Hanoi’s oldest flower market brightens with colours ahead of Tet holidays

Even though Hanoi is home to various famous flower markets, for those who have fond memories of the traditional Tet in the city, the flower market at Hang Luoc street remains an unmissable destination as the festival approaches. Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. In Vietnam, it’s common to see Kumquat trees decorating houses everywhere during Tet. and the trees are seen as magical things as people believe they bring good fortune, long life and strengthen family ties. Most Hanoians live in small houses and small streets, they want to bring a natural and living space to their rooms so they can enjoy the greenery at home (Photo: VietnamPlus)

What is special about this traditional Tet flower market is that it only meets once a year, from the 15th to the 30th day of the 12th lunar month. The market grows more and more crowded as Tet draws near, creating a distinctive lively atmosphere of the holiday in the capital city. Most Vietnamese people start preparations for Tet as early as a month before the festival. They believe that flowers and ornamental plants will brighten their homes and bring good luck for the family in the next year. Therefore, visiting flower markets is an indispensable and comfortable task which signals the arrival of a new year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Hang Luoc flower market has existed for nearly five centuries, even though it only opens prior to the traditional Lunar New Year festival. Between the 23rd day and the 30th day of the last month of the lunar year, flower growers in suburban villages such as Ngoc Ha, Tu Lien, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba, among others, put their products up for sale at the market. The nearer Tet comes, the more people flock to the market to enjoy the forest of flowers and ornamental plants on sales. Flowers and ornamental plants are believed to brighten the home and bring good luck for the family in the next year, as well as offer a chance for the host to exhibit their talent in flower arrangement (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Small- and medium-sized branches of peach blossoms are a typical product of the century-old flower market. Traders bought the peach blossom branches from Nhat Tan flower growing village, which are viewed as a symbol of spring. Flower buds and blossoms are the symbols for new beginning. The two kinds of flowers widely sold and purchased during Tet are hoa mai (ochna integerrima) and hoa dao (peach blossoms). The warm pink of the peach blossoms matches well with the dry, cold weather in the north and Hanoi in particular. Tet will not be a real Tet if there is no sight of the two kinds of flower in every home (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Hang Luoc flower market only sells small branches or small trees of peach blossoms grown in Nhat Tan and Phu Thuong areas. Meanwhile, larger branches and big peach trees are sold at another flower market located at Lac Long Quan street or peach blossom gardens along the Red River. Most Hanoians live in small houses and small streets, they want to bring a natural and lively space to their rooms so they can enjoy the greenery at home. In Vietnam, it’s common to see kumquat trees everywhere during Tet, as the trees are believed to bring good fortune, long life and strengthen family ties (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A middle-aged woman sits at a corner of the market holding branches of peach blossoms for sales. The warm pink of the peach blossoms is loved because it seems to warm up the air amid the dry, cold weather in the north and Hanoi in particular. Hang Luoc flower market has existed for nearly five centuries even though it only opens once a year prior to the traditional Lunar New Year festival. Small- and medium- sized branches of peach blossoms are a typical product of the flower market. Between the 23rd day and the 30th day of the last month of the lunar year, flower growers in suburban villages of Ngoc Ha, Tu Lien, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba, among other, rush to bring their products to the market (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Kumquat trees planted in pots are shaped in the form of a buffalo, as the animal is the zodiac animal sign of 2021. The buffalo is also a cultural symbol of the country. They have many qualities Vietnamese people appreciate, such as diligence, a gentle disposition, and loyalty, and can also symbolise powerful warriors. The buffalo appears in many cultural aspects in Vietnam from the very old days to present, including stories about the country’s heroes, old sayings, in Dong Ho paintings, at festivals, and in poetry as a symbol of a peaceful and prosperous life, as well as a mascot in culture and sports events (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Beautiful kumquat trees are sold at the market. Those trees that have green leaves along with flowers, many buds and fruits may cost about hundreds of Vietnamese dong. Gardeners growing peach blossoms in Nhat Tan village and kumquat trees in Tu Lien village in Hanoi's Tay Ho district cultivate thousands of peach blossom and kumquat trees during the year just to be sold on the occasion of Tet. Both Nhat Tan village and Tu Lien kumquat village are bustling with customers in this period. With the creativity of gardeners, kumquats and peach trees in Tet holiday in more and more shapes are available, meeting the high and diverse demands of the people, bringing bright and radiant spring colours to everyone (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A seller waters buffalo-shaped kumquat trees at the market. According to some garden owners, the bonsai kumquat shaped like the back of a buffalo has many special meanings. A golden buffalo symbolises the desire for health and prosperity. The buffalo is a strong and hard-working animal, and used to be a precious asset in the family in the past, so it symbolises the desire to have health, fortune and prosperity in the new year. Not only in Hanoi, kumquat tree growers in many provinces and cities are also busy pruning the leaves and beautifying the trees. The work of nurturing the lush trees so that they can bear ripe fruits along with flowers on the occasion of Tet holiday requires a lot of care (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In additional to peach blossoms and kumquat trees, various kinds of food that are commonly eaten during Tet are also on sale, such as salted and sugared dry fruits and jams. They are famous treats of Hanoi and deemed an optimal souvenir. Tet is the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. Family members will travel home be wherever they are to spend time together preparing for Tet, including cleaning the house, making Chung (square glutinous rice) cake and visiting their ancestors’ tombs to clean gravesites. Vietnamese people believe everything, including the deceased’s tombs, should be clean and bright in celebration of Tet in order to have good luck in the new year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Paper and silk flowers are also on sale at the market even though they are often thought of as not beautiful and fresh as natural ones. However, they are durable and rich in colours, so Tet festival is also a peak time for the consumption of this kind of products. Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. In Vietnam, plants and flowers are indispensable on the occasion of Tet. Most Hanoians live in small houses and small streets, they want to bring a natural and living space to their rooms so they can enjoy the greenery at home (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Small pots of trees are being on sale. The Hang Luoc flower market is nearly 500-year-old and only opens once a year just prior to the traditional Lunar New Year festival. It will become more and more crowded as Tet draws near, creating an atmosphere of the holiday in the capital city. Most Vietnamese people start preparations for Tet as early as one month before the festival. They believe that flowers and ornamental plants will brighten their homes and bring good luck for the family in the next year. Therefore, visiting flower markets is an indispensable and comfortable task which signals the arrival of a new year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Almost all Hanoians have a beautiful childhood memory of their trips to the Hang Luoc flower market together with their grandmothers and mothers ahead of Tet. While adults look for suitable branches of peach blossoms, kumquat trees and bouquets of fresh flowers for home decoration, the children run around to look at the flowers and trees. Everyone loves the occasion to enjoy the exciting atmosphere and a space full of flowers right in downtown Hanoi, which can only be found prior to Tet festival. Even though Hanoi is home to various famous flower markets, the one at Hang Luoc street keeps its very special place in the hearts of Hanoians (Photo: VietnamPlus)

