Sights and sounds of Tet

As Tet holiday approaches, the sun is starting to show again in Hue and the flowers are blooming; auspices for the lunar year are certainly positive. There are flower markets dotted all around the city, exhibiting every colour imaginable. The trees are very structured in the way they are lined up, and remind me of English holiday pine tree sales.

Banh Chung is the food for this occasion: big sticky rice cakes filled with meat and green bean, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for 3 days. Normally piled up on each other like a prominent stone walkway leading up to one of the mausoleums in Hue.

Sounds are also varied and prevalent, as ever. Scraping, hammering, washing and rubbing are some of the sounds that can be heard in households in their bids to clean everything before the holidays. These noises are angelic songs compared to that one song played on a loop in every corner of the city. Abba’s “Happy New Year” has been playing since before Christmas and is readying to ring round the Kiets of Hue until February.

It must be said that I am a big fan of Abba. “Mamma Mia”, in my opinion, is one of the best-constructed and best-delivered pop songs I have ever heard. Despite having a movie made in honour of it, I still think it is an underrated song. Nevertheless, if it was continuously played in every shop, restaurant and karaoke bar for 2 months, I would certainly be inclined to downplay its brilliance and ensure its play count goes down on my i-pod.

This shouldn’t take away from the jubilant atmosphere and warm feeling that exudes from this wonderful city as it prepares to welcome the lunar New Year. The drinks, flowers, cakes, red envelopes; and the cleaning, cheering, drinking, celebrating, eating, drinking, and spending time with family provide the essence to this joyous holiday.

So to all friends of Hue Help, in the immortalised and oft-heard words of the Swedish pop group, I wish you a Happy New Year!

-Taiki Endo, Programme Support Officer at Hue Help