What a long holiday! Not that I’m complaining but it would have been better if Saigon was business as usual during Tet.

On Tet Eve, we checked in a hotel near the fireworks and spent the afternoon walking along Flower Street. With boys in tow, it wasn’t nearly as fun. We just arrived in Nguyen Hue when my eldest started asking what time will we go back to the hotel.

I was able to visit Flower Street before it was opened to the public so I didn’t really get to see all the decors.

Absolutely enjoyed watching the locals garbed in their ao dai posing amongst the flowers. Hubby and I were thinking if we have a similar holiday in the Philippines where we’d do the same.The Vietnamese take pride in their national dress and am sure no Vietnamese is without an ao dai in their wardrobe. I honestly don’t have a Filipiniana in mine. The men would only wear a barong during a wedding and important occasions. But to wear one for a national holiday while walking the streets for photo op? Unheard of.

Because of all the whining, we ended in Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Saigon Garden. Saigon Garden is a charming place actually!

The kids wanted to swim so we went back to the hotel. And after that we just lazed around and watched below as motorbikes stated filling the parking areas for the Tet festivities for the evening.

Come dinner time, we ate with friends at Tuk Tuk Thai Bistro (just like last year). There were only a handful of restaurants open so we couldn’t really choose but thankfully, Tuk Tuk is a family favorite.

From dinner around 9PM, we walked back to our hotel and took in the sights and sound of Tet. It was like a street fair all through out the city. Local delicacies were being sold on the sidewalks.

Massive traffic as people try to get home before midnight or park their vehicles to watch the fireworks.

The police were closing roads and vehicles were being rerouted. It was a treat to walk in the middle of the roads which you couldn’t do normally with motorbikes whizzing by.

Been wanting to get photos of the lights in District 1. I finally found the chance!

Chanced upon a lion dance at the Majestic Hotel. Do you know you have to feed it money? 😛

By 10 PM, we were back in our hotel and waited out the fireworks. Of course we had to wake up the kids. Rafa missed it again!

Hope you had a blast this Tet too! 🙂