As the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, the flower streets in Lao Cai ward are busier than usual. Along Hoang Lien and Quy Hoa streets, stalls display vibrant orchids, neatly arranged in tiers, with flowers facing the same direction, bright and lively colors, creating a spring-like atmosphere. However, behind this captivating beauty lies the culmination of hard work, meticulous attention to detail, and creative ability.
What surprises many customers is that the starting point of a beautiful orchid pot sometimes doesn't lie in the flower, but begins with the driftwood. The driftwood chosen must have a suitable shape, compatible with the pot's form, and pre-determine the flower's growth direction, ensuring overall harmony and balance.
For orchids, driftwood is not just a decorative element. It's the "backbone" that creates depth, provides support, and directs the view. If the driftwood is misshapen, the orchid pot can look flat, cluttered, and lacking in focal points; if it's the right shape, the entire pot immediately looks structured, with a sense of balance, depth, and breathing space.
A beautiful orchid pot not only needs to be fresh, but also uniform: uniform in height, length, number of buds, and flower size so that the blooming rhythm is not skewed. According to Mr. Dang, the flowers are usually transported quickly by air from Da Lat to maintain freshness and quality upon arrival. As soon as the goods are received, a thorough and strict selection process is carried out. "Uniform" branches are separated and placed together in the same pot. This ensures overall balance – no areas are too dense or too sparse, and no uneven layers are created. Each flower is secured with wire at the back to keep the flower face taut, even, and facing in the same direction.
Aesthetic appeal contributes to the value of an orchid pot, but proper care is the deciding factor in whether the flowers will bloom "right for Tet" (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Ms. Bui Thanh Hang, owner of the Hoa Moc Orchids stall on Hoang Lien Street, calls this a risk reduction strategy: providing just enough water, avoiding direct sunlight, and keeping the space cool to ensure the flowers last longer and the buds don't wilt too quickly.
For the Lunar New Year season, even a slight mismatch in blooming timing can significantly reduce the product's value. This is because customers choose orchids not simply for the flowers themselves, but for beautiful blooms at the right time.
Nguyen Duc Huy, a technical staff member at the Hoa Moc Orchids booth on Hoang Lien Street, said: "When the flowers arrive, the team opens the boxes, sorts them, and arranges them in separate trays. The flower branches are secured with driftwood to stand upright, minimizing the risk of buds breaking. Finished products are placed on the shelves above to showcase to customers; the unprocessed parts are separated and neatly arranged for later use. This layering helps keep the booth tidy, clean, easy to see, and maintains an attractive 'front' for customers."
An orchid plant is only truly "worth the money" if it lasts past the Lunar New Year. According to Mr. Huy, the most important factor is proper watering: usually 1-2 times a week depending on how dry the soil is; water the base and roots, avoiding watering the flowers; place it in a clean, dust-free location to ensure the flowers last longer and retain their color.
Observations show that this year customers prefer two groups: small-to-medium sized roses and large-sized roses. With large-sized roses, just about 5 stems in a pot are "enough," looking striking but not heavy. Regarding price, small pots cost around 1.5 million VND; large pots can cost 20-30 million VND/pot, depending on the number of stems, the shape of the driftwood, and the requested color combination.
From a consumer perspective, the selection criteria still focus on three core factors: freshness, stability, and longevity. Ms. Nguyen Thuy Dung from Lao Cai ward shared that she was impressed by the wide variety of designs and the fact that the flowers arrived fresh and of consistent quality. "My family supports this every year; orchids can last for about a month to a month and a half, and with good care, they can last even longer," Ms. Dung shared.
Not only with orchids, but behind a beautiful peach blossom stall lies a meticulous preparation process. Ms. Dang Thi Loan, owner of the Bac Ha Peach Blossom stall on An Duong Vuong Street, said: To keep the peach blossoms fresh and long-lasting, after transportation, they are placed in pots, covered with sand, watered, and misted daily to maintain moisture. Bac Ha peach blossoms have double petals, so they last longer; the cold climate makes the flower color often darker, standing out among the crowds at the Tet market.
Ms. Truong Thi Binh, a resident of Lao Cai ward, said that this year the peach blossoms bloomed early but still made a strong impression because the trees had many flowers and buds, and the flowers were large.
Behind a beautifully decorated flower stall lies an elaborate process: constructing the form from driftwood, selecting uniform branches, patiently shaping the flower heads, carefully controlling and preserving the blooms to ensure they bloom at the right time, and instructing customers on long-term care. For peach blossoms, it's about selecting the tree, shaping the canopy, careful transportation, and maintaining humidity to preserve the vibrant spring colors. Orchids exude elegance through their uniformity. Peach blossoms evoke the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) through their form and the moment their buds open. Different species, but sharing a common principle: beauty is the culmination of meticulous labor, not chance.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dang-sau-mot-gian-hang-dep-post893638.html
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