Welcome ~ Year of the Monkey
Just 3 more hours and it’s a new year – Year of the Monkey – here in Saigon!
Hai and I spent today doing what all people in Saigon, and the rest of Vietnam, must do, want to do, enjoy doing, on New Year’s Eve day each year – cleaning, visiting ancestors, shopping, and preparing food for the evening’s festivities.
The food prep part of the day actually began with an international “fair trade agreement” transaction, of sorts. That is, we had pre-arranged to exchange a 1-pound bar of Belgium chocolate sourced by Hai and I at Trader Joe’s in Emeryville, California, for a large jar of home-pickled pig’s ears produced by the Saigon Cháo Lady in a small winding alley in Saigon, Vietnam. The international deal was consummated this morning. We’ll be trying those pickled ears in just a few more hours at the stroke of midnight!
Our part of the international trade swap
The Saigon Cháo Lady’s Pickled Pig’s Ears
Partners in the Chocolate-for-Pig’s-Ears Swap
Then, it was off to pay our respects to Hai’s grandparents and parents, all deceased.
Hai tending to the grave sites of his grandparents
Hai’s grandmother – the woman who started the family’s successful “broken rice” business on the street corners of Saigon over 60 years ago.
To each grave site, we offered fruit and flowers, burned incense, and shared our thoughts, thanks and wishes with each ancestor … and welcomed them to join us tonight in a feast to welcome-in a healthy, prosperous, and lucky new year.
Visiting with Hai’s mom who Hai lost when he was 18
… and with Hai’s dad at the neighborhood temple
The shopping part of the day was frantic, in the midst of the chaos of a 20 million ++ city population. Each and every resident trying to find just the right watermellon, chả, coconut, dried/candied fruit …. well, you get the picture. We joined in the fun/panic/hystery and actually had a fun and successful day doing it.
Looking for just the “right” coconuts
Maybe the best chả ever from the Saigon Chả Lady
Salted, dried, candied, pickled everything!
Millions of VND (Vietnamese dong) were at play here!
And then, running home to stuff those damn little red envelopes with various denominations of Vietnam dong (cash). One is morally obligated to hand a cash-stuffed red envelope to anyone younger than ones’ self at the various Tet celebrations throughout the Tet holiday week. And one must consider that Hai has 11 siblings, who in turn, have reproduced with abandon!
So, sadly for me (who is too often the oldest person in the room), the scores of Hai’s younger relatives line up hungrily to receive their cash gift (oh, and yes, to offer me health, happiness, and whatever.)
Well, gotta run – it’s off to the New Year’s celebration at Hai’s restaurant, Đông Hoa Xuân.
But, just a bit more about an earlier Tet Holiday here! before we go.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới everyone!