For Hanoi residents, when it comes to Tet festival, visiting Hang Luoc flower market is a much expected must-do. Many young people, especially couples, come here to take a stroll and look for fresh beautiful flower bouquets or trees to bring home. The traditional Tet flower market meets only once a year, from the 15th and the 30th day of the last lunar month, which makes it a special occasion. It will become more and more crowded as Tet draws near, creating an atmosphere of the holiday in the capital city. Most Hanoians live in small houses and small streets, they want to bring a natural and living space to their rooms so they can enjoy the greenery at home (Photo: VietnamPlus)

People look at beautiful flowers at the market. Most of all Hanoians have of their trips to the Hang Luoc flower market together with their grandmothers and mothers ahead of Tet. While adults look for suitable branches of peach blossoms, kumquat trees and bouquets of fresh flowers for home decoration, the children run around to look at the flowers and trees. Everyone loves the occasion to enjoy the exciting atmosphere and a space full of flowers right in downtown Hanoi, which can only be found prior to Tet festival. Flowers and ornamental plants are believed to brighten the home and bring good luck for the family in the next year. Therefore, visiting flower markets is an indispensable and comfortable task which signals the arrival of a new year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A paper fan with the world “Xuan” (Spring) written on in calligraphy style, is used as a decorative item. Among countless kinds of flowers and ornamental plants, peach blossom branch and kumquat trees are the most favourite for Tet. The Hang Luoc flower market only sells small branches of peach blossoms grown in Nhat Tan and Phu Thuong areas. Meanwhile, larger branches and even trees are sold at the flower market located at Lac Long Quan street or gardens along the Red River. Kumquat trees in pots can be seen everywhere and the trees are believed to bring good fortune, long life and strengthen family ties (Photo: VietnamPlus)

During the time of the traditional flower market, authorities of Hoan Kiem district in the heart of Hanoi require local administrations to arrange personnel to guard the entrance ways of the market to take body temperature of visitors, as well as remind them of wearing face masks and sanitising hands properly, in a bid to stay safe in the time of the pandemic. Local people are advised to be vigilant as COVID-19 outbreak may emerge anytime, especially when the largest festival of the country comes near. The holidays are projected to see a huge traffic flow as most people travel to their hometowns to enjoy Tet with families (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The flower market is filled with people. Hang Luoc flower market has existed for nearly five centuries even though it only opens once a year prior to the traditional Lunar New Year festival. Small- and medium- sized branches of peach blossoms are a typical product of the flower market. Between the 23rd day and the 30th day of the last month of the lunar year, flower growers in suburban villages of Ngoc Ha, Tu Lien, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba, among other, rush to bring their products to the market. Flowers and ornamental plants are believed to brighten the home and bring good luck for the family in the next year, as well as offer chances for the host to display their talent in flower arrangement (Photo: VietnamPlus)