The Mid-South’s Vietnamese community signaled in their New Year called Tet with dancing dragons, leaping lions, colorful new dresses and crisp dollar bills. They all symbolize good luck and happiness.

Nearly 500 people packed the China Inn 2 Restaurant on Covington Pike February 11th to ring in the Year of the Pig. The program, organized by the Vietnamese Community in Memphis and its Vicinity included traditional food, dances and songs.

The highlight of the evening was the colorful lion dance. Men wearing huge lion heads and moving body parts danced and jumped around while children dangled dollar bills above their heads. According to Vietnamese tradition the ceremonial dance brings luck to the audience. Children wearing flowing dresses called ao dai (pronounced ao zai) also performed by dancing with straw hats and fans.

There are about 5,000 Vietnamese in Memphis. Most of them fled their country after the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon.

“Since we are far away from home, we wanted to show our children the customs we grew up with so they won’t forget where they came from,” says Le An, President of the Vietnamese Community in Memphis and its Vicinity.

Appeared in:

• Commercial Appeal-Midtown/Downtown Appeal
• Commercial Appeal-East Memphis Appeal
• Commercial Appeal-Germantown Appeal
• Shelby Sun Times
• Proud Magazine