A mother and daughter visit a flower market in Hà Nội before Tết. VNS Photo

By Vân Nguyễn, with additional reporting from Minh Phương, Anh Đức and Dũng Nguyễn

While there is still a great deal of uncertainty with the increasing number of Omicron cases in Việt Nam, people have high hopes that the new year 2022 will be more positive.

For many in Việt Nam, life seemed to be on hold in the past year as COVID-19 rippled through their lives in both stark and subtle ways.

Despite hurdles and even damage it caused, the pandemic was also an opportunity for us to reevaluate what is important, to reflect on what we want to do post-pandemic and pave the way for new ways of life.

All people we have interviewed, ranging from graduate and merchant to teacher and physiotherapist feel that the new year’s resolution that matters the most is to stay healthy amid the pandemic.

Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh, a 43-year-old merchant in Ba Đình District, Hà Nội said: “I hope that in the New Year, our country will get rid of the pandemic.”

“That is my biggest wish. I hope that everyone will be healthy and successful with their businesses. I hope that as we are fully inoculated, this year will be more prosperous for all.”

Despite the pandemic, Oanh said her family would celebrate a normal Tết like the previous year as this is the biggest occasion of the year.

She bought flowers and bonsai to decorate her house for, as well as preparing traditional food for the family.

With sales decreasing, she said she hoped this year things would be easier and business more prosperous.  

For some expats living in Hà Nội, they expect to have more travel and outdoor activities in the new year.

Jacqueline Rowe, a South African physiotherapist who has lived in Việt Nam for four years, said “I am trying to run a race so I want to get my fastest 10km run time. And that’s my resolution.”

Her friend Tenaille Pike, who has worked as a teacher in Hà Nội for two years, said: “Mine is to be healthier, to do more activities. With COVID I was inside a lot. I want to be outside, as much as we can be."

For Đinh Mai Thanh, a teacher working at a school in Hà Nội's Old Quarter, the new year means hopes for students to be back to school.

“I hope that the pandemic will end very soon so teachers can make up for the number of knowledge students missed when they learned online, " she said.

“This year the education sector was affected a lot by the pandemic. Students couldn’t go to school. Teachers had to work harder but the teaching was not as effective as the previous years.”

The restrictions have prevented people from realising their personal and professional plans and their hopes for a new year might be a little different than they were before.

A man poses with peach blossom, a typical bonsai used for Tết. VNS Photo

Millennials and Gen Z like Vũ Đức Hiếu wants to see a brighter future for their career and a new year with more activities and adventure.

“As a salesman, I hope that in 2022 I can sell more products and support my family’s finances,” the 23-year-old from Thái Bình Province said.

“Last year my job got difficult because of the pandemic. For the new year, I have a lot of ambitions, but I really hope the pandemic can be controlled, and people can travel freely and business can return as usual."

Cao Thị Thùy Trâm, a graduate from Tân Phú District in HCM City, said: “My new year resolution is to find a good, stable job so that I can travel more. I hope that the pandemic will soon be over.”

“I want to wish everyone good health, prosperity, luck, and I hope that everyone can accomplish their goals in the new year.”

Trần Thị Ngọc, a job seeker in District 3 in HCM City said: “As a newly graduated student, I hope that I can land a job this year.”

Celebrating the new year amid the pandemic reminds us of the power of hope amid crisis. May the coming year fill your life with happiness, good health and prosperity! We wish you and your family a very Happy New Year 2022. VNS