In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the streets become more bustling. People flock to flower markets to choose potted plants to decorate their homes for the holiday. But few realize that behind the smiles of buyers and sellers lie worries about the weather, prices, and the restless sleep of the flower vendors.
From late afternoon onwards, along streets such as Ton Duc Thang, Hoang Thi Loan, Nguyen Sinh Sac, Le Dai Hanh, and Ong Ich Khiem, small huts are set up where vendors can rest temporarily beside flower pots, take a short nap, and then get up to watch their stalls again.
As night fell, the weather grew colder. Nguyen Anh Tuan, a flower vendor on Hoang Thi Loan Street, was still carefully tending to each flower bud. A flashlight hanging from his head helped him arrange the flowers in neat rows. "It's so cold at night, you have to watch carefully. If the dew gets too thick, the flower buds will rot and the leaves will spoil," Tuan said, while tending to each potted flower.
For nearly 10 days, he and his wife have been taking turns sleeping in a makeshift shack by the roadside. A thin tarp, a folding bed, and a thermos of boiling water are their constant companions during the nights they sell flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year).
According to Mr. Tuan, selling flowers has been the main source of income for his family for many years. From the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, he has been busy tending to the flowers, calculating the right time for them to bloom at the right time, and then bringing them to the streets. "Tet flowers only sell for about ten days; missing the opportunity means losing everything," Mr. Tuan said.
As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the number of customers increases. During the day, he sells his goods, and at night, he hunches over, re-tying the support ropes and adjusting each flower pot to ensure they are neat and tidy. Occasionally, he gets up and walks around the selling point, carefully inspecting each row, fearing that thieves might take advantage of the late night to steal the flowers.
"This year it hasn't rained, but it gets very cold at night, making the job of guarding the flowers more difficult. I just hope the flowers sell well and are gone quickly so I can go home in time to clean up and celebrate Tet with my family," Tuan shared.
Not far away, in an open field by the roadside, peach tree trunks were tied and arranged in long rows. Ms. Pham Thi Dao (from Hung Yen province) pulled a thin blanket around her shoulders. She is the owner of a peach orchard from Hung Yen, and this year, as in previous years, she continues to transport peaches to Da Nang to sell.
“The truck departed on the 16th day of the 12th lunar month, carrying over 100 carefully selected peach blossom trees from the garden to sell in Da Nang. Each shipment represents the family's entire fortune, so every Tet season I hope to sell them well and at a good price,” Ms. Dao said.
Ms. Dao said that in the early days, customers were few and far between, or they only looked and asked for prices without buying. Therefore, when night fell, she took the opportunity to wipe the leaves, adjust the branches, and use string to secure the peach blossoms to make them look more beautiful. "To make it easier to watch over the flowers, my relatives and I set up a tent next to the peach blossoms, taking turns guarding them. If the roots are disturbed or branches are lost, the peach blossoms lose their value," she said.
Ms. Dao's plan was to sell until the 29th day of the lunar year so she could get back to her hometown on New Year's Eve.
While the city is still asleep, the Tet flower vendors remain awake. They stay awake to cherish each flower bud and silently convey their hopes for a prosperous and joyful Tet holiday.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhoc-nhan-ban-hoa-tet-post838922.html
Comment (0)