Students use Vietnamese custom to contemplate, connect, reflect

Ghailah Nyeanchi, Contributing Writer

Flashlights and small bulbs illuminated paper bag lanterns as people handed in envelopes with reflective handwritten letters to be returned later in the year.

The Vietnamese Student Association hosted The Hopes of Light: Wishing Lantern event on Sept. 21 in Monroe Park. 

“Wishing is a huge custom in Vietnamese culture, especially for young ones to our elders and family during the lunar New Year season, which we call Tết,” said MaryAnna Nguyen, event coordinator for VSA. 

Hội An is a famous city of lanterns in Vietnam where locals and tourists commonly get lanterns and send them off into the river with wishes they hope come true, Nyugen said. 

It’s common for children and young adults to wish prosperity and longevity to their elders who in turn give them red money — or lì xì — to receive luck for the upcoming year, Nguyen said. Wishing into lanterns represents one’s desire to receive good fortunes for oneself and for others. 

It’s been a long time since VSA held an event like this, according to Nyugen. After remembering how much fun she had participating in this event a while back, Nyugen decided VSA should host it again. 

“This is actually the first event I’m hosting, so I was really nervous,” Nyugen said. “I just wanted to see everyone be happy and have fun.”

Attendees could pick up paper bag lanterns with pre-cut designs and decorate them with markers. A station with notebook paper and envelopes were also provided so attendees could write letters to their future selves. 

“It’s kind of just a very reflective event to start off the year,” said Loredana Munteanu, another event coordinator at VSA. 

Attendees could also receive semi-permanent tattoos and retrieve games to play with friends. 

“We wanted an event where people could just connect,” Munteanu said. “It’s just a nice way to meet friends without a lot of pressure.” 

VSA wanted to create a welcoming environment, especially for first-year students who haven’t had a chance to meet a lot of people yet, Munteanu said. 

“Overall, when people leave this event I want people to take away what VSA stands for: which is bringing the community together, welcoming all types of people and encouraging bonds across different backgrounds,” Munteanu said. 

Amy Huynh, a VCU junior, scribbled the words love, luck and money on her lantern. 

“I’m just manifesting good vibes,” Huynh said. 

Madi Spicer, a first-year student at VCU, heard about the event through an Instagram post. 

“I force myself to go out to these kinds of events every now and then, and every time I’ve done it, I don’t regret it,” Spicer said. “It’s so fun and I always meet a lot of nice people.”

The theme of Spicer’s lantern was “letting go,” she said. Spicer said this translates to living in the present, letting go of the future, letting go of the past and being in the now.

“The fact that I’m at college is a really big deal and I didn’t realize that I was taking it for granted because I was so focused on past things and worrying about the future,” Spicer said.

First-year student Emily Servin also heard about the event through Instagram. Servin focused on setting goals and reflecting on the future in her letter to her later self, she said. She wished herself a good year and good luck in her next year at VCU.

“I wrote that I’m looking forward to seeing what I accomplish this year,” Servin said. “I wrote that things get tough but they also get better and that I’m proud of myself.”