A Stroll Through Magic: The Gentle Snakes of Nguyễn Huệ
The morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year dawns with a soft golden glow, casting a warm embrace over the city. The air is fresh, carrying a faint scent of incense and blooming apricot blossoms, mingling with the distant echoes of festive drums. It’s a day of renewal, a time when the old year has fully faded, and the promise of something new lingers in every breath.
With eager anticipation, I step out into the streets, making my way toward Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard of HCMC, the beating heart of the city’s celebrations. The walk itself is an experience—the roads are alive with families dressed in their finest áo dài, rich silk flowing in shades of crimson, royal blue, and shimmering gold.
The colors catch the sunlight, turning the street into a river of elegance and tradition, where every step feels like a part of something bigger, something timeless.
The excitement in the 
But what truly captivates me is the energy of Nguyễn Huệ itself. It is not just a pedestrian street today—it is a stage, a celebration, a living canvas of tradition and festivity. Everywhere I turn, there are intricate displays of lanterns, their soft glow flickering against the afternoon sun, red and gold banners fluttering in the gentle breeze. The street is lined with elaborate floral arrangements, bursts of yellow mai blossoms and fiery red đào flowers standing proudly in oversized ceramic vases, as if nature itself has decided to join the celebration.
And then, there are the snakes.
It is, after all, the Year of the Snake, a zodiac sign often met with unease. Normally, the snake is a creature of mystery, of quiet power and caution. But here, on Nguyễn Huệ, the only snakes we encounter are gentle, welcoming, beautifully crafted works of art. They coil gracefully in decorative sculptures, their golden scales catching the light, their expressions softened into smiling emblems of luck and prosperity.
Children run up to pose beside them, their giggles ringing through the air as parents snap photos, capturing the moment forever. Street performers, dressed in flowing traditional robes, weave through the crowd, some with elegant, silk-painted fans, others with ornate headdresses that mimic the serpentine grace of the year’s honored zodiac sign.
The energy of the festival pulses around me—drummers beating their taiko-like drums in rhythmic unison, lion dancers leaping into the sky with the agility of acrobats, their costumes shimmering under the festive lights. Everything feels heightened, as if the city itself has transformed into a dream, a place where past and present, tradition and modernity, intertwine in perfect harmony.
As the sun begins its slow descent, casting a soft, amber glow over the street, the lanterns flicker to life, their warm light illuminating the faces of thousands who have gathered here to celebrate. The crowd moves together, a symphony of voices and joy, as if Nguyễn Huệ itself has become one great heartbeat, pulsing with hope for the new year ahead.
And in that moment, standing in the middle of it all, I understand—the Year of the Snake is not to be feared. It is to be embraced. Because here, on this festive boulevard, the only serpents we meet are the ones that bring luck, warmth, and the promise of something beautiful ahead.
The New Year fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City are nothing short of a spectacle, lighting up the night sky with a dazzling display of color and energy. As the clock strikes midnight, the city’s skyline becomes a canvas for a breathtaking show, with brilliant bursts of red, gold, and purple streaking across the dark sky like flowers in full bloom.
