The Asian Student Union (ASU) and Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) rang in the Lunar New Year with homemade food, traditional Vietnamese games and karaoke during a joint meeting Wednesday.
Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is a celebration of the return to spring and the start of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is widely celebrated in China, South Korea and Vietnam, but is also celebrated around the world. Following the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
ASU is a student organization that focuses on advancing awareness of Asian identity at Iowa State. VSA is also a student organization with the mission of uniting the Iowa State and Vietnamese communities together and promoting the culture and history of Vietnam. Both clubs are open to all students who are interested in joining.
During the meeting, attendees were invited to participate in a variety of activities, including bingo, karaoke and a Vietnamese gambling game called “Bầu cua cá cọp.” Attendees were also treated to homemade crab rangoons and Chè Thái, a Vietnamese drink made with jackfruit, tapioca, tropical fruits, jellies and milk.
Another tradition of Lunar New Year is the presentation of red envelopes by elders, also known as hongbao in Mandarin. Every year, children give their elders new years wishes in exchange for red envelopes–usually filled with money or prizes–as a token of good fortune and luck for the new year. Attendees at the event also had a chance to have their own red envelopes as they competed in games.
Diego Camarena, a member of both ASU and VSA, said this Lunar New Year represents “new beginnings” for himself because he is starting a new major.
“I’m at a new point in life,” Camarena said. “So, it’s a good time to start.”
Dong Nguyen, the vice president of VSA and second-year architecture student, spoke about his family’s traditions on Lunar New Year.
“My family personally goes to our Buddhist temple,” Nguyen said. “Every year, we stay up till midnight and we start off with line dancing, which is a big thing in our culture.”
Nguyen said this Lunar New Year represents a “new chapter in [his] life” because he is celebrating without his family for the first time.
Anh Le, the president of VSA and fourth-year graphic design student, said she remembers going to her grandfather’s house to celebrate the Lunar New Year with her entire family.
“We would also do New Year wishes to the elders,” Le said. “The kids would come up and wish them a happy life and good fortune… and then they’d give us red envelopes with money.”
Le said she celebrates because “it’s one of the biggest holidays that Vietnamese culture has.”
“It really represents who I am and how I grew up,” Le said. “It’s just a part of my culture.”
Ashley Guinto, a member of ASU and a third-year pre-art student, shared her thoughts on the event.
“It was very surprising to see how many people showed up for the New Year, but it was definitely a happy surprise,” Guinto said. “I just like seeing everyone gather together and celebrate the awareness for the Asian communities.”
For more information about VSA or ASU, visit their corresponding links.