Fast Food: KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King

Such famous fast food restaurant chains as KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King in Vietnam still open over Tet Holiday to serve all fast-food lovers. IN Vietnam, Lotteria and KFC are the most popular brands of all the mentioned giants. Korea’s Lotteria is well-known for its signature soybean chicken whereas American KFC offers its crispy spicy chicken. Let’s have some fast food in Vietnam and see how different it is from what you eat in your home country! All the spices are actually changed when the franchise moves into a new country to meet the locals’ taste buds.

Highway 4

The chain of Highway 4 restaurants offers Vietnamese cuisine. It is where you can eat the local food even though it happens during the Tet Holiday. They also often offer lucky money for the very first customers coming to their restaurants at the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

Pizza: Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn

When it comes to popular foods to choose from for a franchise business, pizza would always appear on the top of the list. There are many franchise options – but pizza continues to be loved by families everywhere – anytime! Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn are the best pizza franchises in Vietnam.

Gongcha Milktea

Gong Cha is a Taiwanese drink shop franchise. It expanded to Vietnam in 2014 and it has been doing a great job in the country, becoming one of the top milk tea brands. Gong Cha serves a total of more than fifty different drinks that can be divided into different types: signatures, brewed tea, milk tea, “Creative Mix”, coffee, “Healthy Series”, etc. They also offer drinks in medium and large sizes.

Cộng Coffee

Cong coffee chain is famous among both locals and expats in Vietnam. The coffee shop is explicitly designed in Viet Cong style, or we call The Vietnam Communist design. It recalls the days of state ownership and all communism and propaganda themes. Seen through Westerners’ eyes, Cộng‘s style is quite provocative but still worth a visit after all. The best drinks in Cong Coffee is their signature Coconut Coffee. Don’t miss it!

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks open over Tet Holiday to serve people craving for some arabica coffee! Let’s have a cup of espresso in any of the last few days of the year or the first few days of the New Year!

The post What’s open in Vietnam during Lunar New Year – Restaurant and Coffee Chains and Franchises appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Fairs

1. Nguyen Hue Flower Street
   Iconic and must see. Nguyen Hue Flower Street has long been a big part of Tet for the people of Saigon. Each year, the street is designed with a theme according to the 12 Zodiac Signs. This year, 2018, is the year of the dog. Even though the flower arrangements are extraordinary in their own rights, what makes the street special for me is the spirits. It is truly amazing to feel so much energy in one place.
   
   

   

   

   Date: 13-19/2
   Address: Nguyen Hue Street, District 1

2. Hội Hoa Xuân (Flower Festival)
   A confirmed smorgasbord of entertainment. There is a small game ground, lots of food vendors, various souvenir shops, a tea ceremony, a musical concert, and a huge flower competition going on. Avid gardeners and flower enthusiasts from across the country bring their proudest product here and make a total of over 4000 displays for your viewing pleasure. We have witnessed the appearance of weirdly shaped (and very much attractive) trees, or even a 2-century-old apricot blossom tree in the past years and cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store.

   

   Date: 10-21/2/2018
   Address: Trương Định, Bến Thành Ward, District 1

3. Chợ Hoa (Flower Markets)
   Should you wish more than just viewing, say, actually owning a vase or two of Vietnamese flowers, then come by one of these three venues to browse for yourself.

   

   Date: 8-15/2/2018
   Address:
   23/9 Park: 2 Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1
   Gia Dinh Park: Ward 9, Phú Nhuận District
   Le Van Tam Park: Võ Thị Sáu, ĐaKao Ward, District 1

4. Phố Ông Đồ (Ong Do Street)
   Long ago, people traditionally sought distinguished scholars of the village (Ong Do) to ask for Thư Pháp. Thư Pháp is a Vietnamese take on calligraphy and what is typically written on it are Chinese characters of health, success, and luck, basically, the things you would wish to gain or retain in the new year. Now even though the practice is not as prevalent, Vietnamese still celebrate the tradition by organizing Ong Do Street where people can ask for good fortunes on paper just like old times.
   
