Top interesting activities to do during Tet in SaigonTet is just around the corner! To the Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year) is as important as Christmas is to Westerners. However, because Tet is a family holiday, many people will leave the big city like Saigon to return to their hometown for a reunion. As a result, many restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions will be closed during Tet.
So what can you do on Lunar New Year? This article will show you how to celebrate Tet in Saigon like the Saigonese do.
Watch the fireworks
The Saigonese love their fireworks displays, and there were six of them held at midnight in different parts of the city for Tet this past year. You can catch either high-altitude or low-altitude displays at locations near the city center, or you can take the opportunity to travel to a suburb and catch a low-altitude display there. The precise locations for this coming year are not yet set in stone, but rest assured that the fireworks will be making several reappearances.
Check out Nguyen Hue Street’s massive flower exhibition
Perhaps Saigon’s most popular public attraction during Tet is the Nguyen Hue flower display. For those not familiar with Saigon’s urban sprawl, Nguyen Hue is the city’s upscale walking street, a classier alternative to the hedonistic and exciting Bui Vien backpacker street.
During Tet, hundreds of creative, brightly-colored, and expertly-curated flower displays dot the wide pedestrian avenue in the center of the street, creating a spectacle too marvelous to be described in words.
Visit Tao Dan Flower Garden
Another place where you can enjoy the grace and splendor of the flowers is Tao Dan Park. This location is not as crowded as the two spots mentioned above. Here you can find different types of flowers, plants, and bonsai. Furthermore, you can listen to the song of the birds here. However, you must pay a small entrance fee.
Visit pagodas for a glimpse into Vietnamese life
Visiting pagodas and praying to ancestors is a huge part of the Tet tradition for the Vietnamese. Paying a visit to a pagoda or two is a great way to catch an insight into the spiritual lives of Vietnamese, and it may even get you into the Tet spirit yourself.
Experience book festival
Books range from novels to photo documentations of Saigon’s evolution during the 20th century. The festival’s primary purpose is to get locals more interested in reading, but it is also a great way to spend the afternoon for those spending the Tet holiday in Saigon.
Enjoy traditional Tet food
Source Saigon Expat Services
