Another soothing stroll! And your music choices, for me, are always spot on, adding the perfect aural compliment to your gorgeous videos. Those tangerine trees must make an amazing gift, the gift that keeps on giving, I would assume. The orchids were stunning, as well. Enjoyed seeing the bonsai trees too. And, in another kind of Japan connection, watching the family take having their photo taken in front of the flower display, with the guys all wearing red shirts reminds me so much of those rituals here. Though in Kyoto, the seasons bring so many opportunities for those photo ops in nature itself, rather than a flower market, as beautiful as the display in the video is. Do Vietnamese have particular seasonal floral displays in nature that they take time to go see, experience and maybe take photos of and/or with? And by the way, in contrast to the commenters who were a bit put out by the Chinese Lunar New Year title, it is from your video I learned that the Vietnamese Lunar New Year is called Tet. I am not Vietnamese, and can understand that a Vietnamese person may feel a bit upset by the reference to Chinese, but I feel you are being very clear and respectful in your presentation of the proper Vietnamese term for the holiday. After watching your video, I come away with knowing to refer to it as Tet, when speaking of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. Thank You!! : )
Hi Mark, glad you enjoyed the flower extravaganza! We do have extraordinary natural flower displays in spring, such as mass blossoming of trees -- very much like the cherry blossoms in Japan. And there are other areas that are known for their seasonal wildflower blooms. But not in Da Nang, as far as I know. We do get these massive, incredibly beautiful butterflies at certain times, big as your hand! I was very impressed with the bonsai displays. And the giant sunflowers. It's quite a feat, if you think about it, for all these plants to be brought to fruit and flower at this exact time of year for Tet. Growers work really hard and smart to make that happen. The sensitivity about China is understandable. And I'm glad you are now aware of what Tet is! I know from growing up in a Korean family about how deep the tensions run between Asian cultures, it's visceral. The wounds and insults aren't easily healed, but that doesn't change a fundamental fact: there are many elements of our respective traditions that come from China. It doesn't mean we don't have our distinct cultures.
don't use that term "Chinese New Year" for Vietnamese Tet. They're not the same tradition. In fact, they don't even use the same calendar: leap year is different sometimes for Vietnamese and Chinese with a month apart.
Yes, I am aware. I use the term so that people who don't know the term Tet -- but only know it as Chinese New Year -- will be able to find my video. It's not cultural ignorance, it's search engine optimization.
@Ethan Hunt Yes, I do know. And please note that I'm not calling Tet Chinese New Year. It is in the title for the many (majority) of westerners, specifically from North America, who don't know the terms Tet or Lunar New Year. (Yes, believe it or not, hardly anyone knows what a Lunar New Year is) It is in the title, as I said, purely for search purposes. For instance, if you type into Google "should I visit Vietnam for Tet", there are around 9 million results. If you type in the same thing, only change Tet for Chinese New Year, you get something like 85 million results. I'm not saying it's correct! I didn't make it this way. However, I will edit the description and add this information in.
I can see you have very strong feelings about this, and many others do as well. I appreciate that. There are very complex and longstanding conflicts between China and Vietnam. My videos strive to show what is beautiful, what is sweet and magical in everyday life. This is what I focus on here.
Vietnamese Tet has nothing to do with the Chinese New Year festival. Some scholars did mention the Chinese borrowed the Vietnamese Tet and made it their own with some twists. Originally, it's Vietnamese's and Vietnamese alone. If Westerners have no ideas what Vietnamese Tet is it's their job to research. As long as you injected the Chinese in your description you are deliberately wrong. Hope you understand the meaning.
Another soothing stroll! And your music choices, for me, are always spot on, adding the perfect aural compliment to your gorgeous videos. Those tangerine trees must make an amazing gift, the gift that keeps on giving, I would assume. The orchids were stunning, as well. Enjoyed seeing the bonsai trees too. And, in another kind of Japan connection, watching the family take having their photo taken in front of the flower display, with the guys all wearing red shirts reminds me so much of those rituals here. Though in Kyoto, the seasons bring so many opportunities for those photo ops in nature itself, rather than a flower market, as beautiful as the display in the video is. Do Vietnamese have particular seasonal floral displays in nature that they take time to go see, experience and maybe take photos of and/or with?
And by the way, in contrast to the commenters who were a bit put out by the Chinese Lunar New Year title, it is from your video I learned that the Vietnamese Lunar New Year is called Tet. I am not Vietnamese, and can understand that a Vietnamese person may feel a bit upset by the reference to Chinese, but I feel you are being very clear and respectful in your presentation of the proper Vietnamese term for the holiday. After watching your video, I come away with knowing to refer to it as Tet, when speaking of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam.
Thank You!! : )
Hi Mark, glad you enjoyed the flower extravaganza! We do have extraordinary natural flower displays in spring, such as mass blossoming of trees -- very much like the cherry blossoms in Japan. And there are other areas that are known for their seasonal wildflower blooms. But not in Da Nang, as far as I know. We do get these massive, incredibly beautiful butterflies at certain times, big as your hand!
I was very impressed with the bonsai displays. And the giant sunflowers. It's quite a feat, if you think about it, for all these plants to be brought to fruit and flower at this exact time of year for Tet. Growers work really hard and smart to make that happen.
The sensitivity about China is understandable. And I'm glad you are now aware of what Tet is! I know from growing up in a Korean family about how deep the tensions run between Asian cultures, it's visceral. The wounds and insults aren't easily healed, but that doesn't change a fundamental fact: there are many elements of our respective traditions that come from China. It doesn't mean we don't have our distinct cultures.
Lunar New Year is another popular term as well.
Yes, I agree. Though I am often surprised at how few people in North America are familiar with the concept of a lunar calendar.
don't use that term "Chinese New Year" for Vietnamese Tet. They're not the same tradition. In fact, they don't even use the same calendar: leap year is different sometimes for Vietnamese and Chinese with a month apart.
Yes, I am aware. I use the term so that people who don't know the term Tet -- but only know it as Chinese New Year -- will be able to find my video. It's not cultural ignorance, it's search engine optimization.
@Ethan Hunt Yes, I do know. And please note that I'm not calling Tet Chinese New Year. It is in the title for the many (majority) of westerners, specifically from North America, who don't know the terms Tet or Lunar New Year. (Yes, believe it or not, hardly anyone knows what a Lunar New Year is)
It is in the title, as I said, purely for search purposes. For instance, if you type into Google "should I visit Vietnam for Tet", there are around 9 million results. If you type in the same thing, only change Tet for Chinese New Year, you get something like 85 million results. I'm not saying it's correct! I didn't make it this way. However, I will edit the description and add this information in.
I can see you have very strong feelings about this, and many others do as well. I appreciate that. There are very complex and longstanding conflicts between China and Vietnam. My videos strive to show what is beautiful, what is sweet and magical in everyday life. This is what I focus on here.
Vietnamese Tet has nothing to do with the Chinese New Year festival. Some scholars did mention the Chinese borrowed the Vietnamese Tet and made it their own with some twists. Originally, it's Vietnamese's and Vietnamese alone. If Westerners have no ideas what Vietnamese Tet is it's their job to research. As long as you injected the Chinese in your description you are deliberately wrong. Hope you understand the meaning.
Thanks Frank, I can see you, like many others, are very passionate about this.
Love your voice, your narratives and the wonderful editing . Thank you for sharing. I miss VN.
Thank you for your thoughtful encouragement, and thank you for joining me for my VN adventures!