Night of the Dragons

After a long relaxing day on the beach we decided to go into town for dinner. We sat and watched geckos indecisively jolt and twitch across the walls and ceiling on the veranda of a canal-side restaurant.

After enjoying a 5-course Vietnamese meal we navigated through the throngs of people as night and the dragon festival took over the streets. Adolescent boys in bands of 5 to 20 dressed in dragon costumes, danced to drums, and visited shops supposedly to chase out bad spirits. They climbed 25 ft. poles and set off flares and sparklers. The streets were filled with tamborines, and singing, and spectating, lanterns and dragons swinging everywhere. My quiet little Hoi An, possessed. But in a good way.