Warm Tet Doc Lap meals

Soldiers at the Provincial Military Command prepare a get-together meal on the occasion of Tet Doc Lap

At the approach of every September 2, the Hai Duong Provincial Military Command always plans a collective meal at the unit's dining room.

Unlike ordinary meals, the meal on Tet Doc Lap features the participation of all 300 officers and soldiers at the unit.

Having participated in the Tet Doc Lap meal for years, Lieutenant Truong Van Phuc, a member of the Propaganda and Training Board of the Political Department (Provincial Military Command), said: "Compared with daily meals, the Tet Doc Lap meal is much more joyful and cozier. We are visited, encouraged, and even reminded work very intimately by the head of the unit. Before the meal, the head also mentions some features of Tet Doc Lap, making us more proud of our forefathers' heroic traditions and more responsible for our work."

Despite inability to gather in full numbers like the Provincial Military Command, the Tet Doc Lap meal at the Binh Giang District Military Command is equally meaningful. This is a "special" meal particularly arranged for the officers and soldiers on duty during the National Day (September 2) holidays by the District Military Command.

Normally, the meal is organized on September 1 evening for about 20 officers and soldiers participating in spells of duty.

There is neither wine nor beer but soft drink at the meal since after that, the officers and soldiers must be on the watch to ensure local security and order. Nonetheless, it is no less joyful.

"Our Tet Doc Lap meal still has its own flavors with typical country dishes of Binh Giang, such as loach wrapped in piper lolot leaves, simmered catfish, etc. We eat and talk together and become more and more united," said Lieutenant Colonel Bui Nhu Doan, Commander of the Binh Giang District Reserve Battalion.

Not only servicemen but many families also organize meals to gather descendants on the occasion of Tet Doc Lap.

As for Nguyen Thi Thuong's family in Quy Duong hamlet, Tan Truong commune (Cam Giang), the Tet Doc Lap meal is not only a normal family reunion meal but also of greater significance.

On September 2, she often makes and respectfully places a tray of dishes on the altar together with burnt incense in commemoration of Uncle Ho and heroic martyrs who died for the national independence.

When taking the tray down, Thuong tells her descendants the meaning of Tet Doc Lap.

"My grandmother respects September 2 and always tells us to preserve our family's traditions; therefore, together with the historical knowledge we have learned, we found Tet Doc Lap even more meaningful. Though living in Ha Noi, my family still return to Hai Duong to reunite with my grandmother and other family members no matter how busy we are," said Nguyen Thuc Anh.

With so many levels of emotions, the reunion meaning of the Tet Doc Lap meal has been reminding us to preserve and bring into play this cultural beauty.

MAI LINH