In the final days of the year, as the pace of daily life slows down to make way for the approaching Tet holiday, there is a place in the capital that remains brightly lit all night, bustling with laughter and the vibrant colors and scents of all four seasons – that is Quang An flower market (Hong Ha ward, Hanoi ).
For the people of Hanoi, going to the flower market at night before Tet, especially the night before New Year's Eve, is not just about buying flowers; it's also a cultural tradition, a deeply emotional ritual for welcoming the Spring.
The market remains open even when the streets are asleep.
During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Quang An flower market starts bustling from around the 20th day of the 12th lunar month. As Tet approaches, the market becomes even more crowded, with bustling trade activity. On the evening of the 28th day of the 12th lunar month (Year of the Horse), as people entered the final hours of the old year, the crowds flocking to the market grew larger and larger.
Motorcycles, cars, and small trucks weave their way through the streets leading to the market. Yellow and white lights illuminate the bundles of flowers, peach blossoms, and magnolia branches still glistening with dew. The entire space resembles a vibrant painting, where spring unfolds in a riot of color and fragrance.
Late at night, when many streets were deserted, the flower market remained brightly lit. Along the dike road from Thang Long Bridge towards the city center, vehicles loaded with purple violets, multicolored peonies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums continued to be transported to the market by vendors in a steady stream.
As we approached the market gate, the street became increasingly crowded with people pouring in from all directions. Inside, the sounds of tape being pulled, boxes being stacked, and vendors calling out to each other mingled with the bargaining and conversations of shoppers, creating a unique symphony of the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).
Flowers poured in from everywhere, from flower villages in the North to the Da Lat plateau, and even from imported shipments by air. Boxes of lilies still chilled by the dew, bundles of pristine white snowdrops, red, yellow, and purple tulips lined up in long rows. Interspersed among them were gladioli, peonies, chrysanthemums, gerberas, magnolias, peach branches, and bonsai peach trees… Each type of flower carried its own appearance, its own message, its own wish for a happy and peaceful New Year.
Flower prices in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) usually increase compared to normal days due to transportation and preservation costs, as well as high consumer demand. However, according to many buyers, prices at wholesale markets are still more "reasonable" than at retail stores in the city center, especially when buying in large quantities. Many customers are willing to travel far and stay up late to buy their desired bouquets at reasonable prices.
On the night of the 28th of Tet (Lunar New Year), the prices of many types of flowers at Quang An market did not fluctuate as much as in previous days. A few stalls displayed signs advertising discounts due to limited quantities and the flowers having "lost their beauty."
Prices for gladiolus in popular colors range from 150,000-170,000 VND per 10 stems; peonies from 100,000-300,000 VND per 10 flowers; multicolored lilies are commonly priced at 300,000-500,000 VND per 10 stems depending on the type; snowdrop flowers have also seen a slight price reduction, around 120,000-150,000 VND per bunch.
Mr. Do Duy Hien (Dam Ward, Hanoi), a small trader with many years of experience selling flowers at the market, was arranging bunches of lilies while chatting: "The closer it gets to Tet, the busier I get. Some days I work continuously from the afternoon of the day before until noon the next day, but in return, this is also the most anticipated time of the year. After all the year, we only 'earn' a few days of Tet."
Bring Spring Home
For many people, going to Quang An night flower market is not only about getting better prices and fresher flowers, but also about fully experiencing the Tet atmosphere.
The tradition of going to the flower market and enjoying flowers has always been preserved by the people of Hanoi. Even with a small house and simple feast, a branch of flowers is indispensable during the Spring Festival. Therefore, going to the Tet flower market is a cultural tradition of the capital's people for generations. Older people usually buy flowers early in the morning on the 30th of Tet, while younger people prefer strolling through the night market, taking photos and choosing new and unique flowers to decorate their modern living spaces.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Ms. Tran Nguyen Thu Trang (Dong Ngac ward) carefully selected each branch of snowdrop flowers, occasionally stepping back a few steps to admire the overall display. In her hands was a bouquet of pure white flowers, tiny like snowflakes.
“Every year I go to Quang An flower market on New Year's Eve; it has become an indispensable habit every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around. Although it's colder at night than during the day, I feel the Tet atmosphere more distinct. Amidst the crowds and the colors of the flowers and leaves, it feels like spring is very close, incredibly exciting. For me, buying flowers is both to celebrate Tet and a way to bring spring home,” shared Ms. Thu Trang.
Not far away, Mr. Tran Nhat Anh and his girlfriend were choosing red tulips, adding a few yellow lilies. He said that going to the night flower market has become a "fixed routine" for his family for many years now.
“When I was little, I used to go to the flower market with my mother, from Quang An flower market to Hang Luoc flower market. As I grew up, I went with friends, and now that I'm getting married, I still maintain that habit. Starting with that ‘ritual,’ choosing flowers myself and bringing them home myself, truly shows the meaning of Tet,” Nhat Anh shared.
More than just a marketplace, the night flower market is also a place for emotional connection. Some people carry large quantities of flowers, while others buy only a small bouquet. Many young people come together to stroll through the market, take photos, and capture the end-of-year moments. Young couples bring their children to admire and purchase flowers, while older people choose stalls on the outskirts of the market, leisurely admiring the flowers and reminiscing about the old days.
As night fell, the market grew increasingly crowded. New trucks continued to arrive in droves. Vendors continued to bring in their goods, and buyers continued to select. After jostling for hours, many people left the market with baskets of flowers slung over their shoulders, smiling happily. Peach blossoms tied to the saddle, lilies and tulips held close to their chests, and apricot blossoms carefully placed in cardboard boxes—everyone's face shone with satisfaction.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the traditional Tet flower market customs of the people of Thang An (Hanoi) are still preserved in their own unique way – quiet, unostentatious, but enduring and full of emotion. And in that sleepless flower market, spring seems to arrive a step earlier, spreading through the lively laughter and the feeling of anticipation for the new year knocking at the door.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/di-cho-hoa-dem-truc-ngay-giao-thua-de-duoc-cham-tet-don-xuan-post1094373.vnp
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