With the vibrant colors of spring filling the air, the Tet flower market in Tay Ninh is flourishing.

In the final days of the year, as the spring sun begins to gently caress the red soil slopes, the roads from the city center to the outskirts of Tay Ninh are ablaze with the vibrant yellow of apricot blossoms and chrysanthemums, and the orange of marigolds.

Residents of Tan Ninh ward are busy visiting and shopping for Tet flowers.

The bustling atmosphere from flower gardens to retail outlets shows that this year's Tet flower market is clearly thriving, despite weather fluctuations and increased investment costs.

In Vietnamese culture, especially in the southern provinces, the yellow apricot blossom is not merely a decorative flower for Tet (Lunar New Year) but also carries a deeper symbolic meaning. The vibrant yellow color of the apricot blossom symbolizes good fortune, wealth, and prosperity; it is a wish for a peaceful and successful new year. The apricot tree also represents new beginnings, enduring vitality, and longevity – enduring values ​​that Vietnamese people cherish every spring.

Therefore, the tradition of displaying apricot blossoms during Tet (Lunar New Year) is no longer just about "showing whatever you have," but has become an art form, linked to the unique identity and aesthetic taste of each family. Among these, bonsai apricot blossoms and artistically shaped apricot blossoms are increasingly popular.

Seizing this trend, for over 10 years, artisan Tran Huu Thiet (Tan An ward, Tay Ninh province) has chosen his own path with the brand Thiet Mai Tu Quy. His apricot blossom garden is famous for its beautifully shaped trees, large trunks, balanced canopies, even blossoms, and especially for their "soul" – a factor that creates a unique value in the increasingly vibrant apricot blossom market.

Sharing his philosophy on the craft, artisan Tran Huu Thiet said: “A beautiful apricot blossom tree now is not just about its appearance. The craftsman must breathe artistic soul into it, from its shape to the way the buds are nurtured and the canopy is maintained. When a tree truly has aesthetic value, the market will always welcome it. Beautiful apricot blossom trees will always find buyers regardless of market fluctuations.”

Artisan Tran Huu Thiet (Tan An ward, Tay Ninh province) shapes yellow apricot blossom trees to serve the Tet market.

According to Mr. Thiet, ensuring a plum blossom tree blooms profusely just in time for Tet requires a continuous care process from the third lunar month until the end of the twelfth lunar month. This year, the weather has been unpredictable, especially with two unseasonal rains in the eleventh lunar month, causing some trees to bloom early. In response, he proactively drained the water, pruned buds, adjusted the nutrition, and increased the use of organic fertilizer to nourish the main buds, ensuring the flowers bloom simultaneously in the days leading up to Tet.

Besides selling apricot blossom trees, every year he also takes care of dozens of apricot blossom trees for local people. “Around the 23rd of the 12th lunar month, when people bring their apricot blossom trees to us for care after the Kitchen God ceremony, we start adjusting to ensure the trees are ready for Tet. In addition to traditional customers, this year the number of orders placed through social media channels like YouTube, Zalo, and Facebook has increased significantly.”

The price of each apricot blossom tree at the garden ranges from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dong, with some exceptional trees valued at nearly 1 billion dong. Despite being in the high-end segment, demand remains stable thanks to professional apricot blossom enthusiasts, businesses, and affluent families.

Besides apricot blossoms, marigolds are another indispensable traditional flower during the early days of spring. Symbolizing peace, longevity, and happiness, marigolds are present in many worship spaces and home decorations.

In Binh Duc commune, Mr. Phung Thanh Dong, who has many years of experience growing marigolds for Tet (Lunar New Year), said that in order to have pots of marigolds that bloom evenly and retain their color until the end of January, growers must take meticulous care from preparing the soil and mixing the growing medium to controlling pests and diseases.

Mr. Dong shared: “We use straw specifically for growing flowers, combined with compost, coconut fiber, rice husks, ash, and supplemented with organic preparations to eliminate fungi and decompose the straw. Thanks to the carefully treated growing medium, the plants are less prone to disease and grow uniformly. When sold on the market, the flowers retain their freshness for a long time, with large blooms and vibrant colors.”

According to Mr. Phung Thanh Dong, a leap year requires growers to carefully calculate the planting time so that the flowers bloom in time for Tet (Lunar New Year). Although the cost of materials has increased, purchasing power this year shows more positive signs compared to the same period last year.

Not only in Binh Duc, but also in Thu Thua commune – affectionately known by locals as "the most beautiful Tet flower garden in Tay Ninh" – about 10 flower gardens, each with a scale of 80,000-100,000 marigold pots, are bustling with activity. The advantage of abundant water resources, convenient transportation, and proximity to the shipping route to Ho Chi Minh City helps the flowers here sell easily and maintain more stable prices.

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the entire flower village is bustling with nearly 100 workers, from fertilizing and pruning to transporting goods. Encouragingly, the local workforce is becoming increasingly skilled after many years of dedication to the profession.

In Hao Duoc commune, Ms. Tran Thi Ham (57 years old) - who has been involved in flower cultivation for over 20 years - has invested in more than 10,000 pots of marigolds, chrysanthemums, Korean raspberries, and some other ornamental flowers this year.

People in Hao Duoc commune, a flower-growing village, are tending to their flowers in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Ms. Ham shared: "This year's weather hasn't been very favorable, with unpredictable sunshine and rain, making the care process more difficult. However, demand has increased, and traders have come to place orders early."

According to Ms. Tran Thi Ham, although the Tet flower growing season is short, it requires meticulous attention to detail and experience accumulated over many years. She hopes to have access to preferential capital in the future to expand production scale, invest in new varieties, and improve flower quality.

Also in Hao Duoc commune, Mr. Thai Van Hung (44 years old) invested in about 18,000 pots of various flowers, supplying the local market, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and even Cambodia; among them, marigolds remain the most popular item due to their affordable price and ease of transportation.

Mr. Hung said: "Labor and material costs have increased significantly this year, especially fertilizers and growing media. Marigolds remain the main crop because they are easy to sell and have a quick turnover."

According to Mr. Hung, for the flower cultivation industry to develop sustainably, the locality needs to have a plan for concentrated cultivation areas, support for loans, and strengthen the promotion of the Tay Ninh Tet flower brand. "With a stable brand and scale, flower growers will be more confident in investing, improving quality, and targeting larger markets," Mr. Hung expressed.

The flower village in Hao Duoc commune (Tay Ninh province) is ablaze with color in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

From million-dollar apricot blossom gardens to sprawling marigold fields, the Tet flower market in Tay Ninh this year is gradually regaining its growth momentum. Proactive adaptation to the weather, application of new techniques, and expansion of online sales channels have given many gardeners more confidence ahead of the peak season.

The golden hues of apricot blossoms and marigolds not only brighten the streets but also ignite hope for a prosperous and abundant new year for flower growers. As the market flourishes, faith in spring becomes even more complete – so that each pot of flowers is not just a commodity, but also the culmination of the hard work, aspirations, and love of the profession of the farmers in the red soil of Tay Ninh.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/sac-xuan-tran-ngap-thi-truong-hoa-tet-tay-ninh-khoi-sac-20260216125940124.htm