As reported in the previous episode, for the Vietnamese the Tet is the most important event of the year. Their origins are remembered, family members are hugged and prayed together for the ancestors.

Every Vietnamese, wherever he has ended up for work reasons, will do everything to return to his birthplace to visit the tombs of his ancestors and spend this holiday with his family. The party is obviously then extended to each village, this means that the big cities become empty during this period and are particularly quiet.

The custom of firecrackers (which crackled continuously in the days before the Tet) was prohibited by the government due to its dangerousness. However, the tradition of the lion dance remains unchanged, performed on the streets by dancers and acrobats, accompanied by a large costume depicting a mythical monster with a lion’s head.

Obviously the whole festive period is accompanied by the preparation of typical traditional family dishes, in particular glutinous rice cakes, eggs and meat, which require a long time (about 12 hours) and the contribution of various family members who have to alternate between facing the fire.

New Year’s day is characterized by great binges and at the stroke of midnight we celebrate and try to make as much noise as possible to make the bad spirits escape for good. Immediately after we move on to prayer.

Once the new year begins, it is also very important that the first person to visit the house is the right one: possibly male, with a good character, rich, with a happy family and with many children. This first visit will be decisive for the fortunes of the entire year. So it is always better to wait for an invitation rather than surprise someone’s home, to avoid being an unwelcome guest and being kindly turned away by the host.

Happy Vietnamese New Year to everyone !!

In Vietnam, the lunisolar New Year, called Tet, is the most important holiday of the year: it is a sort of Christmas, New Year and Easter put together in a single celebration (it is also everyone’s birthday !!).

The date of the Tet is always between January 19 and February 20 and the atmosphere starts to get hectic. There are plants, flowers and various decorations for the home to buy. But also new clothes, especially for children, and if possible jewelry. You must stock up on food and other strictly necessary things as for many days every business will remain strictly closed.

Of course, we must also think about gifts. The Tet, like us Christmas is an opportunity for family reunions and to strengthen social ties, also through the exchange of gifts.

First, brand new banknotes must be bought (it is possible in the markets and from street vendors, at a price higher than their real value) to be inserted in the red envelopes to give to children and old people. Traditionally, the value of the banknotes contained in the envelopes must always be even, as the odd numbers are associated with the money that is given in the event of a funeral. Bills worth at least 2 dollars should therefore be given away.

It is also very common to give sprigs of peach trees, roosters, rice, rice wine in a pumpkin or in traditional amphorae, dogs and red things such as watermelons.

In the days leading up to the Tet all the houses are cleaned up. Doors and windows are kept wide open for days to let out all the “old” and “bad” and let the “new” in.

In front of the altar of the Ancestors (present in every Vietnamese house and which is completely decorated), a small mandarin tree is placed with the function of keeping evil spirits away.

The Tet has not yet arrived, but the preparations are many and continue, we will see others together in the next episode …

Pho is considered to be one of the most popular street food in all major Vietnamese cities and is among the best twenty dishes in the world according to Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist.

At any time of day or night, a steaming dish of pho is never difficult to find.

It is a noodle soup in a meat broth and today there is no dish that can better represent the essence of Vietnamese cuisine. It is usually accompanied by aromatic herbs, lime and spices and despite the apparent simplicity, pho is a harmonious set of flavors and textures.

The preparation, however, is more difficult than it seems: the mix of spices used (anise, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves) must be expertly balanced, then there are the noodles that make up the main part of the dish and a small amount of meat cut into very thin slices which is prepared separately and added to the broth only at the last moment.

Basil, mint, onion and coriander are then the final touch and the garnish of the dish.

Average cost of all this about 1 euro.

As in all important national issues, claims on the origin of the Pho and on the variations between north and south of Vietnam cannot miss.

Tradition however tells that it originated in the northern areas of the country and then spread to the rest of Vietnam.

The northern Pho (called Pho Bac) has a slightly saltier and stronger taste, the southern Pho (called Pho Nam) is prepared with thinner noodles and the vegetables are served separately.

