Not just for seniors: teens turn to dim sum for emotional ‘Last Day’ send-off

A group of Form Six students has gone viral after choosing a traditional dim sum breakfast to mark their final day of school — in a rare twist on what many see as an ageing dining culture.

A video posted on Instagram shows dozens of students gathering at a traditional Chinese dim sum restaurant before 6.30am, some still sleepy but eager to celebrate their “Last Day” together.

The idea, initiated by a student surnamed Leung, was inspired by similar send-offs by previous cohorts.

“We’ve seen others do it every year. This time it’s finally us,” he said, calling it a tradition worth passing on.

Despite early wake-up calls as early as 5am, 19 of the 21 classmates showed up.

“The best part was sitting together one last time, having dim sum and then walking back to school,” he said.

The clip quickly struck a chord online, with many calling it “pure youth” and “something you only understand when you grow up.”

Others noted that gathering even a few friends becomes difficult later in life, making such moments all the more precious.

The trend has also sparked debate over why younger generations have largely disappeared from traditional Chinese dim sum restaurants, long dubbed “canteens for the elderly.”

Netizens cited fast-paced lifestyles, pricing concerns and declining service standards among the key reasons.

Still, the students’ early morning reunion offered a different picture — one where tradition and youth briefly meet, leaving behind what many called a memory of a lifetime.