(Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network) – The Lunar New Year period in Taiwan is always very lively, and people in Vietnam are also looking forward to celebrating the Chinese New Year! How does Vietnam celebrate Chinese New Year? What are the differences with Taiwan? In this episode "New Immigrants in Taiwan", Qin Qin, a Vietnamese YouTuber ("MinQin in Taiwan") who has been in Taiwan for more than ten years, will introduce the similarities and differences during the Chinese New Year between Vietnam and Taiwan.
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During Chinese New Year, Vietnam prepares New Year’s Eve dinner just like in Taiwan, but the dishes are different. Qin Qin emphasized that Vietnamese must eat rice dumplings during Chinese New Year, and prepare fried spring rolls, chicken, and pork dishes. Vietnamese people also pay respect to their ancestors, and they must worship their ancestors first before enjoying the sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner. Of course, Vietnam also has the New Year's money that children look forward to. Qin Qin said with a smile, "My grandmother will still give me the New Year's money every year, and hope that my work will go well in the new year." Besides, during leaner times, I used to buy clothes only two times a year, once for the September school season and once for the Chinese New Year. Qin Qin said that when she was a child, she always looked forward to the new year. When she wore new clothes, it symbolized that the new year would have a new beginning.
Vietnam attaches great importance to the "Kitchen God Festival". Photo provided and authorized by MinQin in Taiwan
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Before Chinese New Year, Taiwanese will worship on New Year's Eve, and the Vietnamese will also worship in temples before New Year's Eve. Some differences from Taiwan are that Vietnamese people buy carp and pay their respects to the "Kitchen God" (also known as the Kitchen God Festival and Kitchen King Festival) on December 23 of the lunar calendar, telling the gods how everything is going this year. In addition, Vietnamese will pay special attention to the first guest to visit their home in the new year. Qin Qin seriously said that they will use fortune-telling to see whether the guest is compatible with the family and whether it will bring prosperity to the family.
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