Dragon Dancing

 

The traffic in Vietnam is really quite ridiculous. We already have 18-wheelers, family-packed scooters, and cow crossings high on the list of look-out-for-possible-collisions; as if that wasn’t enough, now there’s a new player in town: dragon dancing troupes.

A remnant from Chinese merchants of the past, today dragon dancing troupes are especially popular in Vietnam. Boys practice for years to master the necessary acrobatic and music skills required to make the dragon come to life. Dragon dancing is thought to bring good luck, especially before Chinese festivals, such as the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

These boys literally jumped in front of us to perform an intermission show while we were cycling through their town. After thoroughly amazing us with their intricate footsteps and heart-pounding drumbeats, they continued down the road to bring good luck to neighbors and shopkeepers.

Want to see your picture featured on our Sunday Snapshot segment? We’re now accepting guest submissions! Just send us an email at acruisingcouple@gmail.com with your photo and a brief description. We’d love to have you!

Have you seen dragon dancing before?