The large family, a source of immense pride for P.D.D. (born 1990, from Hai Duong), recently caught public attention when she shared a photo of the gathering on social media along with heartfelt reflections on family traditions and roots.

The photo features hundreds of family members gathered to commemorate their ancestor.

"Looking back at these moments, I am always grateful and happy to have been born into such a 'super-sized' family. Having a big family is wonderful," D. wrote.

Her post quickly garnered widespread admiration from the online community, with many praising the family’s strong sense of tradition and unity.

Speaking to VietNamNet, D. explained that the photo was taken during her family's ancestor commemoration in 2023, with over 200 members assembling at the family hall. Behind the image lies a beautiful story of heritage and solidarity.

D. recounted that her great-grandfather had 11 children, with her grandfather being the sixth. Her grandparents had five children, with D.'s father being the second.

"The other children of my great-grandfather also had large families, some with seven or eight children. As successive generations married and expanded, our family now has close to 500 members," she shared.

Their great-grandfather passed away nearly 40 years ago. Every year, the family organizes a small ceremony with about 10 banquet tables, with one representative from each household attending.

However, every five years, the family hosts a major ancestral gathering, turning it into a grand reunion. This large event is meticulously planned with a detailed schedule.

"The most recent grand ceremony was in 2023, during which we prepared over 100 banquet tables and celebrated over two days," D. said.

The family also maintains a group chat named "Gia đình cụ" (Ancestor's Family). Several months before the event, the elder representatives meet to draft preliminary plans, followed by a detailed announcement posted in the group chat.

Upon hearing the news, even distant relatives living abroad arrange to return home for the reunion.

"We usually hold the event over a weekend nearest to the actual death anniversary. On the first afternoon, family members set up tents, stages, and prepare food, mainly organized by the elder members. The next morning, all members and guests gather for the feast," D. recounted.

Familiar activities on the day include family representatives giving speeches, guests sharing village traditions, group photos, and, of course, the banquet.

"The group photo session is the most fun. It takes the photographer nearly 30 minutes to arrange everyone into one frame. After that, everyone sits according to a pre-assigned seating plan, while others coordinate the meal service. It’s extremely well-organized and harmonious," D. shared.

Living near each other, with large, spacious homes, makes it easy for the family to host hundreds of banquet tables at once. The bustling, joyful atmosphere during these occasions is what D. cherishes most.

Proud to belong to a large family

Growing up in such a large family, D. often encountered amusing situations. At times, she could not remember everyone's names or felt awkward recognizing familiar yet unfamiliar faces.

This is why the older generations insist on frequent reunions - so the younger generations can recognize and bond with one another.

"There was once a situation where a young couple, not knowing they were related, started liking each other. When they discovered their family ties, they had no choice but to part ways," D. revealed.

"That’s why our elders always say: meet often, recognize each other, so we don't mistake family members in the future," she added.

Beyond the death anniversary gathering, the family organizes other activities. They have a scholarship fund, awarding prizes annually to children who excel academically.

For other occasions like Tet holidays or Thanh Minh (the Vietnamese Tomb-Sweeping Festival), the family plans detailed trips back to the hometown for ancestral offerings. D. actively participates in these events to enjoy the warm and lively atmosphere.

"I am very proud to be part of such a united and loving family," D. said.

Thanh Minh