HAPPY NEW YEAR

After all the doom and gloom of war, it was nice to participate in Chinese New Year celebrations and the Vietnam Tet holiday – which lasts for 9 days and most Vietnamese go home to their families or holiday.

So, Saigon was (supposedly) empty of most of its 9 million residents, with most shops, banks and some museums closing down for days – but tourist businesses stayed open, so we managed the trips we wanted and enjoyed lots of things that we wouldn’t have otherwise seen.

Wall to wall bikes for the night festivities – I think this is how it is every day, but we actually managed to cross the roads in the daytime – a feat in itself with cars and bikes zooming around in all directions – walk slowly, do not run, do not stop, develop eyes in back of head!
Balloon sellers, flashing light toys, candy floss – all the fun of the fair Vietnamese style



Main street made over to a flower festival with football sized crowds parading up and down – taking photos and smiling – a lovely atmosphere and loads of fun talking to locals (although a lot were from the US and visiting Saigon for first time in many years).












One of the parks held a show all over its grounds, with cafes and stalls around the outside and the exhibits in among the trees and permanent flower displays and structures.

It seemed to be a bit like our shows where the exhibits are awarded prizes and the categories ranged from 20 or 30 types of bonsai (with or without flowers or fruit, large, small, tiny, within rural scenes, special trees etc), natural wood carvings, flower or butterfly wing pictures, orchid displays, specialist flower arrangements, – an endless photo opportunity around every corner.

Am recharging camera batteries every night! – and keeping tight hold as we walk around.  One of the group had his snatched (cut strap over his shoulder) and took camera , out of his hand, so he never felt it go – our guide was annoyed that he hadn’t listened to his firm instructions on how to keep stuff tight to the body at all times.  Same as in Europe cities –motorbike drives alongside and it’s gone.

 Am going to try putting so many photos into an album – you should be able to browse or not according to interest by clicking the link that takes you to a slideshow -possibly! (looks like you need to have a Microsoft login to get it to work - or even mine - anyway you get the idea from the small photos below.  Let me know if anyone has any success)

		Saigon Garden Festival VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL