Visited Cholon to check out the Vietnamese New Year atmosphere there. Returned with these pictures.

 

Lots of stuffs to buy at Cholon to give as gifts for the Vietnamese New Year, particularly hampers.

 

The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. This year is the tiger. The Chinese words there says ‘Tiger Year Big Fortune’ (direct translation)

 

“Nam Moi’ means New Year in Vietnam.

 

‘Van Su Nhu Y’ = ‘Million matters as wished’ (direct translation). This is a popular greeting and it means that whatever you wish, it will come true. Sweet huh?

 

This is one of everybody’s favorite decorations for the Vietnamese New Year. It’s the god of fortune and the words in the middle say ‘the god of fortune has arrived’.

 

The golden nuggets pictured below are actually chocolates wrapped in gold colored foil. Sweets and chocolates are regular items to have at home during the New Year to give to kids who visit one’s house.

 

You’ll see in Cholon that at this time of the year that shop owners are rushing to deliver ordered goods.

 

Pickling, or vegetable pickles, are items you don’t normally see except the days leading to the Vietnamese New Year.

 

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