Celebrating Bunpimay in Vietnam: We Feel the Same Happiness as at Home

(Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Lao New Year, also known as Water Festival, is one of 12 festivals and 14 customs that the Lao people have maintained since ancient times. The festival is held for 3-4 days in mid-April. This year, the Water Festival takes place from April 13-16. In the photo above, a group of Laotian students in Vietnam performed at the Bunpimay 2567 traditional New Year celebration organized by the Lao Embassy in Vietnam on April 6.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

In her fourth year of celebrating Bunpimay away from home, Souphin (right), a native of Champasak province, Laos, studying at Thuyloi University, feels warm when spending time with teachers and friends on the big holiday.

"I miss being able to do the foot-washing ritual for my parents to show gratitude for their efforts in giving birth and raising me," said Souphin, adding that she hopes her parents will enjoy constant health and peace in the new year.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

According to Inphachanh (far right), a native of Vientiane (Laos), a second-year student at Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, celebrating Bunpimay in Vietnam felt not much different from home because most traditional rituals in the Laos New Year can still be fully performed in Vietnam, namely, wrist tying ceremony, Buddha bathing, and water splashing. Typical dishes such as sausage, papaya salad, and bamboo shoot soup are also prepared.

"Even though we live far from home, we receive the warm affection of the Vietnamese people, like we are family members," Inphachanh said.

(Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Amidst the traditional music of Laos, the lamvong dance was performed and songs about Vietnam were sung, bringing a warm and friendly New Year atmosphere.

(Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Lao students looked forward to and were most excited about the water splashing festival. With the belief that "the wetter you get, the luckier you will be," the young people held buckets of water and poured it on guests and friends.

According to Inphachanh, a bustling water festival was held at the dormitory of Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The students held buckets filled with water and even used large water guns to splash each other. "Everyone plays hard, so the fun is multipled," Inphachanh said.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

95-year-old former Vietnamese volunteer army expert Nguyen Van Nghiep (left) has spent 43 years of serving the people of Laos. He said that during the years of performing missions in Laos, despite many difficulties, Vietnamese officers, volunteer soldiers, and experts were supported by the Laos army, people, and authorities at all levels.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

During the years in Laos, Nghiep joined the wrist typing tradition every year. He was glad that even at this age, he could still join the practice. He wished the Lao people would enjoy prosperity and happiness and the country of Laos would forever be peaceful and thriving. He hoped the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to be everlasting and sustainable.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

Major General Huynh Dac Huong (second from right), former Head of the expert delegation and Political Commissar of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army in Laos, said he celebrated 17 Bunpimay in Laos.

"Traditional Bunpimay is an opportunity to wish the people, the country of Laos in particular, and the world in general peace and prosperity. We need to respect and preserve this custom."

In the above photo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh tied a thread on Major General Huynh Dac Huong's wrist with wishes of good health and peace.

(Photo: Thanh Luan)

At the age of 102, Major General Huynh Dac Huong still remembers the traditional dance of Laos.

(Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Nguyen Doan Kinh, Chairman of the Vietnam - Laos Association of Thai Nguyen, said that since its establishment, the Association has had 15 years of organizing the traditional Bunpimay for Laotian students studying in the province.

On this occasion, international students received gifts from leaders of provinces, districts, cities, and the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association of Thai Nguyen.

This year, the Association will organize a Bunpimay celebration at the Thai Nguyen University of Information and Communications Technology with the participation of about 300 Lao students and guests.

"We want Laotian students to feel warm and at home. We also want to help students and lecturers get closer to each other," Nguyen Doan Kinh said.

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