   Video made by Khoi Nguyen

   

   

   Date: 10:00 – 22:00, from 02/02/2018 to 15/02/2018
   Address: Phạm Ngọc Thạch – Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, District 1

Pagodas

Vietnamese people believe that taking a trip to pagodas’ doors on the first few days of the new year will bring them good fortune for the 12 months ahead. But these spiritual sanctuaries are more than just platforms for people to pray for success and luck. They grant vísitors access to tranquil settings where people can wholeheartedly leave all the sufferings and sorrows behind and start entirely afresh. 

1. Chùa Giác Lâm (Giac Lam Pagoda)
   Established in 1744, Giac Lam Pagoda is widely considered to be the oldest pagoda around in Ho Chi Minh city. It is the very exemplar of Southern temple architecture with 3 adjoining house blocks following the Tam (which means 3) style.

   

   Address: 565 Lạc Long Quân, Ward 10, Tân Bình District
   Phone: 028 3865 3933

2. Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm (Vinh Nghiem Pagoda)
   If Giac Lam is the paragon of Southern architecture, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda brings the North architectural essence to you. Here once raged the final battle of national hero Nguyen Van Troi in 1965. Hence, a temple dedicated to Nguyen Van Troi can be reached right across the street.
   
   At the height of 14m, with 7 floors, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda has been recorded the highest stupa in Vietnam. Meticulously carved onto the walls of this stupa are ornate designs and patterns that are uniquely Ly-Tran Dynasties.
   
   

   

   Address: 339 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Ward 14, District 3
   Phone: 028 3848 3153

3. Chùa Xá Lợi (Xa Loi Pagoda)
   Xa Loi Pagoda is the first in the city to be built on the base of modern architecture: presbytery upstairs, amphitheater downstairs. It boasts the highest Bell Tower in the country with seven floors and 32 meters in height that was inaugurated in 1961. On the top floor hangs The Great Bell, weighed 2 tons, the sound of which even reverberates its way to Vietnamese art and literature. It was most prominently featured in “Tiếng chuông chùa Xá Lợi” (roughly translated to The sound of Xa Loi Pagoda’s Bell) written by Vien Chau.

   

   
   

   

   Address: 89B Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, Ward 7, District 3
   Phone: 028 3930 7605

New Year Fireworks

And of course, how could we end this list without mentioning the only right thing to do when the clock ticks 12, firework-gazing. Start the new year in style right at your home or for a more direct view and electric atmosphere, move to the center, somewhere near Saigon River and Nguyen Hue street. However, if you do, watch out for your belongings and beware the heavy traffic. The firework display will start at 0h and ends 15 minutes on the 16th of February this year.

The post Top Places to Celebrate Tet Holiday in Saigon appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Although lots of people recommend not going to Hanoi or Saigon during Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year) as travel is a bit harder with almost all places such as restaurants, coffee shops, and bars getting closed, visiting the two big cities can be a great experience for tourists to be in a  full exposure to a slow pace of life floated in peaceful tranquility, if not say solitude.

Things to do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you hardly see any scooters running up and down like crazy on the streets as usual.

Flower Forrest in the middle of the Capital before Tet

Tet Holiday in Saigon

To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Words by Chi Le
Photos by Minh Nguyen

The post Happy Lunar New Year: LIVE pictures from Vietnam on the First Day appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Events at Tết

This year, do not forget to find yourself some great events to take part in this Lunar New Year in Hanoi. If you have not known where to go or what to do, just check out this list of two outstanding events!

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition (6th – 12th Feb 2018)

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition has become somewhat a “tradition” of people around the capital. The exhibition attracts millions of people each day going shopping to prepare for Tết. There will be a wide range of products of good quality with numerous of cultural activities for you to take part in so do not miss it!