When you find yourself in front of a steaming bowl of pho (whether you are in the north or south) squeeze the lime and pour the juice (seedless) into the broth, add broken chilli and spicy sauces as you like. We suggest to taste it when it is hot.

So chopsticks in one hand and spoon in the other and … enjoy your meal!

The Golden Bridge is a spectacular suspended pedestrian bridge located on the hills of Ba Na, near Danang, Vietnam. In Vietnamese it is called “Cầu Vàng”, literally translated “Golden Bridge”.

The main feature is given by the presence of two gigantic hands with the palm open and facing upwards that seem to support the wide catwalk. A unique scenic effect combined with the breathtaking view that can be enjoyed on the surrounding landscape.

The hands are about 24 meters high by 13 wide, therefore truly imposing and strong, even if finished so that they already look old and worn, to create contrast between modernity and tradition, the suspended and the bond to the mainland.

It is located at about 1.400 meters above sea level, in the Annamita mountain range, and can be reached by another exceptional work: the Ba Na Cable Car Service, the longest single cable car in the world (entered in the Guinness World Records), therefore a combination absolutely not to be missed. It is 5.801 meters long and this distance is covered in just 17 minutes.

An experience that allows you to combine two of the main attractions of central Vietnam with unforgettable panoramas.

Did you know that Vietnam extended the visa waiver for another three years, making traveling to the Southeast Asian nation much easier for travellers from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Vacationers from these four countries will be allowed to enter for up to 15 days without having to acquire documentation, while an electronic visa is required for travel up to 30 days.

Here, the7 reasons why you should take advantage of a trip without long paperwork in one of the last communist countries in the world.

1. The ferment of Hanoi

What makes the capital so interesting is that it looks very old-fashioned, anchored to the past with its French colonial history, entrenched in its cafes, sidewalks, architecture and six of its wide tree-lined avenues. Take a ride aboard one of the thousands of tuk-tuk swarming the streets of the city to get an idea of ​​the daily frenzy that populates the city.

2. Visit Ho Chi Minh

Not the city, but the man. The communist revolutionary and the first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam lie embalmed in the mausoleum of Hanoi, erected in honor of the revolutionary’s death in 1969. The body lies in a cooled glass case, in one of the central rooms, through which visitors they pass silently to pay homage.

3. Get ready and buy

Go to the commercial port of Hoi An – considered not only the tailoring capital of Vietnam, but of all Southeast Asia – and have a tailored suit made at the minimum cost of € 75. Leave with the empty suitcase on the way, so to be able to bring home a new and complete wardrobe.

4. Navigate the Mekong

The famous river winds its way through Southeast Asia, but flows into the South China Sea in the Mekong Delta, south of Ho Chi Minh City. This is Vietnam in its most pastoral form. Here, over 1,000 species of animals live side by side in what is described as a “biological treasure”. If you are looking for a little more human interaction, take a boat to explore the floating markets.

5. Admire Ho Chi Minh City from above

Ho Chi Minh City offers a stark contrast to the north of Hanoi. The bold southern city is all modern characterized by skyscrapers and new projects under construction. Find a rooftop bar in one of the many hotels to admire the city from above as the sunsets

6. Find peace and serenity in a cave

Vietnam is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary underground treasures, with the country’s most famous cave, the gigantic Hang Son Doong. So large that it has its own weather system, the caves could house a 40-story skyscraper or let a Boeing 747 pass. Only 1,000 visitors are allowed into the caves each year. Other caves include the Tu Lan cave system, used in filming King Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Hang Va.

7. Tet holiday or Vietnamese Lunar New Year

It is the most significant festival in Vietnam. Like Vietnam’s longest public holidays, Tet is a wonderful time for all tourists who can enjoy the festive atmosphere, exploring one of the oldest holidays in the world. Tet holiday 2020 is held from 25 to 27 January 2020 (New Year is the previous day).

Tet Holiday is celebrated to welcome the new year. It is considered an important sign for changes, plans and progress. Furthermore, the Vietnamese believe that what they do on the first day of the year will affect the whole year. Therefore, they pay close attention to every word they say and everything they do. In addition, Tet represents the only opportunity for all family members to spend happy moments together after a year of hard work.