The scent of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) from the countryside to the city.

At dawn, mist blanketed the country roads, crowds of people bustled about, and potted plants along the houses began to bud. On the river, boats plied their boats, carrying plants to the market. The atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year) was already lively.

The village was abuzz with excitement.

These past few days, the weather has been chilly, with a thick fog enveloping the village. People traveling on the country roads have to turn on their headlights even when it's already daylight. On their bicycles, students line up in a long procession to school in these last days of the year. Currently, students have finished their first semester exams and know their results. With only more than 10 days left until the Tet holiday, their hearts are filled with anticipation as spring approaches. Early Monday morning, from Long Xuyen, we followed Provincial Road 943, then turned onto a rural road along the Thoai Ha canal, heading straight to Rach Gia. Seeing the innocent students carrying their books to school brought back a flood of memories of my childhood.

Farmers tend to ornamental plants for sale during the Lunar New Year. Photo: THANH CHINH

Only those who have lived in the countryside can truly appreciate this familiar, rustic scene, a place where they once went to school twice a day. I remember those last days of the year, walking past the fields and seeing farmers meticulously trimming their potted plants, everyone's heart yearning for a break from school to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year). Even now, as an adult, encountering a similar scene still evokes an indescribable feeling of nostalgia in me. For nearly 20 years, Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, whose house is located along Provincial Road 943 in Dinh My commune, has diligently cultivated potted chrysanthemums and marigolds to sell during the Lunar New Year. Mr. Chi explained that this year's weather, with its thick fog and chilly temperatures, has caused the flowers to bloom early, so he has to carefully tend to each pot.

Taking advantage of the vacant land along the roadside, Mr. Chi grows flowers to sell, earning a substantial extra income during Tet (Lunar New Year). Flower cultivation has long been a deeply ingrained habit in Mr. Chi's family. Every year, thanks to his trellises of chrysanthemums and marigolds, Mr. Chi has work to do and a steady income to spend during the three days of Tet. Further along the rural road bordering the Thoai Ha canal, many residents utilize the vacant land around their houses to grow various flowers for sale during Tet. Because the rural area is far from the market, many farmers grow flowers locally to supply people who buy them to decorate their homes for Tet.

Promising a warm and joyful Lunar New Year

For a long time, the An Thanh hamlet in Hoi An commune, nestled along the tranquil Hau River, has benefited from the annual alluvial deposits. Taking advantage of the fertile land, many farmers cultivate flowers for sale during Tet (Lunar New Year). Thanks to their experience, the flowers here bloom perfectly for the holiday. This flower village along the Hau River has been established and developed for over 20 years. Although the work is arduous, they have persevered, bringing the spirit of spring to all corners of the country. Throughout the year, the gentle Hau River reflects the image of the hardworking artisans tending to their flower trellises and potted plants. Every spring, visitors to An Thanh flower village will encounter these artisans meticulously adjusting each potted flower, showcasing their beauty in the golden sunlight.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, An Thanh flower village supplies hundreds of thousands of potted flowers of all kinds, including colorful chrysanthemums, crystal chrysanthemums, rough-leaved chrysanthemums, roses, marigolds, lucky bamboo, love flowers, cockscomb, sunflowers, velvet flowers, and petunias. Besides these, there are also ornamental plants such as bougainvillea, lantana, jasmine, and jade rose... Watching the artisans carefully tending to and trimming each potted flower, we could feel the dedication of the farmers in creating beautiful and satisfying flower arrangements for their customers.

As the midday sun slanted, we strolled around the Long Xuyen spring flower market. At this time, many households had already registered and brought their ornamental plants to display. Every year, around the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, artisans and gardeners from all over bring their apricot blossoms and ornamental plants by car or boat to the spring flower market for display. I met Mr. Trinh Hoang Phong, from Chau Phu commune, who was watering a potted tamarind plant, which looked very unique. Mr. Phong explained that this was his first time registering to display his apricot blossoms and ornamental plants at the Long Xuyen spring flower market.

Mr. Phong happily named this pair of tamarind trees "husband and wife." He recounted that 20 years ago, his father bought these trees from a local resident and brought them home to plant. Time passed quickly, and the trees developed strong, intertwined roots. Their trunks differed in height but had equal girth, so Mr. Phong named them "husband and wife." Currently, Mr. Phong is selling these tamarind trees at a very high price. "If the buyer is interested, I'll offer a discount to get acquainted. These tamarind trees would be beautiful if a family had a large plot of land and planted a small hill on top, symbolizing a strong and happy marriage," Mr. Phong shared.

Along the embankment of the Long Xuyen canal, traffic bustled by, and we encountered merchants busily carrying potted ornamental plants from their boats. The constant movement of people from home has become an integral part of their lives as itinerant traders. Mr. Tam (48 years old), originally from Vinh Long province, laboriously carried pots of kumquats and bougainvillea, arranging them neatly to attract customers. The sight of the lush, fruit-laden kumquat trees was proof of their skillful hands in the art of ornamental plant cultivation. To date, Mr. Tam has been a traveling merchant selling ornamental plants for over 30 years. His red-nosed barge, moored on the river, has been a part of his family's life for decades, used to transport flowers and plants for the Lunar New Year.

With only a few weeks left until Tet (Lunar New Year), the atmosphere is bustling with activity, with people from the countryside to the city eagerly anticipating a warm and joyful holiday.

THANH CHINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mui-tet-tu-que-ra-pho-a475169.html