As the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year approached, Vietnamese artists across the country and abroad embraced a cherished tradition: gathering with family and friends to prepare banh chung and banh tet. These traditional sticky rice cakes are central to Tet celebrations, symbolizing family reunion and gratitude.

Jimmii Nguyen's wife, singer Ngoc Pham, shared that her family has upheld the tradition of making banh chung every Tet for the past 18 years. For this Binh Ngo Lunar New Year, she prepared 20 pairs of cakes. Half featured the traditional mung bean and pork filling, while the other half incorporated abalone, adding a unique touch.

"Every year, I give them to family and friends as gifts. I feel happy when everyone praises the deliciousness of the cakes I make", she said.

Runner-up Trinh Kim Chi, along with her husband and two daughters, devoted the afternoon of 13/2 to preparing ingredients and wrapping over 50 banh chung at their private villa in TP HCM. This activity is a way for her family to connect with their heritage.

"I try to maintain the family's cake-making tradition so that my children and grandchildren can better understand our homeland's Tet customs", the actress stated, emphasizing the cultural significance of the practice.

Singer My Tam also shared her joy after a banh tet wrapping session, expressing happiness at celebrating Tet with her parents in Da Nang. Her family makes cakes together annually on the 26th lunar day, considering it a special occasion for everyone to unite.

The mother-and-son duo Le Thuy and Duong Dinh Tri (holding a fan) joined familiar faces from the "Buoc chan hai the he" program, gathering at home to cook cakes and sing. Le Thuy noted this annual activity strengthens the bonds among artists, fostering a sense of community during the festive season.

Miss Ha Kieu Anh (right) and Duong My Linh organized a cake-wrapping event on 10/2. Ha Kieu Anh revealed that for many years, she has personally wrapped banh chung using a family recipe to offer to ancestors and give to friends. This year, the beauty queen and a group of close friends in the US prepared about 50 banh chung to share with everyone during the first days of spring.

Meanwhile, Viet Huong and Hoai Phuong wrapped banh tet at their private home in TP HCM. Hoai Phuong mentioned it was his first time making southern-style cakes, so he was not yet accustomed to the technique. With his wife's guidance, he successfully completed over 10 banh tet. These heartwarming scenes highlight the enduring importance of traditional customs and communal spirit during Tet, as artists lead by example in preserving Vietnam's cultural heritage.

Hoang Dung

Photos, video: Provided by subjects