VNU-HCM director Vũ Hải Quân handed over Tết gifts and lucky money to the boarding students who will stay at the school’s dormitory to celebrate the upcoming traditional Tết. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — Boarding student Chu Ngọc Huyền at Việt Nam National University-HCM City (VNUHCM) was very touched to receive Tết (Lunar New Year) wishes, gifts and lucky money from the school's Board of Directors.

Huyền, from the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities under VNUHCM, is one of 66 boarding students of VNUHCM to celebrate the upcoming traditional Tết at the dormitory instead of returning to their homes for a Tết family reunion.

“My family is living in the north of the country, I go to HCM City alone to study. Travel costs are quite expensive on Tết, so I decided to stay here to experience how is Tết far away from home,” she said.

There are many reasons for them to stay at the dormitory during Tết such as their homes are too far away, the are working part-time during Tết, and travel costs are expensive, she added.

“Receiving the attention, encouragement and gifts from the school has made us feel less sad and motivated us to overcome difficulties,” she said.

On Friday (January 13), the Dormitory Management Centre of VNUHCM organised a reunion meeting to send best wishes, and gave gifts and lucky money to the boarding students.

Of them, seven are foreigners.

Attending the reunion meeting, VNU-HCM's director Vũ Hải Quân offered his warmest Tết wishes, gifts and lucky money to the students and the Board of Directors of the Dormitory Management Centre.

Each student was given a Tết gift worth 300,000 (US$12.7) and VNĐ1 million ($42.5) in cash.

Giving attention, encouragement and partial financial support to the students is necessary on this special occasion, he said.

“Staying at the dormitory is also very special and helpful. It could help the students improve their life skills and be more independent when being away from family,” he said.

In the coming time, VNU-HCM will mobilise resources to develop the dormitories, providing boarding students a better place to live and study.

VNU-HCM now has nearly 40,000 boarding students, including students from many other universities and colleges in the city.

The 2023 Tết holiday will last seven days from January 20 to 26 (from December 29 through January 5 on the lunar calendar). — VNS