Hang Luoc Spring Flower Market: A place that preserves the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Every year, as Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches and spring arrives, amidst the bustling modern life of the capital, Hang Luoc Spring Flower Market "awakens," bringing with it the colors of flowers, the scent of spring, and memories of Hanoi.

More than just a place to buy and sell Tet flowers, Hang Luoc Market has become a distinctive cultural space, preserving the spirit of the traditional Tet holiday of the people of Thang An for hundreds of years.

The market is held only once a year.

Ms. Pham Le Hang, residing at 79 Hang Bo Street, shared: "Hang Luoc Flower Market is unique in terms of timing. Unlike traditional flower markets or wholesale markets that operate year-round, Hang Luoc Market only convenes during one season of the year, the Tet holiday, to signal the familiar arrival of spring in Hanoi ."

Peach blossom branches for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) at Hang Luoc spring flower market.

In the already cramped old town, the crowds flocking to the market in the final days of the year are larger than usual. Buyers, sellers, people celebrating Tet, and domestic and foreign tourists mingle together, creating a vibrant picture of urban life in the final days of the year.

The flowers at Hang Luoc market mainly come from traditional flower villages around Hanoi such as Nhat Tan, Quang Ba, and Tay Tuu. Instead of focusing on scale or ostentation, the market emphasizes flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations, such as: small branches of peach blossoms, pink and red peach blossoms; mini kumquats; chrysanthemums, violets, peonies, gladioli…

In recent years, the hobby of growing daffodils has gradually revived among Hanoians, and Hang Luoc flower market is rarely without bowls of pre-cut daffodils, serving the needs of the Old Quarter residents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang (from Suoi Hai commune), owner of a stall selling white apricot blossoms, said: “My family specializes in selling white apricot blossoms. Hanoians have always liked to admire white apricot blossoms, and the market is quite good. This year, Hang Luoc flower market is more organized, with covered areas for the flowers, helping us to preserve them better...”

White apricot blossom trees are always a popular choice for many families when preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Hang Luoc flower market is closely associated with the refined traditional Tet flower-playing customs of Hanoi people, emphasizing aesthetic value and spiritual significance. Market-goers not only choose flowers for their beauty, but also select the shape, the form, and the "soul" of each peach blossom branch or kumquat tree to bring home to welcome the new year.

The pink peach blossom is a popular choice, accounting for a significant portion of the market compared to the red peach blossom. Medium-sized pink peach blossom branches, suitable for the space of old townhouses, are widely available and have become a familiar choice for many families.

Strolling through Hang Luoc flower market, admiring the flowers, breathing in the scent of spring, and feeling the slow pace of life in the final days of the year... is a cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Cultural value is greater than commercial value.

For the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, Hanoi organized 149 spring flower markets in 90 wards and communes. People could buy peach blossoms, kumquats, and other Tet flowers anywhere. However, Hang Luoc flower market always evokes special feelings, especially for those who have long lived in Hanoi and love its culture.

What gives Hang Luoc flower market its enduring vitality is not its scale or revenue, but its unique cultural value. For many, going to the market doesn't necessarily mean buying flowers. Simply walking among the crowds, listening to the lively bargaining, and seeing the colorful flowers nestled among the old rooftops is enough to feel the presence of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) of yesteryear.

Hang Luoc Flower Market is also a favorite "film set" for young people. Traditional ao dai dresses and ancient costumes are worn in the Old Quarter setting, creating moments that are distinctly Hanoi-esque every spring.

François Bibonne, a French tourist, shared: “I visited Hanoi for the first time in early 2026. Our tour this time included the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Old Quarter with the Hang Luoc flower market. I was very impressed with the atmosphere of preparing for the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday. The flower market is a place where all the colors of culture converge. I encountered many unique and beautiful features and also wanted to buy an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) to wear during the Vietnamese Tet holiday.”

Foreign tourists at Hang Luoc spring flower market.

Besides Tet flowers, Hang Luoc market also has a unique "specialty": antique and vintage shops. Here, one can find vases for flowers, red couplets, furniture sets, decorative shelves, or statues for spiritual purposes and decorating living spaces.

In the year of the Fire Horse (Bính Ngọ), the image of the horse appeared in various materials such as bronze, ceramics, stone, and wood, contributing to the richness of the market's appearance. The antique and vintage items on display further enhanced the ancient charm of the neighborhood and the cultural depth of the flower market.

Mr. Ngoc Anh (Hoan Kiem ward), who has been involved in the antique trade at the market for over 30 years, said: "Of course, selling goods here means making a profit, but more importantly, it's about socializing with friends and people. That's meaningful as the old year is about to end and the new year is approaching."

Preserving the spirit of Tet in Hanoi

In recent years, the Hang Luoc flower market has expanded, connecting with Hang Ma Street and extending to Phung Hung Street. The Phung Hung area has become a showcase for handicrafts, food , Bat Trang ceramics, Ha Thai lacquerware, and many creative products based on traditional designs by young people.

The Phung Hung street art space also became more vibrant with folk games. In the year of the Horse (2016), the organizers set up a large-scale horse racing game table, attracting many teenagers and young children to participate.

Mr. Ngoc Anh has been involved in the antique trade at the market for 30 years.

Hang Luoc Flower Market is considered a "living heritage" of Hanoi. Without the need for reconstruction or theatricalization, the market exists naturally as it has always been, authentically reflecting the urban cultural life of Thang Long – Hanoi over the centuries. The interplay between past and present is clearly evident: the elderly leisurely choose their favorite peach blossom branches, young people capture Tet moments with their smartphones, and foreign tourists curiously explore Vietnamese Tet customs.

The Hang Luoc spring flower market stays open until the afternoon of the 30th day of the Lunar New Year. Amidst the spreading spring atmosphere throughout the streets, this small market quietly maintains its role as a cherished memory for the people of Hanoi.

Ms. Ha Dieu Linh (Tay Ho ward) shared: “Going to Hang Luoc Tet market always gives me a very special feeling. This is a cultural feature of the old town that needs to be preserved, not only for shopping but also for experiencing the traditional Tet atmosphere.”

Antiques always evoke a sense of nostalgia.

Meanwhile, Ms. Pham Lien (Doi Can Street) said: “Every year I try to make time to go to Hang Luoc flower market. Not necessarily to buy the most beautiful peach blossoms, but to feel the atmosphere of Tet in old Hanoi. This year the market is organized more neatly, less crowded, but the old soul remains intact. For me, going to Hang Luoc flower market is a milestone to feel the old year passing and the new year approaching very soon.”

Despite the ever-changing landscape, Hang Luoc flower market retains a special place in the spiritual life of Hanoians. Each spring, the market's presence serves as a gentle reminder of the traditional values ​​that need to be cherished and preserved, so that amidst the modern pace of life, Hanoi still retains a familiar, tranquil space from the past, especially during the Tet holiday and the arrival of spring.

XL/News and Ethnic Groups Newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/ha-noi/cho-hoa-xuan-hang-luoc-noi-giu-hon-tet-trong-long-pho-co-ha-noi-20260209183649683.htm