In Hanoi, children at the Birla Orphan Village celebrate the Lunar New Year ealry.
Every year the party for the Lunar New Year is held a little bit early at Birla Orphanage; on the 25th of the lunar month of December. However, it’s not only a gathering for the children, but also a reunion for the people who used to stay there, as well as a farewell to those who are leaving. The children look forward to enjoy Tet at their relative\'s family.
The village is one of the places that takes care of disadvantaged children in Hanoi.
The early New Year Party held in the village on the 25th of the lunar month of December.
These young people are able to live in the village until adulthood (18 years old), but each year, orphaned or not, they long to see families in their various provinces. Although they’ve had a tough life, they often manage to make their way in the world after leaving. Those who have got jobs at restaurants as waiters and cooks, or other positions in the service industry, use their talents to brighten the celebration.
The celebration - early according to Tet on the Lunar Calendar - is also a chance for some of the alumni to show off their skills. There is always plenty of food at the festival, including, of course, Banh Chung, the traditional Tet cake made of sticky rice, green beans and pork. There are is an ample amount of meat balls and chicken.
Everyone pitches in on the work. Mothers, sisters and brothers cook, while the rest clean up.
Waiting for the meal, children talk excitedly about their Tet plans. They look forward to seeing their families. Most of them are orphans, only able to see their relatives twice a year: once during Tet and once on the summer holidays.
Lucky to get sweets for Tet
Homemade Chung cakes taste better with family
Nguyen Thi Dien, also a mother, has worked at the village for 13 years. She donates every year, placing sweet jams or whatever she can afford on the alter. This year she is extremely grateful to catch up with the children who’ve left, got married, got jobs or embarked on their studies.
Adults discuss, children play
Everyone on the village enjoy the reunion
“My husband was also an orphan, and lived here until he was 18. Since we’ve met, we come back here each year,” she said. They also bring their son along.
Kien likes the village’s director, Mr. Diep, very much and seems to want to stay at the place. The boy, whose father died and mother in prison, has lived in the village since when he was very small.
While peole are preparing the party, Tuan is sitting alone at the yard silently although he will be taken to his relative\'s house tomorrow.
There is only one child, a 10-year old boy, who must stay at the village this year, without blood relatives to visit. But, he still believes that he will be taken to see his foster mother.
