Top 10 Most Touching and Meaningful Tet Short Films

"Home Above All" tells the story of a young man working far from home who plans to stay away during Tet due to work commitments. However, after a phone call with his mother, he decides to return home for the holiday. The young man realizes that there's no place more peaceful than his mother's embrace, and nothing is more important than family.

Life's daily grind and struggles sometimes distract us, making us forget the true values and the loved ones around us. Although the short film "Home Above All" is brief and simple, it leaves us reflecting deeply on our own lives and the importance of family.

The story begins with a young girl who looks forward to spending Tet with her mother, excited for new clothes, delicious food, and receiving lucky money. However, her mother is busy cooking and cleaning for the holiday. The film depicts the woman’s tireless efforts to prepare for Tet, yet she doesn’t seem to have time to truly enjoy the holiday with her family. A small shift in the husband's mindset lightens his wife’s holiday burden, reminding us of the quiet sacrifices made by the women in our lives.

Despite its brief four-minute runtime, the film sends a powerful message to the men in the family: pay attention to the unsung sacrifices of women. Even a small gesture or action can make the moments shared during Tet more meaningful.

The story revolves around a skilled potter whose deft hands shape clay on the spinning wheel, while his craft also brings him back to his childhood memories. In the film, the character portrayed by Hà Anh Tuấn often accompanies his mother to the market during Tet. He recalls the joy of watching his mother lovingly admire a new set of plates, carefully cherishing them each day. But, in a moment of mischief, the young boy accidentally breaks the precious set of dishes that his mother treasured so much. As an adult, he painstakingly recreates the set of dishes as a gift for her.

The emotions run high when he calls out, “Mom, I’m home,” as he steps through the door, only to find that the warm smile, the loving embrace, and the soothing voice of his mother are now nothing but a memory. This is a simple yet moving story about the precious bond of family, the sacrifices of a mother, and the message that this Tet, we should return home to be with our families, and especially with our mothers.

Continuing with the theme of the longing of women whose husbands work far from home and cannot return to their maternal family for Tet, "Spring Doesn't Return" begins with a survey asking what the husbands think their wives want for Tet. They assume that their wives want new clothes, beauty treatments, travel, and sightseeing. But they fail to realize that the greatest wish of a woman once married is simply to return to her parental home to celebrate Tet with her parents.

In just a few minutes, the film expresses the deep longing of a woman to reunite with her parents during Tet, alongside the selflessness and sacrifices made for her husband and children, often at the expense of her own desires. The film conveys an important message to husbands: pay more attention, share more, and empathize with your wives, because sometimes, happiness is simply about spending meaningful moments together.

This short film explores the heart of a mother-in-law who watches her daughter-in-law tirelessly work in the kitchen while her son and others relax in the living room, enjoying coffee and chatting. To her, Tet is only truly complete when all family members come together to create and savor the festive atmosphere. In the end, her wish, though a bit delayed, becomes a reality. The husband, noticing his wife’s struggle in the kitchen, finally understands and takes action to ease her burden.

The short film "Let’s Celebrate Tet Together" is simple yet deeply meaningful: even small actions, when driven by care and consideration, can make a big difference, contributing to a happier and more harmonious family.

The story follows Khánh, a student studying abroad, who loves to travel and explore but forgets the true values of Tet. After returning to Vietnam, he initially plans to skip the holiday with his family in favor of a trip with friends. However, his perspective changes when he meets Tâm, a fellow student, and joins her in Bạc Liêu to celebrate Tet with her family. There, Khánh comes to understand the deep significance of family bonds and ultimately decides to return home to celebrate Tet with his parents.

"The Taste of Family Bonds" delivers a powerful message: cherish the sacred bonds of family. Happiness doesn’t come from grandeur; sometimes, simply gathering around a Tet meal with loved ones is enough to bring warmth and joy.

We all want everything around us to be perfect, and the mother in this film is no exception. She strives to ensure everything is spotless and that Tet is flawless, believing this will bring luck and prosperity. She handles all the preparations herself, until she reads a heartfelt letter from her daughter. In that moment, she realizes that Tet is only truly meaningful when the family is together, sharing moments with each other, and that is what truly brings happiness.

Mothers are always eager to give their families the best. Let’s share this burden with them—help with the cleaning and preparations for Tet, and suddenly, all the little challenges become trivial. "Isn't Tet Beautiful Enough, Mom?" offers a heartwarming message, reminding us not to chase the perfection of Tet but to enjoy the precious moments of joy and togetherness with family.

"Colorless Spring" tells the story of a young woman who marries and moves far from home. During Tet, while her in-laws gather around the stove discussing plans for outings and family visits, she feels a deep sense of sadness because she cannot return to visit her own parents. The emotions intensify when memories of the past surface, and after a phone call with her mother, the film culminates in a touching scene where she returns home, finding solace in her parents' warm embrace, leaving viewers, especially daughters-in-law, in tears.

In just six minutes, "Colorless Spring" conveys a powerful message. Simple and unadorned, the film captures the longing of women who wish for just one chance to return home for Tet, to be hugged by their mothers as children again, and to share with their parents the stories of their year.

This story revolves around a family with just a father and his daughter. As the Tet holiday approaches, the daughter, often busy, finds it hard to spend time with her father, so she gifts him a phone for communication. In the days that follow, she receives numerous text messages from him, each without words, but each message is filled with a profound love that her father holds for her.

Eventually, she becomes irritated by these messages and speaks harshly to him. Despite this, her father doesn't harbor any resentment. Instead, he continues to try, learning how to text and send her birthday greetings. In this short film, we see the quiet, unwavering love a father has for his child, expressed in his own subtle way. The film beautifully conveys a meaningful message about the special bond between father and daughter.

Unlike the other short films, "Sharing Love for Tet" focuses on the heartfelt bond between a teacher and her student. Set during a bus ride back to the countryside for Tet, the film tells the touching story of a disabled student, whose emotional journey deeply moves everyone on board. The moment when the entire bus joins together in singing the iconic song by late composer Trinh Cong Son, "Let the Wind Carry It Away," brings an overwhelming sense of emotion to the audience.

The film also highlights small, yet meaningful acts of giving and receiving, from branches of apricot blossoms, jars of pickled onions, wreaths, and sticky rice cakes, to the special heart-shaped paper airplanes. In just under eight minutes, this short film stirs up a profound sense of human connection, reminding us of the true spirit of Tet—a time to share love and create a meaningful, complete celebration.