Chúc Mừng Năm Mới--a short review

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới: I wish you a happy new year

The night from 25th to 26th of January 2009 marked the Chinese new year and the beginning of the Tết celebration. Here in Hanoi, the area around the Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake) was heavily crowded and many let glowing hot air balloons rise into the dark night. At midnight an organized firework started and ended about 15 minutes later. At that time it was slightly raining and everyone was going home, back to their families.

Nearly everyone was on holiday the following week, visiting relatives and friends. Most of the shops were closed and the streets were really empty. The news reported about incidents that had happened due to the glowing hot air balloons. Some of them hat caught fire and fell from the sky, others landed on power supply lines and caused short circuit due to their metal ring, which lead to housing blocks without electricity.

I have been visiting my girlfriends family here in Hanoi and it’s suburbs, as well as friends. The Vietnamese people say “Ăn Tết”, which literally means “eat Tết”, instead of celebrate Tết and that’s what seems to be the main activity. The whole week consists of dining with your family and friends. Not seldom a lot of alcohol is consumed too. This though doesn’t stop people here from driving. It’s just scary!

The normal life started to resume slowly on the Friday after new year and the following Wednesday traffic was approaching levels from the days before Tết.