French Mekong Commission delegate Francis Garnier wrote: The full moon parties were very popular: as always people were eager to celebrate before the rains made communications more difficult, slowed down traffic and shut everyone at home … That night, almost the entire population stayed awake. The elderly, sitting in front of their doors, talked of the past or calculated expected harvests. The young, wearing flower crowns, walked around singing and dancing in most pleasant and original ways. The lively gestures, and harmonious rhythms of the performers together with the improvised words of their chants excited the spectators.”.