Friday lunchtime is clearly party time for the locals and karaoke is the preferred method of celebration! Outside the covered market it was business as usual
with a vast array of fresh foodstuff on offer.
The smell at the rear where fish cleaning was taking place was a little off putting though.
In the covered part, business had finished for the day and the celebrations were in full swing right in the middle of stalls with the remnants of old meat bones and fish on them. Bizarre.
One old dear, though, was more interested in just eating and seemed fascinated when I showed her the photo I had taken of her.
It was more or less the same story out on the streets where small groups of locals were eating, singing with lots of ‘cheers’ and ‘bottoms up’.
Away from the carnival atmosphere I passed by the iconic bridge built back in the 16th century by the Japanese and still very much in use today although mostly by tourists.
Close by there is one of the very few temples I have seen in this part of Vietnam,
this one being clearly of Chinese origin and/or influence.
The contrast between the relatively rural feel of the area around my hotel and the hustle and bustle of the old city is quite marked and it’s only a pleasant 10 minute walk away via a small road which the chickens definitely should not cross
but along which a few cows graze quite peacefully.
In fact, I’m going back to the old part tonight as I spotted a nice little restaurant I’m going to try
and I believe that on this particular day the night time lantern displays are even more spectacular than usual.
So, camera at the ready, I’m off.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 