 Me Linh flower village at Tet. (Photo: VNA) |
Along with Chung cake (Sticky rice cake in the North), Tet cake (Cylindrical glutinous rice cake in the South), and the five-fruit tray, flowers are indispensable in each Vietnamese family whenever spring comes. At this time of the year, flower villages all over Vietnam are bustling. The flower blooms for Tet differ according to different regions from North to South. The most popular kinds of Tet flowers are peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, roses, kumquat trees, and bonsai trees.
Tay Tuu, Nhat Tan and Me Linh are the most well-known flower growing villages in Hanoi. Ahead of Tet, the flower villages look colorful with various kinds of flowers. This year, due to COVID-19, flower trading has gone online through Facebook and Zalo.
Ms. Vu Thi Loan Phuong, the owner of Vu Phuong flower garden in Me Linh district, said, “I have regular customers. We work mainly online. I send customers photos and prices of different kinds of flowers. Then, they will come and take their flowers.”
Quang Man flower village in Dong Trieu town is the biggest flower growing area in Quang Ninh province. The village provides neighboring areas with flowers such as daisies, kumquat trees, peach blossoms, and gladiolous. This year, flower prices are not as high as the previous years due to the impact of COVID-19.
Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy in Dong Trieu town, said, “The flower prices dropped this year due to COVID-19. But growing flowers is still more beneficial than growing rice.”
In the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, flowers are grown in traditional villages in Phu Vang, Huong Thuy districts, and Hue city. Popular kinds of flowers include chrysanthemum, roses, carnations, lily flowers.
In Da Nang, Duong Son is the biggest flower village supplying flowers to Da Nang and neighboring provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Quang Binh.
Xom Dao flower village in Dak Lak province is the most popular in the Central Highlands. This year, the farmers are happy with a good harvest thanks to favourable weather.
Mr. Tran Dinh Sang, Head of Flower Growing Cooperative in Buon Trap town, said, “On 4 acres of land, I grow flowers, mainly chrysanthemum, roses and gladiolous. I have received many flower orders before Tet, so now our flower cooperatives are very busy preparing.”
 Sa Dec village’s flowers are provided to neighboring areas and also exported. (Photo: VnExpress) |
Moving to the South, Sa Dec flower village in Dong Thap province is one of Vietnam’s biggest flower growing villages. The village’s flowers are provided to neighboring areas and also exported. The village also serves as a popular tourist attraction.
As Tet draws near, farmers are much busier harvesting flowers for the holiday with a hope for a better year.