Every Saturday and Sunday, the extended family of Lù Thị Hoa in Tông Khao village, Thanh Nưa commune (Điện Biên district, Điện Biên province) gathers together to cook meals and engage in lively conversation. Now in her 60s, Hoa has four daughters, all of whom are married and live separately. However, they still maintain the tradition of gathering together for family meals on weekends. During these times, her children and grandchildren join her in the kitchen, learning how to prepare meals, enjoying new dishes, and sharing successes and challenges in work and studies.

Hoa shared: “Nowadays, many people are busy with school, work pressures, or even working far away, so it’s rare to have a warm family meal together. This weakens the bond between family members. For my family, it’s incredibly important to have everyone gathered around the table; even though we’re busy, we still make sure to have at least one meal together each week, especially during the New Year. This is when I listen to the thoughts and feelings of my children, learn about what they’re doing, and through that, I encourage and guide them to have confidence and direction in life. Frequent closeness, care, and sharing help my children live in harmony, respect elders, and show love and respect to their spouses.”

Nguyễn Vân Anh from Tân Thanh ward (Điện Biên Phủ city) has often reconciled with her husband through delicious meals. She held: “There have been times when my husband and I had disagreements, and we didn’t speak to each other all day, which made the family atmosphere tense and suffocating. During such times, I take the initiative to cook his favorite dish and we talk things through during the meal. The family meal is the key to happiness, as it helps erase tiredness and ease away the anger.”

Having built their family for nearly 8 years and both working in the armed forces, with some days requiring overnight shifts, Nguyễn Thị Đức Hạnh and her husband from Thanh Nưa commune (Điện Biên district) always try to maintain family meals with everyone present. For them, the happiest time is when the whole family gathers around the dinner table, sharing stories after a day of work and study.

Hạnh said: “Despite being busy with work, I still try to prepare dinner for the family. For me, cooking a good meal for my family is a source of happiness and a way to express love for my husband and children. To make the meal truly warm and bonding, everyone should join in the kitchen, each doing their part - the wife cooking, the husband washing the dishes, and the children picking vegetables. During the meal, it’s important to keep the conversation light and avoid bringing up topics that could cause conflicts or arguments. As a woman, I always try to manage my time wisely so that I can be with my family, cook nutritious meals, and strengthen the bond between the family members, helping the children understand the value of family meals.”

In modern life, many families choose to simplify their meals by opting for ready-made food or dining out, which has led to fewer full family meals. However, no matter how modern society becomes, family meals remain crucial, as they not only showcase the beauty of our cultural traditions but also serve as a place to share life’s experiences, educational values, and ethics within the family. They reflect love, care, sharing, and emotional connection between family members.