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Phonvilay Vonghathep ties the thread around one of Vietnamese friends’ wrists, giving him best wishes. Photo N.T |
Laos ’ traditional New Year festival-Bunpimay is well known with distinctive customs, such as lamvong dance, water-splashing, and the practice of tying thread on wrists. Bunpimay always leaves all people with a good impression.
Vietnamese people celebrate Bunpimay in Laos
Nguyen Dinh Lu, a veteran and member of Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association in Binh Dinh, celebrated Bunpimay for 20 years when he lived in Laos.
“Although we already knew the festival, we were still surprised at the event,” said Lu. “We gathered at our friend’s house, celebrating the festival. All prayed for the best wishes, tied threads on the others’ twists, splashed water against each other, and danced.
Living in Laos for 20 years, he got familiar with any festivals in Laos. After returning to Vietnam, Lu always recalls the traditional New Year festival-Bunpimay in every April.
When the festival comes, he often goes to Quy Nhon University to enjoys Bunpimay with Lao students who are studying there.
Nguyen Thi Hong Sy, working at the province’s Department of Planning and Investment, was one of six people studying in Laos in 2007. At that time, she was eager to celebrate Laos’ traditional New Year festival. She, therefore, decided to stay in Laos alone to explore its distinctive cultural features.
“To prepare for the festival, the locals in Parkse city of Champassak province planted trees in front of their houses,” Sy recalled. “During the event, I also went to the pagoda and visited my teacher’s house. An unforgettable experience was the first time when I was splashed water. Many people then congratulated me, wishing me a lucky year.”
Lao students celebrate Bunpimay in Vietnam
About 100 Lao and Vietnamese students celebrated Bunpimay at Quy Nhon University on April 14.
Phatthana, coming fro Sekong province, has come to Binh Dinh for five months. He said many of his roommates returned to Laos on the occasion of Bunpimay. But he wanted to celebrate the event in Vietnam with his friends for the first time.
Phatthana and his friends prepared for the festival in advance. He felt tired but happy, he added.
This is the third time Phonvilay Vonghathep, another Lao student coming from Sekong, has enjoyed the traditional festival in Vietnam. Lao people must have khau tom cake in the festival, like Vietnam’s traditional lunar New Year festival which requires banh chung (square glutinous rice cake (filled with green bean paste and fat pork)), she said.
Owing to living in the dormitory, Lao students were only able to make sweet cakes to celebrate the festival.
“Making the cakes is really hard but happy. We need sticky rice, sugar, bean, cooking oil, coconut milk, and onion to make cakes,” said Phonvilay Vonghathep. “We made 300 cakes this year. The atmosphere was really bustling. I’m to finish my course by mid-May and return to Laos. Surely, I will miss the atmosphere in Vietnam when celebrating Bunpimay in my country. Vietnamese friends and teachers helped us to prepare for the event, making us really happy.
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