Well, now I can say it….”Good Morning, Vietnam!” After calling it a day at 8pm last night, we awakened per our usual schedule—4am. Room service has already been summoned for coffee, and we’re looking forward to our first full day of exploring this exciting city.
We’re fortunate to be here in Vietnam during Tet Festival, or New Year as we know it. The city is awash in flowers, and there is an air of excitement all around. Yesterday marked the Kitchen God Festival. Each year, the gods send a Kitchen God to watch over homes and meal preparations. At the end of the year, the Vietnamese pay homage to the Kitchen God with a special meal which includes rice cakes and, believe it or not, gold fish. As we toured the market area yesterday, we noticed that every vendor had a bowl of live gold fish for sale along with some truly amazing seafood and fish offerings. We were told that each home will prepare special rice cakes molded in the shape of a flower. Three gold fish will be placed on top and served as an offering to the Kitchen God in thanks for the previous year. A new Kitchen God will be welcomed with the New Year.
Floral delivery Hanoi-style!
Rice cakes for celebrating the Kitchen God
Come on, come on ——- we are all waiting for the next update.