A few months after my arrival, the atmosphere of Tet, the Lunar New Year and the most important holiday for Vietnamese people, created a certain quietude that felt rather joyful.

The free Tet festival, featuring music, food, entertainment, and a marketplace with Vietnamese goods, will run all weekend long from noon to 8 p.m. at the Grand Century Mall in Little Saigon.

For Vietnamese immigrant families who primarily fled from South Vietnam to the U.S. after the Vietnam War, this music offers a connection to their culture.