Rice University’s Vietnamese Student Association and Thai Student Association hosted the second annual Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander (SEAPI) Night themed “A Thousand Lanterns” Nov. 21. This student-led celebration offered more than just a showcase; it created a luminous affirmation of community, identity and belonging through a diverse night market reminiscent of the bustling night markets seen in southeast Asia that complemented a colorful performance showcase.
The event transformed the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall and Ray Courtyard into a vibrant space of cultural connection with music, dance and food highlighting southeast Asian and Pacific Islander traditions. The name “A Thousand Lanterns” conjured an image of shared light, a metaphor for collective visibility and cultural affirmation.
What began in 2024 evolved into a larger, more collaborative event that included several more groups beyond the hedges. SEAPI Night 2025 expanded to feature more than 20 vendors and 14 performance groups, up from 11 vendors and eight groups the previous year.
The cultural showcase’s participating performers included Baylor Lions, Crimson Lotus Lion Dance, Dulles Tinikling, Dulles Vietnamese Fan Dance, Eric Huynh, Houston House of Angklung, Rice Kasama, Rice Lions, Rice Vietnamese Students Association, Texas Academy of Pacific Arts Houston, Sabaidee Sisters, South Seas Productions, University of Houston Vietnamese Students Association Thang Long Phong and W3.
More than entertainment
For many involved, SEAPI Night is not just another showcase. It’s an evening steeped with intention.
Naoko Ozaki, lecturer in Japanese and faculty sponsor for the Thai Student Association, described the importance of celebrating both differences and commonalities.
“I do think that we’re intentional about celebrating the similarities and differences,” Ozaki said. “Rather than taking the outside culture as the subject that you study, I’m hoping that through events like this, we can experience culture together and be a part of it.”
This sentiment resonated with students like senior Christi Nguyen, who described SEAPI Night as a long-awaited expansion of Rice’s cultural landscape.
“This is a pretty new development that shows a widening definition of diversity,” Nguyen said. “With [Rice’s] diverse student population, I’m really excited to see us widen.”
Nguyen brought her lifelong friend Jasmine Nguyen, a high school teacher in Cypress Ridge, who emphasized how such events foster cultural exposure.
“This makes it a lot easier for people to be exposed to other cultures without having to travel or go far out of their way,” Jasmine Nguyen said. “It’s all here in Houston. I don’t have to fly anywhere to experience southeast Asia. It’s all within my area code.”
Growth through collaboration
Junior Nayounghee Tuetkin, SEAPI Night’s executive adviser overseeing volunteers, highlighted how the event’s organization has matured. Comparing this year with last, she notes improved logistics — better volunteer coordination, more seamless transitions between performances and a more intentional vendor mix featuring cuisines from a wide range of countries, including Cambodia, Polynesia, Vietnam and Indonesia
She underscored the significance of the festivities.
“It says so much about our willingness as a community to be open to new perspectives, to be open to new cultures and to really celebrate,” Tuetkin said.
As someone of half-Indonesian heritage, she also reflected on the importance of representation. Though Houston and Rice are diverse, she noted that southeast Asian and Pacific Islander groups can still be marginalized. Tuetkin called seeing her culture reflected on stage, in food and in community powerful and said SEAPI Night is a legacy event she hopes will continue to grow for years to come.