The unnamed road is located at kilometer 5, approximately midway between Nha Trang and Thanh Hoa, on the October 23rd road. The old local name here was Vo Canh, hence the name "Vo Canh Marigold Flower Road." Throughout the year, the road fulfills its duty: connecting two destinations, silently carrying the rhythms of daily life. Sometimes, I ride my motorbike along, the road leading me to the small corners of the countryside. But towards the end of the year, when the monsoon winds begin to cool, when the sun is no longer harsh but soft as silk, the road suddenly takes on a different appearance. It becomes a road of Tet (Vietnamese New Year), fragrant with the scent of Tet as it bursts forth with the colors of marigolds. The flowers are grown by houses in the neighborhood, and flowers from all over are brought in and sold along the roadside. There are no stalls, no signs; rows and rows of flowers line the road, stretching as far as the eye can see.
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| The street selling marigolds. |
It's no coincidence that marigolds are a favorite flower of the Vietnamese during Tet (Lunar New Year). They belong to the chrysanthemum family, are hardy, easy to grow, and bloom easily. The name "marigold" itself signifies longevity and permanence, conveying wishes for health, long life, and abundance in the new year. Perhaps that's why this flower holds a special place in the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere.
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), Vo Canh street, lined with marigolds, resembles a long ribbon of flowers. There are deep red French marigolds – often called "fire marigolds" by vendors; American marigolds, popular in lemon yellow, bright yellow, or orange, originating from Mexico and North America; tall Thai marigolds; dwarf marigolds; African marigolds… Although each variety has its own unique appearance, they all share a vibrant color and vigorous vitality; a single flower can create an entire Tet street. Pots of flowers are arranged close together, varying in height, creating patches of color that gradually blend in the sunlight. Walking along this street, one feels as if they are stepping into an expansive spring garden, where Tet is not only expressed through color but also through a very light, very subtle fragrance.
A long-time flower vendor here said that each year, she invests in more than 1,000 marigold plants of various kinds. Her flower stall brightens up a whole section of the street. She said that regular customers from Nha Trang always come to Vo Canh during this time of year. Some come by motorbike, others by car, to buy dozens of pots to display along the pathways in their gardens. Some choose marigolds because of their reasonable price, while others appreciate the meaning of longevity that this flower represents. From the collection point, the flowers are bought continuously, creating a vibrant spring corner in the homes of the vendors.
In the late afternoon, the setting sun slowly fell upon the marigold-lined street. A gentle breeze stirred the petals, and a fragrance permeated the air—not overpowering, but enough to make one realize that Tet (Vietnamese New Year) was very near. The young shoots and plump buds seemed to be waiting for the moment to burst open, welcoming the new spring. As for me, a visitor to the street, I came simply to admire the flowers, to enjoy the street bringing the spirit of Tet as the sun gradually set.
That flower-lined path, in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), is not just a road connecting journeys to and from Tet. It becomes a path of memories, of habits, of footsteps returning to Tet. And amidst the myriad colors of flowers, marigolds still quietly spread their fragrance, like a simple, enduring blessing that lasts through the years.
That flower-lined path is the path that heralds the arrival of Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
KHUE VIET TRUONG
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/sang-tac/202602/con-duong-hoa-bao-hieu-tet-ve-9313abf/
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