Tet or Vietnamese New Year is the most important annual celebration in Vietnam. At the beginning of December on the lunar calendar, all Vietnamese people are eager to welcome Tet. Being foreigners staying or traveling in Vietnam, what are you going to do to enjoy the festival at its best? Before Tet, from the twentieth to the thirtieth December on the lunar calendar, colorful flower markets are crowded with people selling and buying flowers and plants used to decorate houses at Tet. Tet flower market has become an important part in Vietnamese culture. In fact, some months before Tet, flower farmers have started growing flowers and plants for Tet. It’s a big chance for any foreigner to visit Tet flower markets in Saigon and learn more about interesting local life at the biggest festival in their country.
Flower markets are not the only place that Tet ornamental plants being sold, they will also be available in many center streets of big cities from North to South of Vietnam. There are diverse types of plants and flowers sold on this occasion and some typical decorating plants for Tet only cannot be missed such as Cherry blossom, Apricot blossom, and Kumquat. And while Kumquat plants with different sizes and shapes can be found everywhere throughout the country. The cherry blossom represents Tet in the North of Vietnam and the Apricot blossom is the symbol of Tet in the South.
Cherry Blossom Garden in Hanoi
Apricot Blossom in the South
Besides those typical Tet plants, many kinds of flowers and plants is going to be sale such as Orchid, Peony, Poinsettia, Azalea, Fig, yellow Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Narcissus, etc. Traditionally, Vietnamese prefer to buy colorful or bright colors flowers and plants to decorate their houses during the Tet holiday as a wish for a lucky, wealthy and healthy Lunar New Year.
Flower Markets in Hanoi – Northern Vietnam
Quang Ba flower market
If you want to enjoy fully the bustle hustle atmosphere of flower markets in Vietnam, you should choose to visit a big flower market on a weekend or some traditional fairs of big cities. In Hanoi – Vietnam’s Capital, travelers can come to Quang Ba market which is the biggest flower market in the North of Vietnam, where first-hand sellers come here and trading with each other and buyers every day. Normally, the Quang Ba market only works at night, but before the Tet holiday from 2-3 weeks, it will be active all day long. Another famous place that most of the Hanoians will come to choose flowers and plants for Tet is Hoang Hoa Tham road. This street is where an ancient traditional ornamental plant fair organized monthly and it becomes a hot spot before Tet as many sellers will not wait until the market day like other months but work on their business there every day; however, the market day and 3 days before Lunar New Year Eve are the most crowded time as all the sellers and buyers will gather here for trading.
A corner in Hoang Hoa Tham st’s flower fair
Flower markets in Ho Chi Minh City – Southern Vietnam
In Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon), the most popular flower market is Ho Thi Ky. Different from the Quang Ba flower market in Hanoi, people call Ho Thi Ky a “non-sleeping market” as it works 24/24 – wholesale at night and retailing in the day time. Before Tet, this place gathers a huge number of sellers, buyers, and tourists who come to trade or enjoy the beauty of flowers and the bustling atmosphere here. Besides Ho Thi Ky, Ho Chi Minh city also has another famous flower market: Dam Sen (means Lotus Pond). While the Ho Thi Ky market has been working for generations, the Dam Sen market was opened in 2000 and still is considered as a new flower market there. As a new one, Dam Sen market is not as crowded as Ho Thi Ky so it is suitable for buyers and travelers who do not like huddle places and want to take time to enjoy the flower shopping and admiring slowly.
Dam Sen flower market
Vietnam before the Tet holiday is covered by the aroma and beauty of colorful flowers and plants at flower markets and fairs throughout the country. Not only being a trading place, but flower markets are also an important part of the traditional culture of Vietnam and cannot be miss before Lunar New Year Eve. If you come to Vietnam this January, just spend time at a flower market here and enjoy the soon Tet atmosphere of this country.