Address: Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Palace, 91 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 9:00 – 21:00
Entrance fee: Free

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology’s Happy Lunar New Year (24th – 25th Feb 2018)

This Lunar New Year, Vietnam Musem of Ethnology will bring yo some surprise with an exciting event held at the campus. You can either participate in the event as a volunteer of the Cuisine team or just a visitor enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of spring. At the event, you will have to chance of tasting Bình Phước’s cuisine as well as other ethnics’ such as Khơ me, Xtieng and so on.

Address: Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
Opening time: 8:30 – 17:30 every day (except Monday)
Entrance fee: 40.000vnd (College students: 15.000vnd/ Highschool students: 10.000vnd)

Flower Festivals

One of the most exciting events at Tết in Hanoi is probably the flower festival. Every year, around the capital at this time of the year, most of the places will hold such events. It is like a special imprint of Hanoi that will definitely take your breath away.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a popular place for a weekend hang out, especially at Tết. Annually, there will be big flower festival around the lake at Lunar New Year. There is also Tết Flower Market in Hàng Lược Street if you want to enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms or buy some to bring to your hometown.Tết in Hanoi always bring home to mind, especially to Hanoians, this is the time when they can truly return to their childhood. Hoàn Kiếm Lake’s Flower Festival will not be a bad choice if you want to find the breath of Tết around the capital.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: Every Friday to Sunday

Ecopark

Lying on the South-Eastern side of the capital, not only is Ecopark a worth-living city but it is also an amazing place for relaxation with evergreen gardens and beautiful manmade nature. Owning the 500-hectare yard, Ecopark will definitely be the perfect place for this spring’s flower festival.

Address: Rừng Cọ Street, Long Biên – Xuân Quan, Bát Tràng, Văn Giang, Hanoi

Times City

This year, Times City is predicted to hold another flower festival as the last year. Right now in Times City, hundreds of lanterns have been hung. From the bridge to the Times Mall, an arch tunnel has been made and decorated with flickering lights and two lines of beautiful cherry blossoms. You can come to the city at any time to enjoy this beauty.

Address: #458 Minh Khai Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Holiday Resorts near Hanoi

Tết is a holiday time for Vietnamese people. If at Christmas, most foreigners want to spend their time with their family, Vietnamese would like to make a getaway in nearby resorts with their family or even alone.

Đại Lải Resort

Only takes an hour or so to get to the resort, Đại Lải is a really perfect place for such short family vacations. If you want to go a little bit expensive, you can book a room in the well-known Flamingo in Đại Lải Resort. Flamingo has even nominated as one of the most beautiful resorts on the planet by Designboom.

Address: Ngọc Thanh, Phúc Yên, Vĩnh Phúc Province

Ba Vì

Besides Đại Lải, you can also enjoy a day-out at Ba Vì or Ba Vì National Garden. The place is popular for is a wilderness of various kinds of flora and fauna. Going to Ba Vì, you can also go to other wonderful destinations such as Thiên Sơn Suối Ngà, Khoang Xanh – Suối Tiên, Ao Vua (The King’s Pond), Ba Vì’s traditional trade village and so on.

Tam Đảo

Tam Đảo is a great destination for vacations near Hanoi. Only takes you about 2 hours by car, Tam Đảo is definitely an ideal location for family outing. Going to Tam Đảo, you can take a look at these destinations: Tam Đảo’s stone church, Silver waterfall, Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhist Temple and so on.

Temples and Pagodas

In Lunar New Year, it is more like a ritual than a tradition that Asian in general and Vietnamese in particular go to the pagodas or mostly temples at Tết. This comes from the belief that human and/or Gods and Buddha are connected through the sacred places such as the churches or temples. It is also added that people believe that by going to the temples and having ceremonial offerings will help them to have a safer and happier new year. In addition, it also helps to keep you away from bad spirits.

