We arrived in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam on June 2^nd after a 6 hour bus ride from Phnom Penh.  We stayed at Karim’s, a friend of Jon’s who moved there about 2 years ago and who showed us around town.

June 4^th was the official Canada Day celebrations in Ho Chi Minh.  Apparently all the Canadian expats always return home during July and therefore aren’t around to celebrate Canada day on July 1^st.   So leave it to the nice, accommodating Canadians to change the date of Canada Day and celebrate it in June so everyone can attend.

Jon and I were very much looking forward to the event, which was held outdoors in a giant field.  They had a few small games set up; hockey shots on net, basketball shots in hoops, softball throws at ceramic plates, mini golf, and even a small curling area where you slide a cooking pot down a wet board. Food was simple barbeque fare and we couldn’t find Canadian beer, but they did have a bar dedicated to making bloody caesars with Mott’s Clamato.  The live band played mostly Neil Young and Bryan Adams and we chatted with the DJ to get some requests, even though his Canadian repertoire was quite lacking.  Some friends commented that the parties for the Aussies and Americans were notably better than Canada’s attempt at a celebration.  We looked around and perhaps they were right. 

But there was something about the small county fair atmosphere, the makeshift games, the guy parading around in a big red maple leaf costume that made it distinctly Canadian.  No, there were no fireworks or professional dancers or any huge flashy sponsors.  And yet it was the absence of all of that, that made us miss our home, and reminded us of how proud we were to be called Canadian.

- joyce