(VOVworld) - Quang An flower market is crowded and busy with flower dealers and buyers close to Tet. The bustling atmosphere of the market on the 29th of December of the lunar calendar signals the approach of Tet or Lunar New Year festival.
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Quang An flower market on Au Co street in Tay Ho, Hanoi, is a big and well-known market in the capital city. The market place is getting busier and busier prior to Tet with sellers, buyers, motorbikes and bicycles carrying flowers of various kinds. Though the market is situated outside the dyke of the Red River delta, flowers were also sold on the river dyke to meet the increasing demand during Tet. Tran Kim Thoa, a seller in Quang An market said the market is more crowded this year with more varieties of flowers. “Flowers are transported from different areas: peach blossoms and chrysanthemum from Nhat Tan, Tu Lien kumquat, apricot blossoms from Ho Chi Minh city and Soc Son roses. There are also cymbidium orchid and lys flowers from Da Lat. The market is covered with colorful flowers during these days which attract many local and foreign visitors.”
Quang An flower market originated from a temporary market in Nhat Tan district established to sell flowers grown at some well-known flower villages by West Lake such as Nhat Tan, Quang Ba. In 1996, when Tay Ho district was set up, the market was moved to its present place in Quang An district. Prior to Tet, flowers of different kinds are transported from other traditional flower villages on the outskirts of Hanoi such as Soc Son, Me Linh, Dong Anh and from even further areas like Sapa and Da Lat. In the North of Vietnam, the spring is the season of flowers. So, flowers of different kinds can be found here: from low-cost flowers like dahlias, and daisies to expensive ones like roses, orchids, and violet. Flowers of all kinds, all are in full blossom at this time of year. Quang An flower market is a main market from where flowers are distributed to every where in the city. The market is open at night to early morning, except for Tet holidays. Most of the buyers are wholesale dealers. Nguyen Thi Van is a regular customer. “I come from An Duong. I come here at 5 a.m everyday to buy flowers. Then I resell them at the local market or peddle them in the streets in Hanoi.”
From Quang An market, many other flower vendors like Van will transport and sell flowers all over Hanoi. During Tet, the market is crowded not only with flower dealers but also with young customers who just come to enjoy the atmosphere or buy flowers to decorate for Tet. Nguyen Thuy Duong is a market goer: “I come to this market every year. Today, the weather is cold but preparations for Tet are still busy. Though it is crowded, that brings the feeling of Tet. I have bought some favorite bunches of flowers.”
Many people go to the market to enjoy the beauty of the flowers. Some seem to be happy when they buy flowers to take to their homes for the new year. Nguyen Huu Thuy is from Long Bien district: “I usually buy a pot of orchids on new year’s day. As orchids can last for a long time, I buy it very early. This year’s weather is favorable for orchids.”
Visiting the flower market has become a new year hobby for many Hanoians. People will feel fresh in their souls as they lose themselves in the colorful and fragrant flowers. The flower market is one highlight that makes the capital city of Hanoi so attractive for people near and far.