Temple of Literature

Since this is the most well-known place in Hanoi, there is nothing much left to say here. If you want to wish for a happy new year for you and for your kid’s studying career, go to Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature)

Address: #58 Quốc Tử Giảm Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi

Hương Pagoda

This is the most-come location at Tết of all Vietnamese, especially Hanoians. In Lunar New Year, people will flock like birds from everywhere just to get the chance of having offerings in Hương Pagoda. This is not because there is any mystery or supernatural things about the place, but it is more like a habit of most Hanoians whenever Tết comes.

Address: Hương Sơn Commune, Mỹ Đức suburban district, Hanoi

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc is a pagoda lying near the capital center. There used to be a poem about the beauty of it which is now still remembered by many generations from young to old. Trần Quốc is located on an island to the South of West Lake and was one of the most renowned wonders under Lê Dynasty. Trấn Quốc is very popular for its sacredness and used to be the place that the King came at every Lunar New Year.

Address: Thanh Niên Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Ngọc Sơn is probably the most-mentioned destination along with Hoàn Kiếm Lake – a symbol of Hanoi. Ngọc Sơn used to be the locations where the martyrs of Hà Bắc came to ask for being praised in the studying ladder.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hà Pagoda

Hà Pagoda is the most popular place for love offerings. If you are having trouble finding the other half, just go to Hà Pagoda, you will have one in no time! Well, at least that is what they say. However, you should also be careful that if you have already had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, do not dare to go to this place or you will regret it!

Address: Dịch Vọng Ward, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi

The post Things to Do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Spring Flower Festival is an annual event enjoyed by both the inhabitants of and visitors to the urban residence of Phú Mỹ Hưng in District 7. While 2017’s festival featured various ornamental recreations of a thriving countryside based on the theme “The spring of prosperity” and the image of a chicken, Spring Festival’s theme is “Spring Love of the River”. 

In 2017, the area of the festival was divided into sections, each with its own portrayal of wealth and prosperity, from a garden with luscious fruits (called the ‘spring garden’), a road with elegantly built models of the rooster placed alongside (the ‘spring road’) to a hustling floating marketplace (the ‘spring harbor’). And let us not forget the star of the show – the flowers: everywhere you could find abundant flowers, put in single pots or spread over a field, all of which in full bloom and having many bright colors that will certainly make walking around the area ‘a taste of eye candy’.

Of course, if you were willing to pay, you could always bring those ‘eye candies’ home, as the organizers had conveniently set up over 500 small flower shops to meet every customer’s’ shopping needs. All in all, the Spring Flower Festival is a perfect place to spend time with your family and friends on the days leading up to Tet.

More Photos of Spring Festival last year here:

However, in 2018, Spring Festival held in the Crescent Lake formed by the Thay Tieu River recalls the life on the river of Nha Be – the area that is formed a village on the raft – a long time ago. The festival has a floating market at Ben Xuan (Spring Wharf) area, featuring lots of flower boats at anchor representing the boats of the merchants in the old days, raft houses, and water coconut trees.

Like in 2017, Spring Garden in the festival is expected to attract visitors by the colorful flowers and beautiful plants.

The highlight area of the fesival is on the highest hill which has a 5-meter-long dog statue to mark the Year of the Dog.

Upon arrival at the festival, visitors can come by over 250 booths selling flower and bonsai plants to decorate their homes during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

The Spring Festival on Crescent Lake is opened from February 8 to February 14, 2018.

The other areas like Spring Garden are displayed until February 20, 2018.

The post Phu My Hung Spring Flowers Festival – Tet Holiday in Saigon appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Peach Blossom (Hoa Đào)

if you ever pay a visit to Hanoi during Lunar New Year, you will definitely agree that all over the place is covered with a cheerful color coming from these pink petals of peach blossoms. This kind of plant is known as an iconic flower for Northern Vietnamese when it comes to spring. It is believed that not only peach blossoms can chase away evil spirit, but they also bring in a fresh vitality to your home, which helps you stay healthy and peaceful. Not just that, if you are a businessman, then peach blossom cannot be forgotten due to its symbol as fertility and hope.

