Tết Lunar Year, do we dare to go somewhere or do we stay at home?

At the end of January 2021, ten days before the Vietnamese New Year, when we were ready to leave for Dalat, 350 km from our home, to spend the second novitiate retreat and the Lunar New Year, I was still hesitating... Should we review our plans this time and stay at home? I called the Salesians and they told me that the police had set up roadblocks to discourage unnecessary travel, but they said that they were ready to welcome us. I changed my mind and we opted for a closer destination, 120km from here, a place called “Vung Tau”, on the seaside, where the Sisters of Charity agree to welcome us. On the programme, a week's retreat led by my confrere for the eight novices, then a visit to two families, one Vietnamese (Sang’s family, one of my novices) and a French family (Pierre and Sophie and their four children). In the middle of the retreat we received some bad news. In two cities in Vietnam, some cases of covid have emerged. Should we cancel our post-retreat holiday plans? I phoned the Vietnamese family who replied in true local style: "We asked our parish priest for advice, saying: 'Can we welcome the brothers and their foreign priest?’ The bishop gave the green light...” (The story does not say whether he contacted the Pope...) The father of the family said to me: "I have prayed, I am confident... ". This reply may seem strange for a foreigner. But what a wisdom in reality! A decision to welcome people from outside the village is in fact taken in consultation with those who are feel responsible for the village's security and who put their trust in God...

When we arrive, the atmosphere is relaxed and warm... It is a big family that welcomes us. Sang has eleven brothers and sisters. Uncles and aunts and cousins in the village will also join the party. In the kitchen, a separate room of the house, gathered around the wood fire, people are busy to prepare the food. To welcome so many people (40 guests) is not a piece of cake, but everybody is so excited, that they don’t mind. There are oysters on the menu (which will be cooked...but I can't resist eating a raw one). Wine and beer are put on the four 4 tables. We enjoy our meal and I make my best to catch up the conversation…When we arrive, the atmosphere is relaxed and warm... It is a big family that welcomes us. Sang has eleven brothers and sisters. Uncles and aunts and cousins in the village will also join the party. In the kitchen, a separate room of the house, gathered around the wood fire, people are busy to prepare the food. To welcome so many people (40 guests) is not a piece of cake, but everybody is so excited, that they don’t mind. There are oysters on the menu (which will be cooked...but I can't resist eating a raw one). Wine and beer are put on the four 4 tables. We enjoy our meal and I make my best to catch up the conversation…

In the evening, for the mass, we are all dressed up. At night, half of the novices and I sleep in the house of Sister de Sang who has gone to her in-laws. The others sleep on mats in the living room. The next day we go to the cemetery together to pray for the family ancestors. Then we visit the grandmother's house and the aunts' and uncles' houses... The lucky red envelopes pass from hand to hand. According to the tradition (we would be rude if we don’t do it…) we will look later if the red envelopes contain 20.000 or 50.000 or 100.000vnd or even more... Fortunately my confrere handle me envelopes that I give to the youngest of the family, in the name of our community...

At midday, my French friends arrive in a side-car and a scooter. They have four children who are delighted to speak in English with the novices and some members of the de Sang family. It is the first time they spend the Vietnamese New Year with a Vietnamese family. What an honour! The joy is mutual. My friends feel at ease right away. They both come from families of ten and seven children respectively... After lunch, we are invited by Pierre and Sophie to spend two days in their home. We enjoy everything: the meals, the walks, to swimm at the beach and at home, etc. The cuisine of the hostess is authentically French. What a joy to see my novices tasting quiches, salads, gratin and of course cakes of all kinds. This holiday filled me with a healthy pride, that of having built bridges between two cultures, the Vietnamese and the Western. Language is often a barrier in Vietnam for many foreigners, but there is also the fact that people often lack opportunities to get to know each other. Thanks to the generosity of the two families. Next time you come to our place, we are not afraid to welcome people with open arms either!