The vibrant colors and scents of Cai Mon

The Tien and Hau rivers, laden with alluvial soil, have enriched the fertile fruit-growing regions of the Mekong Delta, ensuring year-round abundance. This land of orchards is not only famous for its lush, fruit-laden gardens but also for its vibrant flower villages.

If you've fallen in love with the Mekong Delta, what are you waiting for? Head to the Mekong Delta this early in the year to explore and stroll through its famous flower fields.

The vibrant spring season always brings to mind flower villages such as Sa Dec (Dong Thap), My Phong (Tien Giang), An Thanh ( An Giang ), Vi Thanh (Hau Giang)... and especially Cai Mon flower village in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province.

With its mild and cool climate, the people here have traditionally cultivated ornamental flowers for decades, but in the last 10 years or so, the flower village has truly flourished, rising to the top as one of the most abundant and diverse flower suppliers for the Southern market.

People in the Mekong Delta, and Southern Vietnam in general, prefer yellow and red colors during the early spring season. Therefore, flower villages in the days leading up to Tet are overflowing with the vibrant colors of chrysanthemums, marigolds, pompom chrysanthemums, peonies, carnations, periwinkle, and countless varieties of roses…

The yellow apricot blossom trees, pruned and shaped in gardens over many years, are also a strength of the bonsai artists in Cai Mon.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the main road in Cai Mon flower village is covered in red bougainvillea flowers, stretching for several kilometers. Some households specialize in growing only this type of flower, with tens of thousands of plants.

Bougainvillea grown here is renowned for its consistent blooms and long-lasting beauty. In particular, the reputation of this ornamental flower from Cai Mon has spread far and wide, making it a favorite among traders from many regions, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi , Tay Ninh, and Ba Ria Vung Tau… Although bougainvillea is easy to grow and thrives in sunlight, achieving vibrant colors for Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and a long-lasting bloom requires skill and experience from the growers. They even innovate by grafting to create plants with up to four or five different flower colors.

In the bougainvillea gardens, I was captivated by the variety of potted plants, from small, charming pots that would look beautiful displayed in any window or courtyard, to gnarled, ancient trees with elaborately shaped branches, their blossoms not dense but rather delicately adorning these meticulously crafted works of art.

Heritage Magazine