Vietnam 8 - Tet in Hoi An - Enter the Year of the Pig

Welcome to the year of the pig!

The Lunar New Year (Tet) has arrived and it has been amazing to watch and be part of what goes on.

First, in the days, and yes weeks, leading up to Tet the city’s homes, streets and downtown area were gradually being finished (if in process), cleaned, painted, and decorated.  The streets were full of flowers to be purchased and brought home.  Kumquat trees in large planters showed up at businesses and some homes.  The actual day before so many people were washing their motorbikes, so the street edges ran with soapy water all over.

Check out the little red bows on each stem

Kumquat tree set up at a commercial business

Tet eve was also and interesting day.  We knew it was the last day the market and local minimart would be open for a bit – they close for 3 days – and so there was an early morning run to stock up on food to last over the shutdown.  The market was crazy – with everyone doing more of less the same thing.  Many shop keepers were sure to advise us that they would be closed for 3 days, which we knew, but was a kindness they showed to foreigners who might not otherwise get it.

Busy at the local market

On Tet eve we were also invited to another lunch at the brother of our landlady’s home.  Yet another amazing meal.  This one was bit smaller than the one
with our landlord, and was vegetarian.  Food was delicious and if I could replicate those dishes I would probably happily eat that way forever.  This lunch was a tad easier too since percentage-wise many more people spoke English so the Google translate did not get pulled into use quite as often.  (Have I mentioned what an amazing app that is?  Probably).

As midnight approached firecrackers and some fireworks began to go off in the neighbourhood.  We had been hopeful that we would be able to see the city fireworks from our rooftop, but alas we could not.  The local stuff was kind of fun though.  We live on a fairly busy street, and that night traffic was really low.  People were with their families and loved ones.

Tet morning dawned and quiet!  Really?  Definitely a day for family and tradition.  Our landlady and her brother had an arrangement for who would be the first visitor of the new year.  Apparently if the first visitor is of a specific year of birth (not sure which animal) then there is luck for the year.  These folks did not leave anything to chance and arranged the visits ahead of time.

We stopped at our neighbours' home on the way out for the day to drop off lucky money red envelopes for the kids and a few small things for the family.  We made sure we were on our way immediately so we could not intrude on the family then headed downtown.

Our landlady owns a small shop in the Old Town and she went in to open it for a couple of hours with the aim to get at least one sale for luck in business through the new year.  We stopped in (just in case) but she had already had her sale and was happy.  The Old Town was so interesting.  Normally it is quite busy with tourists (as a UNESCO site), but with Tet the main markets and most of the shops were closed.  The streets were also fairly empty. 

Central market closed up for Tet

Streets are quiet

And so is the street at the river edge

This turned into a wonderful opportunity to actually take a better look at the ancient buildings themselves without selfie posers in front.  

The temples were open and free.  We did go into one, but quickly realized that the majority of folks inside were actually there for the purpose that the temple was built so we exited and left them to their prayers.  We can go back another day without issue.

By the day after Tet shops in our neighbourhood remain closed.

This is a picture of our local market the day after Tet.

From the same place as the busy shot above

Many coffee shops and bars were open, and by the look of the empties on the street waiting for pick up, had been quite popular  over the past few days.