On the evening of January 27, in a bustling and warm atmosphere, the Vietnamese Student Association of Berlin-Potsdam jubilantly organized “Berliner Tet.”
This is the first time after 2 years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new students away from home have the opportunity to meet and celebrate the traditional New Year together.
About 300 students in Berlin-Potsdam and surrounding areas gathered to attend the hometown Spring event.
Handshakes, smiles, tight hugs, endless stories… and many folk games make the atmosphere of “Berliner Tet” warm and dear.
Not only relieving homesickness, the meeting also helped international students understand more about Vietnamese culture and customs, and bond with their homeland and roots.
Phan Quang Van, First Secretary in charge of educational cooperation and management of overseas students in the Federal Republic of Germany, said that after more than 2 years of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. From the end of 2022, the Vietnamese student union in Germany in general and the Vietnamese student union in Berlin-Brandenburg in particular will start operating again.
The traditional Tet event is one of the most organized activities in Germany to preserve and promote the national identity as well as remind children of their homeland and roots.
[Tết của những “người con xa xứ” tại CHLB Đức đầy ấm áp và ý nghĩa]
Berliner Tet is a highly artistic annual activity of the Berlin-Potsdam Student Association, which not only maintains and preserves the cultural identity of Vietnam but also attracts the participation of overseas students, who always ready to help Vietnamese students early integration with the local language and culture.
According to Mr. Phan Quan Van, under the joint direction of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association, the Vietnamese Student Association in Germany, with about 7,500 members (school year 2022-2023) and Vietnamese Student Association in Berlin-Potsdamwhich has the largest number of students, accounting for about 15% of international students in Germany, always has a close connection with each other to organize activities towards their homeland.
Vietnamese students in the space “Berliner Tet.” (Photo: VNA)For her part, the President of the Vietnamese Student Association in Berlin-Potsdam, Ms. Le Linh Chi, said with emotion: “Berlin Tet Not only is it meaningful to the community, to students far from home, but this event also brings unique values to themselves and even the families of young people born and raised in Germany, or those of you married to a foreigner, a German. Coming to Berliner Tet, you have the opportunity to learn more about the culture, customs of Vietnam. Besides, you also learn a lot of things, not only in communication and daily life, but also practice many skills and social relationships.”
According to Ms. Le Linh Chi, for international students studying abroad, who do not have the opportunity to visit family and friends, Berliner Tet is not only a place to meet and share, but also an event to introduce with international friends in general and Germany in particular about the Vietnamese traditional Tet and culture.
Therefore, in terms of meaning, Berliner Tet is both a beautiful memory for students far from home and a highly pervasive cultural event.
Manh Hung-Phuong Hoa-Thanh Tung (VNA/Vietnam+)