Feb 16 Midnight plus a bit so really the 17th. New Year's Eve – Tet
Looking out my window on the Dong Hong one sees the multiude. No free space for humans or motorbikes. Just masses and joy. Horns, ballons, cheering, talking. But, as usual I get ahead of myself.
Today was the final ride. Not a particularly interesting one. About a half day as we needed to get to the hotel, pack the bikes and get cleaned up for New Year's Eve. Well worth the early bike day. Hot and dry on Hiway one, not my favorite ride.
After packing up the bike and a long scrub went to join the party. It starts at 19:30 I could not imagine how it could continue until midnight. Now I know.
Got upgraded to a suite. About the size of a New York. Two bedroom apartment.
First the cocktails
And then the food. Some pics of the New Year's spread included. Then came lots of entertainment, singing, magicians, several fashion shows with beautiful women and men.
The pic of the three "Gods" are. Red for wealth, the elder for longevity, and green for luck/Joss.
Naturally there were dragons, many of them and drummers and acrobats and on and on.
The venue at the top of the Majestic hotel – overlooking the Saigon river – could not be better; especially for the fire works show. An excellent one. Lots of champagne, etc.
Food, all the traditional Vietnamese dishes and then some. Lobster, crabs, pork, lamb chops, sushi, salads rice and sugar cane and many many more dishes on the buffet. No food expense or service expense spared. This is (was) as first class as it gets – and on a perfect rooftop restaurant.
Some of you remember me talking of the and looking forward to seeing Tet in this venue. Met or exceeded expectations.
The streets, visible from the restaurant and from my street-river facing room are jammed. No other word for it. Yet, it is orderly and polite as (maybe) only the Vietnamese can manage it.
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