Lunar New Year Artistic couples across generations in spring

Reflecting on past Tet celebrations, Ms. Hong Linh says: “What belongs to the past has left its trace, shaping who I am today. Yet, I release it all—much like the mark of the Year of the Earth Monkey, 1968, when Tet was deeply intertwined with the fate of our country. While I still feel the emotions of those times, I must learn to set them aside and live in the present.”

As she reminisces, every Tet the family continues to uphold cherished traditions. The Tet meal, she says, is never complete without a pot of braised pork with duck eggs, pickled onions, and pickled vegetables. “We eat to honour the past, not merely for the taste. We eat to remember the old days,” she says. Mr. Trieu Dien concurs, adding, “There are beautiful traditional customs that must be preserved. The beauty of culture and life serves as the foundation for achieving greater things.”

When asked about her family’s Tet traditions, Ms. Hong Linh reflects: “A month before Tet, I prepare gifts, visit relatives, and make plans for the reunion. If the children and grandchildren can attend, we organise a bus to bring the entire family back to our hometown. On the night of the 30th, we have a reunion dinner, after which everyone is free to go where they wish.”

For the artist couple, Tet is a holiday centred around reunion. As they told us: “Tet marks the beginning of a new age and is an opportunity to gather with family, visit grandparents, parents, and our hometown. For us, Tet always carries many meanings, reminding the next generation to preserve and cherish our national identity.”

Though part of the younger generation, artist couple Nguyen Khoi and Nguyen Viet Trinh share a similar commitment to preserving Tet traditions. Nguyen Khoi, a young artist with more than six years of multimedia experience, works across painting, sculpture, installation, and video art. His diverse style constantly pushes the boundaries of creativity through thought-provoking art projects. Nguyen Viet Trinh (Chin), Khoi's partner, is also an artist with an impressive career. A graduate in graphic design from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, her work is particularly notable for its use of installation art to explore themes of people, fertility, and the cycle of life. Both Trinh and Khoi have proven their artistic talents through major projects, including the founding of the Chinbo Collective, an art practice group, and their efforts in organising creative events that foster connection.

When asked about her family’s Tet traditions, Trinh says: “Tet, for me, is about family reunion. This year is even more special, as I celebrate Tet in two places—my family’s and Khoi’s. Tet is always filled with memories of family reunions, making banh chung, offering sacrifices to ancestors, and giving lucky money.”

Nguyen Khoi also adds: “Tet in Saigon is different from the Tet Trinh described. People here also worship their homes and visit pagodas on the night of the 30th of Tet. However, for the rest of the holiday, my entire family spends most of the time resting together. For me, Tet is a time of relaxation.”

When asked how they would approach a work centred around Tet, expressing the ‘soul’ of the holiday, Trinh and Khoi shared their thoughts.

“I would definitely focus on the images of grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and other female family members,” Trinh says. “Because Tet is still a time when women bear much of the responsibility. I believe that sense of worry will be the core material I use to explore Tet.”

While we know that Tet is more than just a day marked red on the calendar, packed with meals, offerings, and family matters, when asked, “Now that you’re in a new phase of life, do you plan to celebrate Tet in a more modern way?” Trinh and Khoi both said no. They are determined to preserve the “old family traditions,” explaining: “We always want everything to feel complete and harmonious, to connect and share moments through the family meal at Tet. Moreover, visiting relatives is essential, so our children can understand both the past and the future. Beyond the offerings, for us, preserving traditions is also about choosing to hold onto something—such as the scent of Tet incense—which makes the holiday unique and brings us back to cherished memories.”

When asked about the secret to their enduring 53-year partnership, Ms. Hong Linh reflected: “Birds of a feather flock together.” Mr. Trieu Dien added: “Being together has been a surprising journey. She is a soulmate in both thought and creativity, and we are on the same wavelength. We support each other immensely, recognising our differences and choosing to respect them. I embody one type of beauty, and she represents another. We should celebrate these contrasts—allowing them to intertwine and inspire new creations.”

Ms. Hong Linh agreed, saying: “It feels like a predestined bond. When we are alike in certain ways, we naturally find each other.” “In life, there are many profound, radiant moments. We cherish these, so we can live, share, and create together, enabling our artistic lives to flourish,” says Mr. Trieu Dien.

Interestingly, young couple Nguyen Viet Trinh and Nguyen Khoi share similar views. Meeting at the University of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City, their artistic paths differ—Trinh is deeply focused on exploring femininity, while Khoi is on a quest for personal identity. Yet, it is these very differences that have brought them together. “We are the ‘opposites attract’ kind of couple, and we always maintain honesty and respect for one another,” Trinh shared.

When asked about their artistic perspectives, both Ms. Hong Linh and Mr. Trieu Dien expressed a deep commitment to creative freedom. Ms. Hong Linh explained: “I don’t have a specific view. Art is like breathing—it is life itself, constantly influencing my soul. I just create.” Mr. Trieu Dien echoed her sentiment, adding: “Creativity isn’t something intentional. It arises from one’s true feelings for life, not from the pressure of having to produce specific works.”

There was a time when the phrase “Tet today is much worse than Tet in the past” raised concerns, as the core values of the holiday seemed to fade with the younger generation. However, when asked for their views on the differences between Tet today and in the past, Ms. Hong Linh shared: “Society is more civilised now. You can simply ‘order’ your food and have it delivered to your door, without the rush of preparation that was once necessary. For me, this is inevitable, as society continues to evolve.”

Despite this, she emphasised that core traditional values—such as the family altar, New Year’s Eve rituals, and Tet meals—cannot be lost, asserting: “The spirit of Tet will always remain.”

For the younger couple, Nguyen Viet Trinh and Nguyen Khoi, Tet today feels more modern, as young people find ways to transform the holiday to reflect their own style. Trinh shared: “People still preserve traditions but incorporate new elements to develop them. Tradition is no longer defined by the old ways; I believe that in the future, many young artists will explore new angles to bring fresh perspectives to Tet.”

We would like to end with a poem that Ms. Hong Linh composed on a spring day:

Let us greet the spring with joy,

And let all sorrow

Slip away,

Even as the evening sky glows,

Filled with

Fleeting flowers,

Open your heart to love,

Though the road ahead

Is long.

Look around at the flowing silks,

As streets shine bright

In joyful hues,

Together, we smile,

Leaving tears behind,

For spring is warm and new.

READ NOW

Tet-Ta 2025: 6 men's ao dai brands return to follow Spring

Tet-Ta 2025: Horoscope message for the year of At Ty for the 12 zodiac animals

Tet-Ta 2025: 9 cultural places to check-in during Tet for Instagram followers