Sudbury’s Vietnamese community celebrates Lunar New Year

The Vietnamese Association Sudbury says Saturday's Lunar New Year celebrations were highlighted by the lion dancers.

It was a celebration of food and culture at the Caruso Club in Greater Sudbury on Saturday evening as the Vietnamese Association of Sudbury celebrated the Lunar New Year.

The evening featured authentic Vietnamese food, lion dancing, a fashion show and other cultural activities including an Ao Dai contest – a pageant celebrating traditional silk tunics and pants that are the national dress of Vietnam.

Many local VIPs were on for the celebration including Mayor Paul Lefebvre and Sudbury MPP Jamie West.

“Last night’s festivities were highlighted by our lions (dance) team,” the Vietnamese Association of Sudbury said on social media on Sunday.

“Thank you for our mayor Mr. Paul Lefebvre, our MPP Mr. Jamie West and HSN CEO Dr. David McNeil for helping us open the festivities by feeding the lions to bring good luck to everyone for the new year.”

“For our culture, it is very important to celebrate Lunar New Year because Lunar New Year is the time when you go home,” said Kim Thanh Bui, a vice president with the Vietnamese Association of Sudbury, speaking briefly with CTV News at the event.

“It’s family, it’s love, it’s unity – We would go home with family and share the love.”

The Lunar milestone also showcased a Vietnamese tradition called lucky money, a traditional gift of money in a red envelope to bring good fortune, health and prosperity.

Bui said the Vietnamese community in Sudbury is growing.

“It’s really special we call Sudbury home,” she said.

“We have many Vietnamese people chose Sudbury and live here now.”

The meal also included traditional lucky fruits, which in Vietnamese culture are the kumquat, pomelo and watermelon.

There were also games families and calligraphy lessons available.