Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is known for being a large, industrious, busy place humming with constant activity. Despite what my brother had said about things being toned down due to the upcoming holiday, there seemed to be plenty going on. We arrived there early in the morning on February 9th. The New Year's celebrations, known as Tết, started on the 10th and would be going on for the next couple days. Tết marks the arrival of spring based on the Chinese calendar and is the most important holiday/festival in Vietnam. Preparations for the festivities were visible everywhere, from sidewalk stands selling the traditional yellow flowering tree, markets full of people stocking up on ingredients to prepare customary dishes and decorations lining nearly every street. New Year's in Asia is like our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthday celebrations all rolled into one. Many customs are practiced during Tết, such as visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year, visiting temples, ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year's greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, and opening a shop.
That afternoon, we walked to a street that was closed off for the Tết celebrations. In front of us, lining the middle of the street, was a gorgeous, massive display of flowers mimicking the shape and movement of a snake (the animal associated with 2013). As an important part of spring, flowers were another theme; every display had some type of floral element. Massive lotus flower sculptures marked the beginning and end of each group of decorations.
Even though we didn't stay in HCMC for very long, I grew stir crazy quickly. Some of the activities and the accommodations were a little too close to home. I was anxiously awaiting the next adventure.
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