, causing the people's source of income to gradually disappear.

Small pots of flowers brought home are a sign that people here still reserve a small corner in their hearts to celebrate Tet, despite many worries and concerns.

Along the dike, simple houses with thatched roofs from water coconut trees are scattered, trembling slightly in the wind blowing in from the river. Following the small path leading deeper inside, only a few hundred meters away can you see a household.

Xom Go is still the same, still a low note in the heart of the most vibrant city in the country.

Following the gravel road, I met Quoc Viet playing soccer with his friends. With his skinny body, few people would think that he is now in 6th grade.

Tet for the children in Go hamlet is very simple. There are no playgrounds or bustling shopping centers. Tet for them is days off from school, wandering around the streets of the hamlet to play soccer, catch handcuffs, or sit and chat about all sorts of things.

After working hard all day, it was only in the evening that Ms. Diep, Viet's mother, had time to clean the house.

Asked how she celebrated Tet? Ms. Diep pondered: "This year's fish farming has been a failure, ma'am. A lot of money has been spent on pond investment and bait, but the return is not much. Tet is coming, and I'm even more depressed, I don't know how this Tet will be..."

Putting aside all worries, Ms. Diep bought two pots of bougainvillea flowers in the hope of creating a more Tet atmosphere. "When Tet comes, I only dare to worry about having enough food, I don't dare to buy much, but I still have to decorate the house a little to make the new year more prosperous and business more favorable," she shared.

For her and many other families, Tet is not an occasion for extravagance or luxury, but simply adding a pair of banh chung, a small pot of flowers, and some fruit to offer to grandparents and ancestors.

Viet excitedly competed to help his mother hang the parallel sentences.

The family meal was also very simple. Dried fish, noodle soup. When asked if he found Tet fun, Viet looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, then asked his mother: "How is Tet different from normal days, Mom? I feel that even though it's Tet, it's still the same, still quiet and sad like normal days. Oh yeah, there's an extra red parallel sentence on the wall, every year I tell my mother to buy it to decorate for the Tet atmosphere!"

Like Viet, little Dai, although Tet is no different from any other day, still eagerly looks at the calendar, counting the days until Tet comes. Perhaps, in the hearts of those children, there is still a quiet, unspeakable feeling of excitement.

The sunlight gradually disappeared behind the coconut trees and the old mangroves. Xom Go seemed to become a little quieter. The life of the people here was very simple.

This year's Tet may not be complete, but each yellow apricot blossom blooming on the porch, each genuine smile of the people here has signaled the arrival of a new spring, bringing with it faith and hope for a better life.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/tet-2025/tet-khac-ngay-thuong-cho-nao-ho-me-20250131112032796.htm