The best place to see the flowers is Nhat Tan (Nhật Tân) peach blossom garden located in Au Co Street, Hanoi.

Apricot Blossom (Hoa Mai)

Whilst peach blossom is the most popular Tet holiday’s auspicious flower in Northern Vietnam, apricot blossom can be seen as the spirit of Tết for Southern Vietnamese. Contrary to the pink that gets a great harmony with the freeze and coldness in the North, yellow petals from apricot blossoms represent for the torrid heat and humidity Southern Vietnamese have been enduring all year round. An image of five-petal apricot blossom symbolizes for “Five Blessings” in Oriental belief: longevity, wealth, peace, health and love of virtue, which mark the dearest hope of every Vietnamese in particular and Asian in general. Coincidentally, the word “Yellow” (vàng) in Vietnamese sounds identical to the word “Gold” or “Golden” (vàng). Consequently, apricot blossoms are decorated in most of the houses with a hope of good luck, happiness and, prosperity.

White daffodil (Hoa Thủy Tiên Trắng)

Apart from peach blossoms, white daffodils find favor with lots of Hanoi citizens in terms of their multi-function and symbolic meaning. Unlike any other holiday ornamental plants, every single part of a daffodil can be exerted: flowers, fragrance, leaves and tuberous roots. Water must be replaced in every morning in order that roots can be kept clean and not turn smeared. According to Oriental or Asian outlook, this plant bears a good meaning. Word-of-mouth has it that, if  white daffodils bloom right in the moment of  New Year’s Eve in one’s house, the whole family will end up with happiness, good luck, and prosperity. Bưởi market, a local village fair in Hà Nội, is where people always come to find white daffodils by the time of Tết. Besides using them as ornamental plants, trimming and arranging the daffodil flowers can be an absolutely great art.

Kumquat tree (Cây Quất)

Vietnamese believe that owning a luxuriant kumquat tree in the middle of their home brings good health and good luck to their business.  It is a symbol for a greatly prosperous year ahead. Hence, there is no doubt to see kumquat trees displayed for sale at every single corner of the street in many flower markets all over Vietnam. Located next to China, Vietnam has adopted a lot of Chinese cultures, customs, and beliefs. Feng Shui is not an exception. As a result, planting and trimming a kumquat tree must be conformed to some decorating rules, in order to turn it into a perfect shape. An ideal sample of kumquat tree will have big shiny dark green leaves, and all the fruits must bear a similarity in size and give a juicy look. When people are running a business, they should place a kumquat tree at the front door of their offices or stores so that it can bring wealth and clear sight. That is the reason why man must serve good experience in life as well as Feng Shui application once it comes to purchase and display kumquat trees.

Fig (Sung)

Rather than being seen as a usual tree in a back garden of someone’s house during Lunar New Year, figs are usually displayed as one of the main fruits on a five-fruit tray, especially in Southern Vietnam. A typical five –fruit tray will include custard-apples, coconuts, papayas, mangoes, and figs, which can be literally translated as “wishing for a well-off life” in Vietnamese when combined in sound. By itself, “fig” in Vietnamese sounds identical to “comfortable”, “well-off” or “prosperous”. Apparently, we can totally understand why figs are favored by Vietnamese during Lunar New Year.

Daisy (Hoa Cúc)

Regardless of where they come from, both Northern and Southern
people all enjoy having lots of daisy pots placed around their gardens or along the porches. If these flowers are in yellow and red, they will be more preferred. Daisy is a symbol for life, even if a single sprig of daisy put inside a small bottle can help balance the vital force in your house. However, laying your daisy pots where they can take the most illumination in order to get the best of luck must be kept in mind.

In conclusion, reading through the article, we all can infer that Vietnamese lead a very rich mental life, affected by a long-standing rice civilization. The aspiration for a prosperous and happy life is inarguable, especially on this big occasion of Tết, or Lunar New Year. It can be reflected through the meaning of some typical ornamental plants in every region of our country. It is an absolute honor for all of us, as local Vietnamese, to show you a part of our culture. And moreover, you can put it into the comparison with other Asian countries to figure out the specialty in our belief.  

