While much of the country counts down to Lunar New Year, the Dao Thanh Phan people of Deo Doc village in Hoanh Bo Ward, Quang Ninh Province, have already entered a sacred season of their own - Tet Lang, the village Tet. Quiet, unhurried, and deeply meaningful, it is a time when the community comes home.

For the Dao Thanh Phan, Tet Lang is a collective celebration held before the national holiday. No matter where they are - studying, working far from home - people make every effort to return for this special occasion. It is the shared New Year of the entire village, not just a family affair.

From early morning, ancestral altars are cleaned and respectfully prepared. Incense drifts through warm wooden homes, and offerings, though simple, are arranged with care. The Dao Thanh Phan believe this is a sacred time to express gratitude to their ancestors and seek blessings for peace, good harvests, and health in the new year.

Rituals are performed without fanfare, but always with solemnity. Within the haze of incense, stories of forebears and the founding of the village are quietly passed down. Elders gather to recount the past, while children sit wide-eyed, absorbing tales of origin. Tet Lang becomes a living thread connecting generations - where the cold of winter is warmed by shared meals, laughter, and memory.

The women help each other adjust their traditional outfits with care, preparing not just for beauty but for pride in identity. As families come together, the festive spirit builds - not in fireworks or spectacle, but in the comfort of belonging.

“Tet Lang belongs to everyone,” said Ban Huu Hong, a longtime resident of Deo Doc. “Here, we make no distinction between rich and poor, old or young. It’s a time of unity, of those who share blood, language, and traditions.”

More than just a holiday, Tet Lang serves as a cultural anchor. According to Trieu Duc Long, a respected village elder, it is a time for teaching values - respect, kindness, solidarity. “No matter how far people go, they come back for this day. Because it’s the New Year of the whole village, not just of one household,” he said.

In the face of rapid modernization, maintaining Tet Lang has become a conscious act of cultural preservation. These traditions, though modest, carry profound lessons - about personal responsibility, community harmony, and the importance of remembering where one comes from.

Leaders like Mr. Long play a crucial role, not only upholding ceremonies but also inspiring younger generations to value and sustain their heritage. Through stories, rituals, and shared customs, Tet Lang teaches what it means to be part of a lineage.

The festival also strengthens community governance. Every aspect - from timing and offerings to shared duties - is openly discussed and agreed upon. Each household contributes voluntarily, ensuring that tradition is not just preserved but actively nurtured.

“This is our tradition,” said Ly Sinh Vy, head of Deo Doc village. “Every family knows that it is something precious to protect. Tet Lang isn’t about showing off, but about remembering and respecting.”

That shared commitment has kept the village Tet alive and resilient. Even as urbanization spreads, the spiritual current of Tet Lang continues to flow quietly through the mountains, feeding the community’s cultural soul.

After Tet Lang, the Dao Thanh Phan go on to celebrate within extended families and individual homes. This layering of ceremonies extends the festive season, carrying warmth from the communal to the personal, and ensuring that the cultural thread is never broken.

My Dung