Year of the wooden Dragon, Happy Tet!

Year of the wooden Dragon, Happy Tet!

Hello Tet Loving Friends,

The Lunar New Year celebration here in Vietnam, commonly known as Tet, is always one of my favorite times of year. In 2024 we’ve welcomed in the Year of the Wooden Dragon with lots of fanfare, festivities, and time with loved ones.

One great local community celebration that I like to check out is the annual flower festival and display along the Han River that runs through Da Nang. This year they truly outdid themselves with colorful floral arrangements and many impressive dragon-themed decorations to usher in the new zodiac.

As I explored the display, I instantly noticed the bright reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows of skillfully shaped flowers and flower walls flanking the river walkway. Interspersed were large dragon sculptures made from vines and all natural materials. My favorite centerpiece was an enormous wooden dragon set on a platform in a clearing.

This intricate dragon structure had smoke billowing from its carved mouth set to traditional Vietnamese music as its segmented body twisted and turned. Suddenly, bubbles started cascading from within its intricate form, delighting crowds of families gathered to see the spectacle.

Events like this riverfront flower festival perfectly capture the communal joy and optimism felt by Vietnamese during the Lunar New Year. I highly recommend witnessing similar Tet traditions and celebrations firsthand if traveling here this time of year. The photos I’m sharing only begin to do the colorful sights and infectious energy justice!

I wish all my friends near and far a happy and healthy Year of the Dragon. Here’s to prosperity, luck, and fun in 2024!