Happy women's day 8 March!

---

Happy women's day to me and all women in Vietnam!

8 March is the international women's day, but I think this event was originated from the former Soviet and eastern European socialist countries, then celebrated in Vietnam. Many westerners and also Japanese I talked to, do not know this day. In Vietnam, we sometimes joke "364 days are for Vietnamese men, so today 8 March, Vietnamese women will rule". In fact, there is one more women's day in Vietnam, on 20 October, when Uncle Hồ sent a letter to Vietnamese women many years ago. Thus women in Vietnam have a couple of women's days (8 March and 20 October). Don't be surprised if you see flowers sold everywhere, and both men and women carry flowers with them on motorbikes. Men bring flowers to present to women at their offices, schools and houses. Women bring home the flowers that they have been presented by their male colleagues. On this day, most of the men will do house work or invite us to have a meal with them. All the best treatment is given to women on this day.

The photos in my blog are flowers sold on Hanoi streets, or presented at my office, or placed at the entrance gate to our office building. It's a great atmosphere here when we see flowers everywhere and everyone looks so happy. However, flowers are more expensive to buy on this day. There are many street vendors, who carry flowers from villages by bicycles and sell them in Hanoi. It's cheaper to buy these flowers than at the shops.

Today I was presented flowers and invited to have lunch by all the Vietnamese men in my office. Later on at dinner time, my father will cook a seafood hot pot to celebrate this women's day (for me, my mother and sister) and at the same time, it's also our nephew's 2nd birthday party.

---

Photos

Flowers at my office
We are presented these flowers from a Subcontractor on the construction site where I work.

Flowers everywhere
Many ordinary shops sell flowers on this day. Even a mobile phone shop also sells flowers.

Flowers at the gate to our office
These flowers are placed at the gate to our office building. The words on the banner "Chúc mừng ngày 8-3" (Happy women's day 8 March).

Flowers sold on Hanoi's streets
Some street vendors are selling flowers. These flowers are cheaper than those sold at the shops.

Candy
We girls are presented this candy from a Vietnamese man at our office. This is not a custom, just a fun.

Party at a restaurant in Hanoi
7 Vietnamese women, 3 Japanese men and 8 Vietnamese engineers at my company's party to celebrate the Women's Day (8 March 2009).

Women's day 8 March 2011
Flowers for all women at my office - 8 March 2011.

Flowers sold on Hanoi's streets
The vendors carry flowers by bicycles and sell them on Hanoi's streets.

Cake for us on 20 October 2010
We (women in the office) were presented this cake on Vietnam Women's Day 20 October 2010. NHK is the name of the Japanese company which I am working for.

Flowers at my office
We are presented these flowers from all the men at our office (both Vietnamese and Japanese).

Comments

[Tsegii]

em thich nhieu
em thich nhieu...........

[Leo]

Happy womans day
I hope all woman have happy womans day because you all work so hard! OK enjoy

[anonymous]

Happy 8th of March! http://elinamint.blogspot.com/2012/03/traveling-by-plane.html