In Canada, we usually
refer to the lunar new year as Chinese New Year, but in Vietnam it is called
Tet. The new year, year of the dragon, began Jan 23, 2012. Tet is THE
holiday in Vietnam. Most people have a nine day holiday break 4 days before
lunar new year and four days after. A time for families to get together and
celebrate.
When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan 20, festivities were already in progress. Businesses, houses and streets were decorated with lanterns, streamers, lights, but most of all flowers and dragon effigies. Some parks had flowers for sale, others had flowers just for display. One of the main streets, Nguyen Hue, running from the Rex Hotel to the Mekong River – referred to as flower street for Tet - was closed to traffic and filled with flowers and other displays. Flowers in the shape of birds, dragon flies, and of course countless dragons. In the evening of Jan 23, flower street was jammed. People were literally shoulder to shoulder from one end to the other. We had planned to walk the length of the street and then see the fireworks, but gave up. It was simply too claustrophobic.
The dragon below, at the start of flower street, was 26m long and 5m high. This masterpiece was created with bamboo that was knitted and braided as well as dried water hyacinth.
The dragon is the most
auspicious animal of the 12 in the Chinese zodiac. According to a local newspaper,
health officials expect birth rates to be higher this year because people feel
that a child born in the year of the dragon will be more successful.
When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan 20, festivities were already in progress. Businesses, houses and streets were decorated with lanterns, streamers, lights, but most of all flowers and dragon effigies. Some parks had flowers for sale, others had flowers just for display. One of the main streets, Nguyen Hue, running from the Rex Hotel to the Mekong River – referred to as flower street for Tet - was closed to traffic and filled with flowers and other displays. Flowers in the shape of birds, dragon flies, and of course countless dragons. In the evening of Jan 23, flower street was jammed. People were literally shoulder to shoulder from one end to the other. We had planned to walk the length of the street and then see the fireworks, but gave up. It was simply too claustrophobic.
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| Year of the Dragon banners on "flower street" |
The dragon below, at the start of flower street, was 26m long and 5m high. This masterpiece was created with bamboo that was knitted and braided as well as dried water hyacinth.
Here are some other dragons - some from flower street, and others from around the city.