Celebrating Luna New Years.....

We headed up to the top floor of the Signature Saigon Hotel for our buffet breakfast, only real expecting fresh fruit and coffee. We were surprised.... Rice, stew, Pho, and the usually breakfast items.

One of the best I've ever had.

We then ventured out to find the Ben Thanh market only to find that all the shops and vendors were closed because of the Lunar New Years. We discovered that crosswalks here don't mean a thing. You take your life in your hands every time you venture out on the street. Brad reluctantly agreed to cross the street to the turnabout to get these two pictures.

Back at the hotel, I asked the front desk what we could see. She directed us to the Nguyen Hue (Flower Street). We headed out there only to find a street party. Families all dressed in their traditional New Years outfits, laughing , and enjoying the flowers while celebrating the new year.

Brad thinks he found a minion here!

Walking around the city, I noticed differences. Old mixed with new.... Sky scrapers reaching into the heavens and at their feet lay the foundations of Vietnam.

We sat outside our hotel and people watched. We saw scooters carrying mom and dad, a toddler, a new born and all their bags, Street vendors busy cooking, while their families all around them.

12 hours later, we find ourselves on a plane to the beach resort of Nha Trang. A 6km crescent beach that is the main attraction of this area. We spent the first morning on the beach. The surf was big.... I mean BIG!

Nha Trang is busier than usual because of their New Years celebration (TET week). Many locals flood to the beaches with their families to celebrate. This being said, we found the beaches packed. We were on the beach soaking up the heat by 9:00 am. After a short relaxing sleep, we woke up to find ourselves surrounded by locals all frolicking in the surf with their clothes on.

Before heading out to the beach, Brad and I were trying to find some beach towels. While waiting for the elevator, we found a towel cart. As Brad was looking feverishly for towels, the elevator opened up.... It was full of people, including hotel staff! I look up to see all these people staring are us.... Brad stops when he hears me say "busted". Never found towels but we're still laughing.

We've been busy visiting markets and eating. It's been hard to pass the street food vendors without trying their wares. We also had a massage for $10.

Sugar cane juice....yum!