The Vietnam Society hosted a celebration of Tết, or Vietnamese New Year on Feb. 15, bringing together fashion, literature and food to explore the significance of Vietnamese heritage. Held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the event featured discussions and demonstrations highlighting artistry and traditions of the Lunar New Year.
Author Monique Truong and designer Thái Nguyễn opened the afternoon with a reading of their children’s book “Mai’s Áo Dài,” which tells the story of a young girl named Mai embracing her cultural identity through clothing.
Later, Nguyễn led a live fashion showcase, emphasizing that the áo dài — a long, fitted tunic worn over pants, considered Vietnam’s national dress — belongs to everyone, regardless of race or gender. His presentation encouraged attendees to make the traditional Vietnamese garment part of their everyday wardrobe.
The event concluded with a panel on the evolution of Vietnamese cuisine, moderated by Anita Mannur, director of the Asia, Pacific and Diaspora Studies at American University. Chef Kevin Tien and Truong discussed how food shapes memory and identity within the Vietnamese diaspora. Afterward, guests sampled traditional food such as sticky rice while children received red envelopes filled with chocolate coins, a Lunar New Year tradition symbolizing luck, prosperity, and blessings for the year ahead.
