A group of young people in Da Nang have spontaneously raised funds to cook ‘banh chung’ (square glutinous rice cake), a dispensable Tet dish, for the poor and homeless on the occasion of traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) 2023 festival.

On the evening of the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of 2022, the good deed by young people makes Tet more warm for the poor and disadvantaged people who are trying to make a living in the chilly night.

The group consists of about 18 - 20 people currently living and studying in the city.

Every Tet comes, they launch a call for donations, on social networking sites, from relatives and donors to raise funds for cooking ‘banh chung’.

After buying enough fresh ingredients, the group will gather at one member's house and then together cook.

On the evening of the 29^th day of the 12^th lunar month of 2022, the group divided into many small teams and carried the well-cooked cakes to beggars, trash collectors, labourers all over the city.

In addition to the hand-delivered cakes, the group gave ‘li xi’ (lucky money) contained in red envelopes worth a few hundred thousand VND to those who are were given cakes.

Sharing about the purpose of this good deed, Mr. Le Tho Hung, a resident in Hoa Khanh Ward, Lien Chieu District said, “Seeing people be happy when receiving ‘banh chung’ makes us very happy. In the coming years, the group will call for more volunteers to continue this highly-meaningful activity."

Young people together make ‘banh chung’ for to the poor on the occasion of Tet.

The baskets of pure white sticky rice after being cleaned.

Pork is purchased by the group at supermarkets to ensure quality.

Leaves are carefully cleaned.

‘Banh chung’ is neatly arranged in preparation for handing out them to the disadvantaged.

The group of young people give ‘banh chung’ to the poor and vulnerable on the occasion of Tet.

In the future, the group will increase more volunteers to pursue the making of more cakes for the poor.

Reporting by CHANH LAM - Translating by A.THU