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.

Co-organizer Vishal Vellody said the idea for the market began years ago with a high-school friend who was Vietnamese.

“I can't really say pho is in my blood, but I’ve eaten it so many times that it might be a small percentage of me,” Vellody said. “We kind of started this together.”

He said the dragon dance ritual is rooted in folklore. “You giv

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