The traveling Saigon Night Market brought crowds to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater on Saturday, Nov. 22, drawing hundreds for an evening of food, music and cultural performances. Attendees lined up for dishes from Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and other Asian vendors while performers in elaborate dragon costumes danced through the venue collecting offerings from children and adults – a nod to a long-standing tradition meant to ward off evil spirits.<\/p>\n
Co-organizer Vishal Vellody said the idea for the market began years ago with a high-school friend who was Vietnamese.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t really say pho is in my blood, but I\u2019ve eaten it so many times that it might be a small percentage of me,\u201d Vellody said. \u201cWe kind of started this together.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The traveling Saigon Night Market came to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
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The traveling Saigon Night Market came to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
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The traveling Saigon Night Market came to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
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The traveling Saigon Night Market came to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
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The traveling Saigon Night Market came to the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
He said the dragon dance ritual is rooted in folklore. \u201cYou give them some sort of offering. You can give them food, you can give them money,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a very common thing in cultures all across Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although \u201cSaigon\u201d is the former name of what is now Ho Chi Minh City, Vellody said the event isn\u2019t meant to make a political statement. \u201cWe’re just trying to spread the culture and the love and the food and the dance,\u201d he said. \u201cNo politics involved – and we just thought the name sounded cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vellody shares that the market\u2019s broad mixtures of cuisines are intentional. \u201cWho’s going to come to a festival with just Vietnamese food? When we can get lumpia, Lao sausage or some Indian curry?\u201d<\/p>\n
Among Saturday\u2019s performers was singer Rosie Vy, who was born in Vietnam and raised in the United States. She said the turnout reflected a growing appreciation for Asian cultures.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just saw some traditional dancing, and vendors with Vietnamese and other foods, like Laos and Thai,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel proud that Americans [are] willing to come together and try. I think it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n