Community

[Column] The love is the thing

Foreigners in Hanoi often ponder ‘cultural differences,’ but we have more in common that what separates us, writes Timothy R. Trebilcock

Published

5 years ago

on

The Tet holiday is pretty exotic for newcomers to Vietnam. The orange fruit bearing, green-leafed kumquat tree and major symbol of the festivities thrives in a hot humid climate and impresses visitors with its built-in ornaments. In Canada, the box of exotic mandarin oranges under the balsam fir at Christmas is as close as we get to warmer climates. Yet for all their surface differences, trees like the fir and kumquat represent growth, resurrection, prosperity and health.

The garishly decorated shopping malls too, despite their different architectural configurations, have somehow become just as culturally significant during holidays all over the world. The parallels between these cross-cultural symbols are so common I scarcely see the point of noticing the differences anymore.

A couple of months ago, at Aeon Mall in Long Bien, a massive colorfully adorned plastic Christmas tree greeted customers who gathered to have their pictures taken with symbols that are mere curiosities except for the approximately 7% who identify as Christians in Vietnam. Muzak versions of Christmas carols played sweetly in the background as shoppers lined up to have their temperatures taken and hands sanitized before doing their regular shopping. Christmas has been the West’s greatest feat of marketing, bolstering economies that might otherwise falter if they had to rely merely on religious piety, and so it seems logical for Vietnam to benefit from the same economic boost during an otherwise depressed season. Thus, the Vietnamese have come to understand Christmas.

More recently, kumquat trees and pink peach blossoms decorated that same mall as people celebrated Tet. Vietnam’s celebration of light and the coming of spring remains a tradition that strengthens the ties that bind for now. Certainly, the many gatherings of families and friends and associated feasts provide an economic boost to the small communities that dot the landscape across the country, and most still remember the reason for the season: take care of each other, reconnect with those you love, remember who came before and gather strength for the long year ahead.

The global fashion company aims to make a positive contribution to Vietnam, and there is no doubt it will succeed if by positive contribution they mean make all humans dress exactly the same.

Festive Aeon mall is the same shopping centre I would find on the outskirts of any town or city in Canada and contains a large department store, household appliance store and all the usual brands lined throughout causeways accessed by humming black escalators. It is particularly crowded during Christmas and Tet at a store called Uniqlo.

The Japanese company recently set up shop in Aeon mall with great fanfare to the delight of ‘shopaholics’ everywhere. The global fashion company aims to make a positive contribution to Vietnam and there is no doubt it will succeed if by positive contribution they mean make all humans dress exactly the same. They have the same selection of clothes, in the same palate of colors, patterns and designs I would find at any department or specialty store in the West.

The lineups of identically dressed revelers made it impossible for someone like me, who does not like crowds, to follow through on the tempting purchases of long-sleeve sweat pullover hoodies, raglan v-neck cardigans and linen long-sleeve popovers in the correct size no less.

Many have pointed out the irony of buying clothes made in Vietnam on my return visits to Canada. They suggest I pack my suitcases with reasonably priced clothes made in Vietnam and sell them at Canadian prices when I’m home. As a spin-off, I can get onto the speaking circuit with a streamlined presentation about my positive contribution to Vietnam.

As above, so below. Forget that on Jan. 3 we violently tear down Christmas trees, cram them out the door and leave them by the trash at the end of the driveway. Christmas trees remain an evergreen symbol of new life and springtime in our imagination if you dig deep enough. Kumquat trees are at least potted and give the impression they live forever in a secret tree warehouse to be reused year after year.

Whatever the reality, they too have real significance as harbingers of prosperity and health. Aeon mall, like malls all over the world, are a clean slate for a rotating showcase of holiday symbols that are necessarily forgotten in the mad rush for clothes that might not actually express anyone’s individuality. Next year, when I see these important symbols of peace, hope and togetherness wherever I am I’ll remember it’s not the differences that are important. The love is the thing.

Illustrations by VJ.

Learn more

Related Topics:

64 Comments

  1. ontrip.80gigs.com

    June 1, 2026 at 2:18 am

    References:

    Casino sanremo online ontrip.80gigs.com

    Reply

  2. https://violaerol765606.aboutyoublog.com/

    June 1, 2026 at 2:58 am

    References:

    Paradise casino yuma az https://violaerol765606.aboutyoublog.com/

    Reply

  5. https://darrenxshr156180.idblogmaker.com/

    June 1, 2026 at 8:04 am

    References:

    Casino charlevoix https://darrenxshr156180.idblogmaker.com/

    Reply

  7. https://carwiki.site

    June 4, 2026 at 2:40 am

    References:

    William hill app android https://carwiki.site

    Reply

  8. hedgedoc.eclair.ec-lyon.fr

    June 4, 2026 at 5:55 am

    References:

    Unibet casino hedgedoc.eclair.ec-lyon.fr

    Reply

  9. https://boardgameswiki.site/

    June 4, 2026 at 9:05 am

    References:

    Orillia casino https://boardgameswiki.site/

    Reply

  10. bridgedesign.space

    June 4, 2026 at 12:56 pm

    References:

    Ruby fortune casino bridgedesign.space

    Reply

  11. https://branch-isaksen-3.hubstack.net/

    June 4, 2026 at 3:09 pm

    References:

