In 

The in breath

and the out breath 

The lead up to Tet, and the in breath is

Deep

An all encompassing inhale, filling the collective lungs. All apace and flurry. Every other motorbike carrying a tree in its adorned, symmetrical beauty. 

These trees make their way across the city destined for front porches, where they sit in wait for the auspicious first visitor of the year. 

Deep breath in

and hold

Everyone, and everything, is in motion. Traffic, horns, organic to and fro, ebb and flow akin to major holidays anywhere in the world. 

Everybody has places to go, people to see, to do, to done.

And then, in an instant 

It all stops 

Exhale 

Says the country 

Exhale

Say the people

Take a beat and a breath and a moment to be with the ones you love. 

To be home.

With the exhale comes quiet. A pause in the midst of it all.  A chance to take stock, reflect on what has been, and look forward.

Take a break.

And, in a flash, the break is took 

Then.

In the interest of progress, of life, and moving on 

The city stirs again 

And when it stirs, things happen quickly 

Big inhale.

With the in breath, comes motion.

A garbage collector, resplendent in beige, stuffs the edge of the cart with a fruitless branch, all too recently adorned with blossoms. 

She works in the midst

of a flow of hundreds upon hundreds of motorbikes dotted with cars, everyone rushing this way and that, here and there.

This massive, tiny village of 8 1/2 million people. 

Takes an in-breath

and comes back to life.

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