One of the Perks of Tet in Vietnam: Gambling
In Vietnam, there are only a handful of casinos and they are all restricted to those with a foreign passport. Besides state-run lotteries, gambling of any kind is prohibited… except for the few days of the Lunar New Year, that is. During Tet, many Vietnamese can be seen in the streets gambling, even young children.Despite strict Vietnamese laws, gambling and betting remain widespread in Vietnam, from cockfighting, to sports betting, to Vietnamese going online to gamble at overseas casinos. Read More »
The Buddhist Monk Scam
Every year during Tet, Buddhist Vietnamese flock to temples to pray for a lucky start to their new year.Many popular temples are filled with people who panhandle for money, including a number of fake Buddhist monks who take advantage of the holiday season to get cash from sympathetic worshipers.
Here are some photos of supposed "monks" at Ba Temple (chùa Bà) in Binh Duong Province on February 5th, 2011. The temple attracted many visitors from surrounding Dong Nai, Long An, and Saigon. Click for more photos… Read More »
9 Die from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Hai Phong
Vietnamese media have reported that 9 friends have died at a New Year’s party in Hai Phong, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning. The incident took place in the early morning of Sunday February 6, 2011 and involved… Read More »Record 36m (118ft) Long Banh Tet Cooked in Nha Trang
On the afternoon of February 4th (the second day of the Lunar New Year), a 36m long “bánh tét” (sticky rice cake) was prepared by Yasaka Saigon hotel in Nha Trang. Seventy-five employees helpled to carry the sticky rice cake to an awaiting oven on the beach next to the hotel. They were joined by a procession that included dragon dancers and girls in traditional local costume carrying festive items… Click for more Read More »Vietnamese Begin New Year by Visiting Temples
After spending the Lunar New Year’s eve with family and friends, many Vietnamese headed to local temples to pray for a lucky start to the new year. Vietnam, a predominantly Buddhist country, has many temples and pagodas. Thousands of Vietnamese filled popular temples in Hanoi and Saigon. Besides visiting temples and spending time with friends and family, many also spent the first day of the Tet New Year visiting the graves of family members who have passed away to pay respect to their ancestors. Click for more photos… Read More »2011 Year of the Rabbit or the Cat?
Is 2011 the year of the rabbit or the cat? It’s both! For Chinese, this year will be the year of the rabbit, while Vietnamese will celebrate the year of the cat. Although Vietnam and China share many similar traditions, there are sometimes slight variations and differences. The exact reason for the rabbit and cat difference is unclear, but it’s also possible that Vietnamese have a stronger attachment to cats than rabbits*.Here is a video of a rabbit and cat fighting with each other. Please note: this video is purely for fun and we do not intend any hidden meaning or message ^_^
*Read More Read More »
Hanoi and Saigon Turn to Ghost Towns on Tet
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới – Happy Lunar New Year! As shops and markets are closed and most Vietnamese spend the first day of the new year (February 3rd) with family and friends, the streets in Vietnam’s cities become like ghost towns. Here are photos from around Hanoi and Saigon. Click for more photos… Read More »Nguyen Hue Flower Street Lights Up Tet in Saigon
Photos from Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Saigon’s District 1 from January 31, 2011. This year for “Tết Tân Mão” (Year of the Cat), there are various cat-themed displays at the annual street show, which kicked off yesterday and runs until February 6. Click for more photos… Read More »How Much to Rent a “Friend” for Tet?
In a VTC news asked the question, “What is the cost of renting a girlfriend or boyfriend for Tet?” Apparently, for 2.5 million VND (about $125 USD) you can have a boyfriend or girlfriend for the day in Vietnam… Read More »Tet Holiday Shopping in Hanoi
Images from a BigC Supermarket in Hanoi as holiday shoppers prepare for the most important holiday in the Vietnamese lunar calendar… Read More »Spring Flower and Drink Festival 2011 in Hanoi
A showcase of “Vietnamese Áo Dài Over the Years” (Áo dài Việt Nam qua các thời kỳ) at the Spring Flower and Drink Festival 2011 in Hanoi.The annual festival organized by The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlights Vietnam’s national flowers, dresses, and wine, with a referendum to decide the national flower and national wine. The lotus (hoa sen) is the most popular among the choices for Vietnam’s national flower. Click for more… Read More »
Tet Related Advertisements
Like Christmas, Tet is a time of the year when many people are busy shopping and preparing the holidays. Advertisers take advantage of the occasion to showcase their products. Here is a Tet related from Vietnam from last year that is getting attention again now. This ad by Knorr (2010) tells the story of a mother’s simple message to her son “Về nhà đi con!” (Come home son!). Click for more… Read More »Tet 2011, Year of the Cat: Images Around the World
Tet is here, Tet is here, Tet is here! …well almost. The 2011 Lunar New Year will mark the Year of the Cat, or Năm Tân Mão. This most important holiday in the Vietnamese calendar will be celebrated by a population of 90 million in Vietnam on February 3rd… Read More »Like a G6 Parody: “When it’s Tet we do it right, So Vietlicious”
Vietnamese American Youth Alliance (VAYA) of San Diego perform a parody of “Like a G6″. VAYA’s 6th Annual Lunar New Year TET Festival takes place at Balboa Park, San Diego, USA on January 28, 2011… Read More »Preparing to Send the Kitchen God (Ông Táo) on His Way
(Hanoi) As Tet draws near, Vietnamese people are buying items to prepare to send the Kitchen God (Ông Táo) on his way to heaven. Vietnamese also buy carp to release in nearby lakes and rivers. This is a symbolic act as the Kitchen God is said to ride a carp to heaven… Read More »Returning Home for Tet, 100 Bus Passengers Avoid Nearly Fatal Crash
Nearly 100 passengers narrowly escaped death after three buses crashed into one another on National Highway 1A in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang central city this early morning. The three cars were carrying passengers to their hometowns to celebrate this Tet next week… Read More »Tet Offerings: Mercedes and Mobile Phones for the Dead
In Vietnamese culture, the deceased are believed to continue in the afterlife. On special occasions, family members will make offerings to honor their loved ones. Altars for the dead may include incense, food, and other items that the dead may need in the afterlife. For example, paper money, toys, and other gifts are burned to send to the deceased for them to use….. read more » Read More »The Smell of Bánh Chưng Means Tết is Around the Corner
Handicraft villages on the outskirts of Hanoi are busy with preparations for a traditional Tet (Lunar New Year). Workers wash leaves and sift through beans each day, so that tens of thousands of freshly made bánh chưng (square-shaped sticky rice cakes) can be ready for customers…See Additional Photos… Read More »
