TET flowers and spring festival

 Today is New Years Eve and tomorrow the new year, the Year

of the Snake.  By the  Vietnamese Lunar calendar this time is also the beginning of the spring festival. The whole city is adorned with lights, decorations  and flowers  Every year to celebrate this occasion one of the main streets in the centre of the city is closed and decorated with flowers. Imagine Chelsea Flower show only Vietnamese style and slightly smaller. Today I wandered amongst the flowers, admiring the themes and  exhibits. Yellow signifies spring, against a back drop of red and gold for good luck. The whole scene was just beautiful. Adding to the beauty were the families out wandering and photographing each other against a back drop of flowers. Many ladies and children were wearing traditional aoi dais. Last night  was the opening of the flowers and the whole street scene was a heaving perfumed bouquet, as the crowds, literally tens of thousands, thronged to enjoy this spectacular showing.  Today the photographers were out including yours truly and was  the opportunity to take time to enjoy.