"Bringing Tet (Vietnamese New Year) home" from park flower markets.

(NLĐO) - On the afternoon of the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Tet flower markets in parks in Ho Chi Minh City became more bustling as many people sought to buy potted flowers, bringing the spring atmosphere home.

For many people in Ho Chi Minh City, going to the flower market in the park during the last days of the year is not only about shopping for Tet (Lunar New Year) but also a tradition that has been preserved amidst the bustling city.

Buying and selling Tet flowers at Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park in the days leading up to Tet.

Buy flowers, celebrate Tet.

In the late afternoon, Lãnh Binh Thăng Park ( Phú Thọ Ward) seemed to be adorned with a layer of spring. The familiar pathways were filled with rows of stalls selling chrysanthemums, marigolds, cockscomb flowers, and more. Sellers busily watered the plants, while buyers bent down to examine each pot, comparing colors and shapes. The sounds of asking prices and answering echoed continuously, creating a unique rhythm in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa meticulously selects a Tet flower pot at the park.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa carefully selected a pair of yellow chrysanthemums and placed them on his motorbike. He shared that every year his family spends the afternoon of the 27th or 28th of the twelfth lunar month going to the park to buy flowers.

"This pot of chrysanthemums isn't for showing off its beauty, but to create a festive atmosphere in the house. When the children see the flowers, they know that the holidays are coming soon, and that family reunions are imminent," Mr. Hoa said. He also expressed that personally selecting the flowers is a habit he can't break, as a way to preserve the traditional Tet atmosphere amidst the increasingly hectic city.

Not far away, Ms. Le Thi Kim Oanh (a garment worker renting a room near the park) was choosing a small pot of marigolds. She said that her rented room was small and she couldn't display many flowers, but she still wanted to have flowers for Tet.

"After working far from home all year, and not being able to go back for Tet, this potted plant is like bringing a piece of home back to my rented room. With flowers and a small meal, it naturally feels warmer and cozier," Oanh confided.

For Ms. Oanh, the potted flowers at the end of the year are not just for admiring, but also a reminder of a new beginning, despite the many worries she faces.

Carrying New Year's hopes

At Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park (Hoa Hung ward), stalls lined up displaying all kinds of flowers: large chrysanthemums, grafted apricot blossoms, kumquat trees laden with fruit... Many families took advantage of the opportunity to stroll around with their young children, admiring the flowers and feeling that Tet (Lunar New Year) was fast approaching.

A variety of flowers can be found in Le Thi Rieng Park.

Mr. Tran Minh Quan stood for quite a while in front of the row of grafted apricot blossom trees. According to him, after a year of many business fluctuations, choosing Tet flowers has a greater spiritual significance than their material value.

"I chose a bonsai apricot blossom tree with an upward-reaching shape and evenly distributed buds to place in front of the house to remind the whole family that we must strive hard in the new year, but most importantly, peace and safety are paramount," said Mr. Quan. The moment he and his wife and children go to the flower market is a time for the family to spend more time together before the New Year.

Each person's choice of flowers also reflects their Tet (Lunar New Year) story. Ms. Pham Thi Sau (retired) said that every year she chooses small, compact kumquat trees that fit perfectly in her family's living space.

According to Mrs. Sau, Tet flowers don't need to be elaborate or large; they just need to bring the spirit of spring into the house. In the days leading up to Tet, seeing the pot of golden kumquats and the grandchildren eagerly asking if Tet has arrived yet, makes the atmosphere in the family even more joyful.

For a woman who has spent many years celebrating Tet in the city, the park flower market is where the joy of Tet is expressed in a very ordinary way.

From the flower markets in the parks, Tet (Vietnamese New Year) quietly follows buyers home to their houses. Whether it's a city house or a rented room, whether the flower pot is large or small, the moment of choosing flowers at the end of the year still carries the same meaning: marking the end of the old year and opening up hope for the new year.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life, park flower markets steadfastly maintain their role as the starting point of Tet, beginning with a single potted flower and spreading into a feeling of togetherness in every home.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/mang-tet-ve-nha-tu-nhung-cho-hoa-cong-vien-196260214180554174.htm