Tet

Lunar new year is the biggest festival in Vietnam. Locally it is called Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan. This year it was on 10th Feb, holidays extend from 8th till 18th. The festivities are comparable to Diwali in India. Markets get decked up, frantic buying happens. Entire population it seems comes on the road on their two wheelers, zipping in all directions. If you want to see a kamikaze in action, this is the place and time! Folks on two wheelers driving on the wrong side of the road, not even on the sides, but middle of the road, ploughing right into the incoming traffic!

Pictures of Old Quarter streets. I found shops laden with different kind of lamps and shinny decorative material.

One site, that you probably wont see anywhere, people transport fully grown Marumi Kumquat trees, laden with fruit, on their bikes! Huge pots are tied to back seat of the bikes that zig-zag their way thru' heavy traffic, that seems to come from all directions at you! Another tree that people buy, for prosperity and happiness during Tet is Peach Flower.

The one below is Marumi Kumquat. In the background, you can probably see a barber. There are a plenty "Barber under a Neem Tree" in Vietnam.

The bushes with pink flowers are the Peach Flower trees.

Government agencies beautify the gardens and roads with flower beds and decorative lights. Hoan Kiem Lake, near Old Quarters, in Ha Noi, is a popular tourist attraction place. The garden along the lakeside is beautiful. Tons of people descend on the garden and click their way to happiness and joy!

Happy New Year!
 

Chandni Chowk of Vietnam

Old Quarters in downtown Hanoi is the Chandni Chowk of Vietnam. A must visit place for foreigners. Narrow streets, people on foot, on two wheelers, whatever cars you see are taxis ferrying foreigners in and out of the place, small shops, smaller shops, hole in wall shops, street vendors. Then there is more, people who only own stools, small stools placed on the sidewalks. Stools so small that your knees almost touch your chin when you sit on them. The owner gets you what you want from nearby restaurants and shops, while you sip your beer, watching the world go by before your eyes. Beer is cheap, the one on tap, not sure about the hygiene, costs less than USD25cents. Bottled one, safer, costs USD75 cents.

One popular street intersection is called International corner. This is where you find folks from allover the world, sipping there beers and talking loud.  Weekends have the night market going. Some streets get closed to the vehicular traffic, temporary stalls come up, you can move up and down and get good bargain on lots of stuff.

One word of caution, just because beer is cheap don't drink yourself silly! :)