Whenever April comes, people in Hanoi can see vendors with their old bicycles full of Easter lilies and many other flowers fanning out to streets across the capital city. This flower can be seen in every corner here during the transitional period from spring to summer. On these beautiful days of April, the elegant white flower wins the appreciation of many people. In Hanoi, Easter lilies are mostly grown in flower villages in Nhat Tan, Tay Tuu, Dong Anh and Dan Phuong. Farmers have to get up before the sun rises to collect flowers which will then be transported from gardens to wholesale markets before getting on vendors’ bicycles to reach buyers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Thanks to vendors, Easter lilies are present on almost every street, making Hanoi special in April. They stand out among the flowers sold on streets because of their simplicity and beauty. The flower can be used as a decoration at home or an offering at pagodas. To have Easter lilies for sale in April, growers have to plant the bulbs in September and October of the previous year. Old bicycles laden with a variety of blooming flowers are like a piece of the colourful mosaic of Hanoi streets. Street vendors are present in the city all year round, and they have formed part of the local attractiveness. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In Hanoi, Easter lilies are sold in a great quantity on such streets as Thuy Khue, Phan Dinh Phung, and Kim Ma. The bicycle of a street vendor in this photo seems to be dwarfed by Easter lilies and a wide range of other colourful flowers. The items sold by street vendors can also be considered as indicators of what season Hanoi is in. Easter lily is not only a kind of brilliant and fragrant flower like many others, but its simply white colour also creates a pure beauty, which has inspired so many people. Many are even ready to wait until the lily season to enjoy its rustic beauty. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The white flowers with light fragrance have become a particular feature of Hanoi whenever April comes. Easter lily produces pure white trumpet-shaped flowers which are 7 - 8 centimetres in size and blooms in April every year. Not so bright and fragrant as many other flowers, yet the simple but pure white of the lilies fascinates everyone. It symbolise the lightness and purity, and is loved by many people and chosen to decorate in the house. In Tay Tuu, dubbed as the ‘flower capital’, Easter lily has been planted for many years. In the recent past, many people have also rented land in the vicinity of Tay Tuu to grow this kind of flower. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
White lilies have become part of Hanoi’s soul in spring, and the vendors peddling them around the city are also a very specific feature in April. At the Easter lily season, farmers are busy cutting flowers and selling them. Each day, a household can pick thousands of flowers. Lilies are harvested from late March until the end of April. After being cut off for sale, the bulbs are still in the ground, and they will be dug up in July and re-planted for the next crop about a month later. With a good care, a bulb can produce up to 15 - 18 flowers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) is originally a plant endemic to Ryukyu Islands in the south of Japan and Taiwan (China). The flower enters the blossoming season once a year, in late spring and early summer. Its season comes and goes so fast that sometimes people may not even realise it. In April, Hanoi is covered with the elegant white beauty of Easter lilies which inspire people with their pure white and delightful scent. Lily flowers are modest but also noble at every corner of Hanoi capital. This kind of flower isn’t too brilliant as it only has white colour and gentle fragrance, but that is enough for it to win over the love from many. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hanoians prefer Easter lily out of its simple beauty and subtle fragrance. It is considered as a symbol of April in Hanoi. Its flowers are sold by street vendors on many streets in the capital city. This year, the lily crop bloomed about a month earlier than usual. It started to bloom and be ready to be harvested right at the beginning of March. A farmer in Tay Tuu village said the flower is favoured by local growers because it is easy to care for, needs low investment and can be replanted. Most of the flowers sold on Hanoi streets are grown in the city’s suburban areas or neighbouring provinces. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
People can buy 10 stalks of Easter lily, enough to fill a room with the light fragrance of the flowers, which set them back only 25,000 - 30,000 VND. Their fragrance and elegant white petals enthrall many people. Street vendors must water the flowers constantly to keep them fresh. Most of the street vendors are from outlying areas or other localities, and they come to the capital city to earn a living. However, the items they sell as well as themselves have proved to be contributors to Hanoi’s attractiveness. In recent years, Hanoi has been hailed as one of the most attractive destinations in the region and the world. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Easter lily is also considered the flower signaling that summer is just around the corner. The price this year is more reasonable than last year. It is higher on the first and 15th day of lunar months. The wholesale price is about 160,000 - 180,000 VND (7 - 8 USD) per bundle of 100 flowers and the retail price, about 200,000 VND. Hanoi has been emerging as one of the most attractive destinations in the region and the world. In 2019, it won the Travelers’ Choice Awards and was ranked among the 25 leading destinations in Asia and the 25 world’s leading places on TripAdvisor website. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
East lily is also called the ‘flower of April’ since it blooms only once a year, in April. Only a vending bicycle laden with colourful flowers is enough to pull busy city dwellers out of a vibrant Hanoi and help them enjoy a slower pace of life. In recent years, Hanoi has emerged as a dynamic city with fast growth, but its romantic aspect can still be found via vending bicycles like this. The city recently ranked 15th in the list of the 25 most popular destinations of the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. This travel website said the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Not as colourful or strongly fragrant as many other flowers, the simple white colour of Easter lily give this flower its special pure beauty. Hanoi has long established itself as a popular destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors. According to the 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, the city was one of the four Vietnamese cities listed among the most popular destinations in Asia in 2020. On the list, Hanoi ranked second, ancient town Hoi An in central Quang Nam province fourth, Ho Chi Minh City 11th, and central Da Nang city 16th. The capital city was also ranked the sixth place among the 25 most popular destinations in the world by Tripadvisor. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
With the pure white petals and the green leaves and stalks, the Easter lilies sold on vending bicycles boast an irresistible charm to all passers-by. Flowers need to be watered regularly to stay fresh during the long day they are carried along Hanoi streets. The capital city seems to become more romantic and appealing thanks to these ‘mobile’ flower shops. Hanoi, together with Ho Chi Minh City, used to be named among the most popular travel destinations throughout Asia by US-based magazine Reader's Digest. This magazine said from picturesque temples and pagodas to vibrant markets, Hanoi is a feast for the senses, noting that despite modern developments, history remains on display throughout. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The vibrant Hanoi in early summer suddenly becomes much more poetic and romantic thanks to the presence of Easter lily vendors. In 2019, CNN listed Hanoi and Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang as the best travel destinations in Asia. Many highlights of Hanoi were recently listed in the CNN article suggesting 13 memorable experiences for foreign visitors in Vietnam such as ‘search for the best pho in Hanoi’, ‘make vermicelli noodles in Cu Da village’, and ‘ride the Reunification Express (officially known as North-South Railway)’. Meanwhile, Bigseventravel, an Italian tourism website, gave Hanoi the fifth position among the seven best places in Asia for solo travelers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The flowers are arranged neatly on bicycles, waiting for buyers. Apart from flowers, a wide range of other produce such as fruit and vegetables are also sold on Hanoi streets by vendors. It is not hard to see vendors coming to every street and alley of the city and crying their wares. Despite how modern the capital is, street vendors are always an indispensable part of the local life. In recent years, Hanoi has emerged as a dynamic city with fast growth, but its romantic aspect can still be found via vending bicycles like this. Besides, the city is also home to a number of special dishes that have made it even more famous among the travellers. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
