Farmers in the Mekong Delta are busy tending to flowers for Tet.

In the Mekong Delta these days, flower villages are bustling with activity as farmers are busy tending to their plants, hoping for a bountiful Tet flower harvest and stable prices.

The flower village is bustling with activity during the Tet flower season.

The Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 is fast approaching. Across the fields, vegetable gardens, and flower villages of the Mekong Delta, a bustling atmosphere of labor permeates from early morning to late afternoon. Farmers carefully nurture and care for each flower pot, hoping to bring the most beautiful and highest-quality products to the Tet market, while also hoping for a successful harvest after many challenges.

Flower growers in Sa Dec flower village ( Dong Thap province ) are busy tending to thousands of pots of chrysanthemum and traditional chrysanthemum plants during the crucial period to ensure the flowers bloom in time for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

These days, in many areas where Tet flowers are grown, the atmosphere is just as vibrant. In Vinh Phuc hamlet, Vinh Hanh commune ( An Giang province), farmers are working tirelessly to care for the flower beds that were planted in October of the lunar calendar. Many gardeners are also taking advantage of the opportunity to plant additional short-term flower varieties to be ready for sale during the Tet holiday and the full moon of the first lunar month.

Mr. Mai Thanh Liem, the owner of a 2,000 m2 flower garden in Vinh Hanh commune, where he grows over 5,000 pots of various types of chrysanthemums, said that this year the floodwaters receded slowly, causing him to plant his seedlings about a week later than planned. However, the weather has been relatively favorable, so his tiger chrysanthemums and five-color chrysanthemums are growing well and have many buds. Although the increase in fertilizer prices compared to last year is also causing difficulties for flower producers.

According to him, growing flowers for Tet requires very careful planning. Just a few days off in planting, and the flowers not blooming at the right time, can result in a loss. Therefore, everything from selecting the soil and flower varieties to monitoring the budding stage must be done meticulously. "If traders buy them at around 9,000-10,000 VND per plant, I can make a profit of about 20 million VND for this Tet season," Mr. Liem calculated.

As in previous years, Mr. Phan Minh Man, residing in Hoa Phu 3 hamlet, An Chau commune, An Giang province, continues to maintain the Tam Man flower nursery with more than 20 different flower varieties. This Tet holiday, he expects to supply the market with approximately 10,000 potted flowers such as marigolds, tiger chrysanthemums, petunias, and pompom chrysanthemums…

According to Mr. Man, each flower variety has a different growth cycle, so calculating the planting time is a decisive factor in success or failure. Besides supplying flowers to traders and the Long Xuyen spring flower market, this year he has also invested in creating a miniature Tet flower field right in his garden to attract visitors.

"This year's Tet flower market is predicted to be more vibrant than in previous years. People tend to buy flowers for Tet decorations while also combining it with sightseeing, taking photos, and experiencing the local culture," Mr. Man commented.

Farmers in Sa Dec flower village water and regulate the humidity in their gardens during the peak days of "monitoring" Tet flowers, hoping for a successful harvest with evenly blooming and long-lasting colors. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

While flower and vegetable growing areas in many localities are bustling, the atmosphere in Sa Dec flower village (Dong Thap province), considered the "ornamental flower capital" of the Mekong Delta, is even more vibrant. With over 100 years of formation and development, every year-end, Sa Dec flower village enters its busiest season.

In Sa Dec ward, Le Hoang Minh's family has planted approximately 20,000 pots of various types of roses. According to Minh, this year's market will still focus on the main, easily marketable varieties, but new varieties such as the super-bud rose are also expected to create a highlight.

However, not all gardeners are having such good fortune. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, who grows over 3,000 flower pots, said that the price of straw fertilizer has increased significantly due to a shortage of decomposed straw. Input costs have risen considerably, directly affecting the selling price. This is a major concern for farmers because the Tet flower season is their biggest source of income of the year.

On a production scale, Mr. Dang Van Giau, head of the Tan An ornamental flower cooperative in Sa Dec ward, said that this year the cooperative has planted about 300,000 potted flowers. The highlight is expected to be the seven-colored chrysanthemum, especially the pink and red varieties, which are popular in markets both within and outside the province.

By meticulously pruning buds and shaping petunias and other short-lived ornamental flowers, Sa Dec gardeners are focusing on improving product quality to serve the Tet market. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Flower soup every day

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, a gardener in Sa Dec ward, his family has been "monitoring" the flowers day by day since the beginning of January 2026. This is the most challenging time, as growers must closely monitor weather conditions, adjust irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides to ensure the flowers bloom at the right time.

"The most challenging part of growing flowers for Tet is this stage. Almost every day I have to go to the garden early to check the buds, the color, and the size of the flowers. This year, the price of supplies has increased significantly, so every time I fertilize or spray pesticides, I have to calculate carefully," Mr. Hoa shared.

Farmers are urgently repotting and shaping chrysanthemums for Tet (Lunar New Year) in flower gardens in Vinh Hanh commune (An Giang province), preparing a large supply for traders inside and outside the province. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Tran Thi Huong, a flower grower in Tan Duong commune (Dong Thap province), said that her family's chrysanthemums are mainly ordered by traders from the North and Central regions. To have beautiful flowers, every step must be meticulous. The flowering stage is the most important; it's crucial to time it so the flowers bloom exactly for Tet (Lunar New Year), with vibrant colors, large blooms, and long-lasting freshness.

According to Ms. Le Thuy Hien, Director of Tan Quy Dong Flower and Ornamental Plant Cooperative in Sa Dec ward (Dong Thap province), the cooperative currently has 96 members with over 50 hectares of production. Thanks to improved transportation infrastructure, the transportation of flowers and ornamental plants is more convenient and costs have decreased significantly. This has encouraged members to confidently invest in high technology, greenhouses, and polytunnels for production.

Currently, about 60-70% of the members of Tan Quy Dong Flower and Ornamental Plant Cooperative have invested in greenhouses and polytunnels to produce flowers and ornamental plants sustainably, improving product quality and income.

Finished ornamental plants are transported and rearranged in the garden in preparation for sale, creating a bustling atmosphere of work in the "ornamental plant capital" of the Mekong Delta in the days leading up to Tet. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, Chairman of the People's Committee of Sa Dec Ward, the total area for ornamental flower production in the ward is currently nearly 1,000 hectares, serving the market demand year-round and for export. For the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the planted area is over 100 hectares, equivalent to the previous year. To date, farmers have planted more than 30 hectares of traditional chrysanthemums and pompom chrysanthemums – the main flower varieties of the craft village.

Currently, in Sa Dec ward, the local government has assigned specialized departments to closely coordinate with farmers, from production to consumption. "The goal is to bring the highest economic efficiency to flower growers, while contributing to the success of the 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival and the 2026 Lunar New Year."

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nong-dan-dbscl-tat-bat-cham-hoa-tet-d793001.html