Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: San Jose Mercury News

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

San Jose Mercury News - Dispute colors Tet celebration

Dispute colors Tet celebration
'LITTLE SAIGON' ADVOCATES MARCH IN TET CELEBRATION
By Leslie Griffy and Joshua MolinaMercury News
Article Launched: 02/11/2008 01:32:24 AM PST
Multimedia
See video from the event, where Far East Dragon Dancers performed

Celebration of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, is supposed to be about forgiveness and a new beginning. But for thousands of Vietnamese-Americans in San Jose on Sunday, the fractious politics of "Little Saigon" pervaded the New Year's cheer.
The 11th annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade downtown featured traditional participants - marching bands, dancing dragons, scout troops. But the loudest group was a band of immigrants pushing the idea of calling a stretch of Vietnamese stores on Story Road Little Saigon.
A crowd stretching nearly two blocks followed a float named Little Saigon, waving signs and chanting. Many on the sidelines joined in.
Nearly three months after the San Jose City Council chose to name the retail area Saigon Business District instead, the fallout from the vote is still reverberating.
The only Vietnamese city councilwoman, Madison Nguyen, wasn't even invited by the parade organizers because of her fierce opposition to the Little Saigon name and support of "Saigon Business District."
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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.