The post Top Lucky Plants and Flowers for Tet Holiday appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Shot and edited by Chi Le

The post One Minute Around Au Co street during Tet in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

As our culture and perspective are partly but greatly affected by Chinese cultural beliefs, the story, for that reason, owns its origin to that of China about the Kitchen God, God of the Soil and Household God or also known as the legend of “two men and a woman” in Vietnamese understanding. The story begins with a woman named Thị Nhi and her husband Trọng Cao. Not long after their happy marriage, they found out that they could not have a child. This made Trọng Cao so angry that he hit Nhi badly and then cast her out of the house. Sadly leaving in pain, Nhi wandered day by day until she arrived at another land where she met her second destined lover, Phạm Lang. Meanwhile, Trọng Cao, for being too ashamed and regretful of his precarious action, decided to pack his back and got on the way to find his dear wife without knowing that Nhi was someone else’s bride. Until a day when the searching seemed to end hopelessly for the exhaustion of both money and groceries, Trọng Cao finally found Nhi’s house. For the appreciation of one-time sentiment and respect for her ex-husband, Nhi invited Trọng Cao in, greeted him warmly and gave him food. Unluckily, Phạm Lang just returned home. Afraid of being exposed, Nhi quickly hid Trọng Cao in a pile of straw in the garden at the back of the house. Unfortunately, Phạm Lang suddenly fired the straw to make fertilizer for his land. Nhi was frightened and jumped into the fire to save Trọng Cao. Seeing his wife in the fire, Phạm Lang, without thinking, also jumped into the fire to save her.

The story ended in the everlasting burning fire where the three people would be forever together without worrying about this mundane life. However, in the heaven, for wanting their death and sacrifice to be worthwhile and memorable, the Heaven’s King decided to promote them from human to Gods: Whereas Phạm Lang is the Kitchen God in charge of the cooking, Thị Nhi is the Household God taking care of shopping for groceries in the house and Trọng Cao is the God of the Soil responsible for land and farming. These Gods will later be the supervisors over every household, bringing happiness, luck, prosperity and they even protect every family from evil spirits. Traditionally, near the end of the year on 23^rd of January to the Moon Calendar, the three Gods will make a trip which usually lasts for 7 days to Heaven to report the King about the good and bad things that occur around the life of the family. The occasion is also a significant draw in Vietnamese people’s mindset of cultural tradition. Usually, most of the Vietnamese will celebrate the day formally with good food prepared for the Gods to pray for happiness and prosperity and hope that these wishes will soon come true in the new year.

While according to Chinese legend, the Gods’ “vehicles” are horses, their main transports, according to Vietnamese regard, are carps. This explains why the Kitchen God day, which to celebrate and say farewell to the Gods, varies quite greatly from China to Vietnam. Whereas back in the day in China, they would feed the horses and carefully took care of them in the hope that their Gods would have a safe trip to Heaven; in Vietnam, we usually have a sub-day called fish-setting-free day to see out the creature that will take the Gods to Heaven. In the thought that has been formed and carved from the pre-existing generations, the legend of carp turning into a dragon has a certain importance of meaning. Partly because Vietnamese culture is severely affected by Chinese perception, abstract ideas or so-called imaginary legends. The transformation of a carp into a dragon refers to the Vietnamese’ sublimation, constancy, and willingness to overcome the hardships and obstacles to achieve a better life. That is why this tradition has soon become a cultural beauty of our country.

Tết is indeed the time for family and the moment when true core value of cultural tradition is highly rated and appreciated. That is why Vietnamese people will treasure each of these moments when we are still living and breathing in the Spring of another Lunar New Year that is about to come.

The post The Kitchen God Day in Vietnam appeared first on Maze Vietnam.