As regular readers of Eating Saigon! know, each year Hai and I travel back to Vietnam for several months to find new and amazing Saigon street foods so we can recommend to our readers the best places to eat in Saigon.
And, of course, we enjoy time with Hai’s family – all 11 siblings – and celebrate the beginning of another Lunar New Year Holiday – Tet! (A fun and helpful Tet “primer” here).
2020 – It’s the Year of the Rat!
This year’s Tet celebration had a surprising beginning when our good friend, Mary, invited us to join with her in attending a special Tet New Year’s event – the Vietnam International Fashion Week – Year of the Rat 2020.
Sponsored and presented at the Ann Quán Restaurant, this impressive afternoon celebration featured the best of Vietnam’s Tet traditions – special Tet holiday foods and traditional Vietnamese countryside music!
AND … a dress code requirement. One was required to wear an aó dài!
Okay, now that’s where I hesitated. Was this to be my first “cross-dressing” experience!?! (in the cultural sense, of course). Well, why not! Hai actually had never worn an aó dài himself and we both decided it would be appropriate and fun to try a new “look.”
We headed out on the motorbike and shortly, Hai purchased his aó dài (he’s always wanted one). On the other hand, I rented mine (I never wanted one) … and off to the celebration we went!
Really great fun! Traditional costumes. Traditional music. Fun experience learning how to make bánh chưng Tết. And lots of really interesting and delicious traditional Tet foods to consume.
I’ll let a few photos describe the best of this special day celebrating Vietnam’s Tet traditions.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!! You both look very handsome in your áo dài!
you both look so handsome in your ao dai!!