Hanoi, Feb. 11 -- As the Lunar New Year (Tet) is approaching, Vietnamese communities across the world are coming together to welcome this important festival, preserving traditional customs while nurturing a shared sense of belonging, identity and connection with their homeland. In the greater Washington metropolitan area, which includes the US capital and neighbouring parts of Maryland and Virginia, Vietnamese families have maintained the tradition of gathering to make "banh chung" (square-shaped sticky rice cake) despite colder-than-usual winter weather. While snow and ice covered the streets outside, warmth filled American-style homes as families worked together to prepare traditional dishes and share stories of Tet back home. For overs...