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You have to be there, experience the atmosphere, be overwhelmed by the dazzling colors of the costumes, and immerse yourself in the rhythmic drumming and passionate Samba dances to understand why the Rio Carnival is known as "the biggest masquerade party on the planet."
RIO DE JANEIRO – THE CITY OF FIERY PASSION
Big cities have long ceased to be my preference due to their similar crowds and hustle and bustle. They've become mere transit points that I'm forced to visit on my journey. However, Rio de Janeiro is a unique exception.
The moment I stepped off the plane, the vibrant energy of this city truly overwhelmed me. It wasn't just because I arrived during the Carnival season when millions of tourists were arriving; that energy radiated from the simple things at the airport and on the streets: the way people greeted returning loved ones by jumping into each other's arms, laughing and crying at the same time; the way they said goodbye with passionate hugs; and of course, the way they danced the Samba everywhere, as long as there was music, as naturally as breathing – even someone like me, who usually avoids crowds, wanted to join in.
I must say that Rio de Janeiro is truly a place worth staying a few days in. The city is not only famous for its Carnival but also for its breathtaking natural scenery. It's surprising to realize that Rio is built nestled within a harmonious blend of mountains and sea. The undulating buildings on the hillsides and the seemingly endless coastline give Rio its unique and distinctive character.
The sunset from the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain was breathtakingly beautiful. We enjoyed watching the changing colors of the landscape at that moment. The fiery sun was partially obscured by a huge gray cloud, but a few dazzling rays still pierced through the clouds, illuminating the mountainside. The sea was calm like a lake, with sailboats that looked like toys, and a long bridge connecting the two shores of the city. As darkness fell, the city lights came on, sparkling like stars on the ground.
Not far away is Corcovado Mountain, famous for its enormous statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms. This 30-meter-tall statue, with arms outstretched 28 meters, has become a cultural and religious symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Reaching the summit of Corcovado Mountain, the entire city of Rio unfolds magically against the cloudy sky. However, this breathtaking scenery doesn't seem to be the most important thing for tourists. We laughed at the many different poses they adopted, from kneeling to lying on the ground, trying to get a picture with this famous statue of Christ.
Rio is also known as a seaside city, not because it has many beaches, nor because of the exceptionally beautiful sand and sea color. The special attraction of Rio's coastline is its lively atmosphere, day and night. We really enjoyed sitting on the beach, sipping ice-cold beer to the boisterous samba music from the numerous nearby bars. The sea here is clean and clear, but the high waves near the shore make swimming difficult. Many people, like us, simply relax on the beach, watching the beautiful people from all over the world playing by.
A FREE-SPIRITED STREET FESTIVAL
Brazil's Rio Carnival originally started as a festival for slaves (mostly from Africa), who gathered to sing and dance in the streets once a year for several days. Over time, the festival gradually became formalized, transforming into the largest festival for all Brazilians.
No words, images, or videos can adequately describe the vibrant atmosphere of Rio these days. You have to be there, experience this atmosphere, to truly feel the passion and free spirit of the people in every way you never imagined.
The spirit of freedom was evident in the colorful and extremely "revealing" costumes. Almost everyone we met on the street was wearing costumes, from simple to elaborate, but very diverse and creative. Men shirtless in ballet skirts, or women in brightly colored dresses without underwear, became commonplace on the streets. Although we hadn't prepared costumes, we were still eager to immerse ourselves in that vibrant atmosphere.
The vibrant music with its Latin American influences is the easiest way to connect people. When the music starts, strangers from all over the world dance, sing, and suddenly become friends. If you have a musical instrument, you'll be welcomed everywhere, whether you're alone or in a band. Bands are quickly formed from strangers, improvising familiar tunes, while the crowds cheer and follow them everywhere, creating an impromptu parade through the streets. This is also the unique aspect of the Rio Carnival, where you can freely immerse yourself in countless parades throughout the city, like attending a party without a host and without an invitation.
The uninhibited nature of the festival was also evident in the passionate, yet completely spontaneous, kisses. After kissing, they exchanged names and phone numbers, making us realize that they were strangers who had coincidentally crossed paths in the crowd. A little affection, a little excitement was enough to give each other such fervent kisses.