    Play slot machine https://branch-isaksen-3.hubstack.net/

    Reply

  12. rentry.co

    June 5, 2026 at 1:05 am

    References:

    Georgia casinos rentry.co

    Reply

  14. hubu.ru

    July 10, 2026 at 6:28 pm

    References:

    KingMaker Casino Gutschein einlösen hubu.ru

    Reply

  15. mavlink.to

    July 10, 2026 at 8:26 pm

    References:

    KingMaker Casino VIP Bonus mavlink.to

    Reply

  17. https://hydra.astroempires.com

    July 12, 2026 at 12:14 pm

    References:

    KingMaker Casino Einzahlung per Neteller https://hydra.astroempires.com

    Reply

  18. http://clients1.google.ac/

    July 13, 2026 at 3:53 am

    References:

    Hit n spin casino 25 euro code http://clients1.google.ac/

    Reply

  19. toolbarqueries.google.kz

    July 13, 2026 at 5:31 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino echtgeld toolbarqueries.google.kz

    Reply

  20. toolbarqueries.google.es

    July 13, 2026 at 7:23 am

    References:

    Casino hitnspin toolbarqueries.google.es

    Reply

  21. http://www.google.com.gt/

    July 13, 2026 at 7:24 am

    References:

    Hit n spin casino bonus code http://www.google.com.gt/

    Reply

  24. http://forums.playredfox.com

    July 13, 2026 at 7:49 pm

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino 25 euro bonus ohne einzahlung
    http://forums.playredfox.com

    Reply

  25. wiki.tlib.ru

    July 13, 2026 at 8:41 pm

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino no deposit bonus wiki.tlib.ru

    Reply

  27. http://orienteering.sport/

    July 13, 2026 at 11:52 pm

    References:

    Hitnspin casino bewertung http://orienteering.sport/

    Reply

  28. https://www.rmnt.ru/

    July 14, 2026 at 12:01 am

    References:

    Hitnspin bonus https://www.rmnt.ru/

    Reply

  29. gcores.com

    July 14, 2026 at 12:10 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino app android gcores.com

    Reply

  30. https://yandex.ru

    July 14, 2026 at 1:45 am

    References:

    Hit casino https://yandex.ru

    Reply

  31. https://tehnoforum.com/

    July 14, 2026 at 2:29 am

    References:

    Hit’n’spin casino no deposit bonus https://tehnoforum.com/

    Reply

  33. http://images.google.com.bd

    July 15, 2026 at 1:22 am

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Seriös http://images.google.com.bd

    Reply

  34. https://ua.cvbankas.lt

    July 15, 2026 at 1:53 am

    References:

    Lollybet Cashback https://ua.cvbankas.lt

    Reply

  35. http://maps.google.vu/

    July 15, 2026 at 4:45 am

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Bewertung http://maps.google.vu/

    Reply

  36. scholar.google.es

    July 15, 2026 at 5:31 am

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Spiele scholar.google.es

    Reply

  37. http://images.google.rs

    July 15, 2026 at 11:14 am

    References:

    Lollybet Bonus ohne Einzahlung http://images.google.rs

    Reply

  39. http://maps.google.com.sa

    July 15, 2026 at 1:04 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Auszahlung http://maps.google.com.sa

    Reply

  41. oluchi.yn.lt

    July 15, 2026 at 2:40 pm

    References:

    Lollybet Casino Bonus oluchi.yn.lt

    Reply

  42. clients1.google.ru

    July 16, 2026 at 7:43 pm

    References:

    Hit n spin casino online login clients1.google.ru

    Reply

  43. http://cse.google.co.bw

    July 17, 2026 at 7:31 am

    References:

    Hitnspin casino spiele http://cse.google.co.bw

    Reply

  44. http://electronix.ru/

    July 17, 2026 at 12:41 pm

    References:

    Hitnspin casino forum http://electronix.ru/

    Reply

  45. https://gitea.gcras.ru/melvinamalm919

    July 17, 2026 at 9:42 pm

    References:

    Best instant payid pokies australia real money https://gitea.gcras.ru/melvinamalm919

    Reply

  46. https://work.buzzorbit.com/

    July 17, 2026 at 10:02 pm

    References:

    Payid online pokies australia https://work.buzzorbit.com/

    Reply

  47. https://git.hamystudio.ru

    July 18, 2026 at 1:01 am

    References:

    Australian online pokies payid https://git.hamystudio.ru

    Reply

  49. https://music.1mm.hk/felishagreenbe

    July 18, 2026 at 2:52 am

    References:

    Best instant payid pokies australia real money https://music.1mm.hk/felishagreenbe

    Reply

  50. listingindia.in

    July 18, 2026 at 3:14 am

    References:

    Online pokies with payid australia real money listingindia.in

    Reply

  51. https://www.mein-bdsm.de/

    July 18, 2026 at 6:55 am

    References:

    Online pokies real money payid https://www.mein-bdsm.de/

    Reply

  53. https://voomrecruit.com/

    July 24, 2026 at 4:15 am

    References:

    Play craps online for fun https://voomrecruit.com/

    Reply

  55. https://jobs.maanas.in/

    July 24, 2026 at 8:45 am

    References:

    Lucky live casino https://jobs.maanas.in/

    Reply

  56. nodam.kr

    July 24, 2026 at 11:28 am

    References:

    Sim slots nodam.kr

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Exit mobile version