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Learn about Vietnam's biggest and most popular festival of the year with CultureALL Ambassador Vinh Nguyen.
Tet is short for Tet Nguyen Dan; it is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar, Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. It is the longest holiday of the year, which may last up to seven days depending on the particular region of Vietnam.
In the past, Tet was essential, as it provided one of the very few long breaks during the agricultural year; it was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones. One can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year’s, with many traditions that Americans will recognize. During Tet, families get together to decorate their houses and Tet trees and have big meals.
CultureALL Ambassador Vinh Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam and came to the United States as a young man, settling in Des Moines, Iowa. He works for Lutheran Services in Iowa, is very active in the language minority communities, and serves as the president of Vietnamese American Community in Iowa. Vinh also serves as a storyteller, speaker, and consultant for many topics related to Vietnam, Southeast Asia, refugee and resettlement process, and second language acquisition issues.
This workshop is presented in partnership with CultureALL, a non-profit organization that connects Iowans of all ages with a variety of interactive programs designed to expand their understanding and appreciation for the different cultures, religions, beliefs, and preferences that can add meaning to their own lives.
This program is part of the 2025 Global Gathering Vietnam program series, which is funded by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation.
If you are a person with a disability who requires special assistance, please call 563-344-4175 in advance.
The Bettendorf Public Library has served the community of Bettendorf since July 12, 1955. We offer Library events for all ages, and our meeting rooms are available for public use. See more information about our meeting room policy at http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/meeting-rooms.