THE PINNACLE OF CREATIVITY AND PASSION
The centerpiece of Rio's carnival is the Sambardrom Marques de Sapucai parade. Dubbed "the biggest party on the planet," it's not just entertainment, but a fierce competition among samba guilds. Thirteen teams compete over two nights, and the winning team gets to perform at the final night of the festival the following year.
The show ran from 10 PM to 6 AM the following morning. We wondered why the show started so late and understood the reason after attending. The weather in Rio in early February was so hot and humid that no one could enjoy such a long outdoor performance, neither the audience nor the performers.
We watched six of the seven teams perform that day until 5 a.m. Each team performed for 75 minutes, parading down the runway between the stadium's two grandstands, each with a distinct theme, featuring thousands of dancers, drum teams, and mobiles. It was truly an amazing night, exceeding my expectations and imagination. I was completely captivated by the spectacular, incredibly grand, colorful, and highly creative performances. This creativity was spectacularly displayed in the design of the dancers' elaborate costumes, in the operation and decoration of the glittering, towering mobiles that almost reached the grandstands and could hold hundreds of dancers, in the harmonious blend of music, light, drum rhythms, and the fiery samba dances of the lead dancers, and in the large group performances that highlighted each team's main theme.
If the mobiles serve as the platform for expressing the theme's ideas, then the dancers are the soul of the ensemble. They are beautiful and incredibly alluring girls in elaborate and eye-catching, handcrafted costumes. Always leading the processions, the Samba dancers, with their skillful moves in high heels, captivate the audience's attention. The cheers of the audience and the rhythmic drumming create a wonderful synergy for their performance.
Staying up all night was a truly unique and unforgettable experience for me. Only by witnessing it firsthand can one truly understand the level of investment and the grueling, long nights of training the unions put into that 75-minute, spectacular performance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Trip
Traveling from Vietnam to major cities in Brazil (including Rio) is a long journey of approximately 25-30 hours by plane. We bought tickets from Emirates and flew to Sao Paulo, with a layover in Dubai. This airline also has direct flights to Rio. Other airlines you could choose are Qatar or Turkish Airlines. If you have a US visa, United Airlines or American Airlines are reasonably priced alternatives.
Accommodation
There are many options in this large city. If you want to stay near the beaches, choose a hotel on any beach such as Copacabana (lively and a popular entertainment spot, also very crowded), or Botafogo (next to Copacabana but much quieter and less crowded) or Ipenema (with more luxurious hotels).
We stayed at the Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro by Intercity hotel, on the Botafogo beachfront, which had a great location and service, but most importantly, the rooftop bar offered perfect views of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Travel
We used Uber, which was much cheaper than regular taxis, and also safer. The drivers didn't speak English, but they were very tech-savvy, so they used Google Translate to communicate with us.
Time
The festival takes place in February or March, with the exact dates varying each year according to the Lenten season in the Gregorian calendar. In 2019, the Rio Carnival ran from March 1st to March 9th. If you arrive in the city before the official opening day, don't miss the chance to participate in some of the most exciting pre-festival events.
Other notes for Carnival
- Tickets for the main show: Attracting millions of attendees each year, tickets for this show range from a few hundred to several thousand USD. Note that there are no ticket booths on-site, so you must purchase tickets in advance, about 2-3 weeks before the festival. Many websites sell tickets online with detailed instructions.
For me, sitting in the stands was great because it's where the locals gather. You just need to choose the right spot for a good view, but you have to arrive two hours early to secure a seat because it's first come, first served; there are no assigned seats. The areas from the middle of the field to the back are usually better because you can see almost the entire parade. Sections 8 to 11 are probably the best because most of the judges will be sitting there, and you'll be sitting opposite the drum team, who create the lively atmosphere for the performance.
Please visit www.rio-carnival.net for more information about the Rio Carnival 2019.
- Preparing for the performance: Bring food, snacks, and plenty of drinks to quench your thirst and stave off hunger. For added comfort, you can bring a pillow and a paper fan as the weather is very hot. Don't forget to bring a camera or phone to record the event.
- Security: This venue is considered the safest in Latin America, attracting many world-famous celebrities, politicians, members of royalty, and crowds. All seating areas are equally secure. However, you should exercise extreme caution when leaving after the performance; it's best to take a taxi directly from the gate rather than walking a few minutes as dawn approaches.
