5 days in Seoul, Korea-5/17-5/22/2023

Day 5: Lotus Lantern festival & Lunch

Yeon Deung Hoe is the tradition name for the annual Lotus Lantern Festival.  What started as a simple religious ritual to celebrate Buddha's birth, it is now an exuberant spring festival in Korea.  Lotus lanterns symbolize enlightenment and during the festival, streets, temples, and malls are adorned with thousands of lotus lanterns. Exhibitions of traditional lanterns are on display for an 18 days period in various part of Seoul.

The festival brings people together from all denominations and faiths and tents are set up and lining the street.

Modern way to experience Buddhism with Metaverse.

A Korean monk on the left walking the street and on the right a monk from Tibet selling cakes.

Korean traditional drum dance

Very good performance with lots of rhythm from the drums.

Vietnam have a stall of their own to represent Vietnamese Buddhism.

Monks showing the ancient art of meditation

Parade in full swing.  This year is the first time since Covid-19 pandemic that people will be able to participate without any social distancing. restrictions.

Monks walking  in the parade.

Vietnamese women in Vietnamese outfit walking in the parade.

Traditional Korean ladies making offerings.

It is lunch time and we are headed to Insa-dong for a bowl of Pho.

Plus84 Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant.

It is a small restaurant but really cozy and our waitress is really nice.  The restaurant is family owned and they are from Hanoi.

Beside Pho they also sell Banh-mi.

Traditional cafe sua da.

Hoa ordered a bowl of pho and it is really not bad.

I ordered a bun thit nuong (BBQ pork with rice vermicelli).  You can really mess up this dish.  It was decent and it hits the spot.

We were glad to find a Vietnamese restaurant in Seoul that is decent.

NEXT...Day 5: Bukchon Hanok Village