Invitations to Hue
Almost arrived at the end of this month with my father, we enter Hue, in central Vietnam, and receive some invitations.
Pops, with the employees of the college where Louise works.
Our first is from Louise, a Quebecer working here in international cooperation. She wrote to me a few months ago via Facebook to tell me that I would be welcome to visit his college during my visit to Hue.
Louise works at Villa Hué, a hotel and a tourism school for young Vietnamese. Having worked for a long time for Emploi Québec, she now takes care in particular of helping students in their job search, their CV writing, to present themselves better, etc.
The college team, which we visit, is for the most part made up of Vietnamese, supported by a few Canadians, like Louise, present thanks to the help of an NGO. My Pops and I even have the right to a traditional song from a few employees in the office!
Our guides, Hang and Tu.
The next day, we meet Tu, the funniest tourist guide east of Mekong*. Despite a huge pouring rain, he managed to keep our group interested in the history of his city, his country, and his traditions. All complemented by many gags!
- Do you know what is the color of love in Vietnam?
He gives us the answer within a mile of our unsuccessful attempts.
- Black. Because we always make love in the dark here.
Celebrate Tet
We are still in Hue when the Head, the Chinese New Year as celebrated in Vietnam. This holiday is the most important annually in the country, and its date varies slightly each year, between the end of January and the beginning of February, depending on the lunar calendar.
What does not change, however, are the traditions and ritual gestures associated with this celebration. Vietnam is not a very religious country, but rather a very traditional one. Each house and business has a small altar in its entrance, where good luck offerings are symbolically given year-round. The people are not very religious in general, but the traditions are extremely followed and strong.
In Tet, the Vietnamese dress in red, preferably with new clothes, and burn many specific objects. Including fake money in the hope that the new year will bring real money, and sheets of paper depicting the clothes of deceased ancestors.
Burn fake money in the hope of getting real money.
A tradition that everyone is doing at the same time in the street.
Incense is also burned in the same way, symbolizing gifts of food. At midnight, everyone is busy in the street at their little silver fire. Still, there is little to no celebration as we are used to. Here, no Bye Bye on national television - just an official speech and children dancing and playing. lipsync ! No count to zero either, no braces.
At midnight and seven, it's all over.
* The Mekong is a huge river in Southeast Asia, west of Vietnam.
