The chrysanthemum capital of Central Vietnam stays illuminated throughout the night, 'awakening' the flowers to bloom in time for Tet.

As night falls, Nghia Hiep flower village (Quang Ngai) lights up with electric lights. Hundreds of chrysanthemum gardens are illuminated throughout the night, "awakening" the flowers to bloom just in time for the 2026 Lunar New Year.

VietNamNet•12/01/2026

With just over a month left until the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, as night falls, the traditional flower village of Nghia Hiep (Ve Giang commune, Quang Ngai province) lights up with electric lights. Viewed from above, hundreds of flower gardens glow brightly throughout the night, creating a scene that is both peaceful and magical in the countryside downstream of the Ve River.

This is also the time when flower growers enter the most important stage of the Lunar New Year chrysanthemum crop: using lights to "awaken" the flowers, regulating their growth so that the plants develop evenly and bloom at the right time.

For the people of Nghia Hiep, the lights not only dispel the winter chill but also keep the rhythm of an entire flower season, which is linked to the livelihoods, income, and Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations of hundreds of families.

The chrysanthemum capital of central Vietnam simultaneously lit up its lights as the cold weather arrived.

Farmers often use small fluorescent light bulbs with a power of 15-20W to help regulate the growth of chrysanthemums.

Nghia Hiep flower village is considered the largest chrysanthemum cultivation area in Central Vietnam, with approximately over 30 hectares under cultivation. Over 500 households here grow flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year), supplying hundreds of thousands of pots of various types of chrysanthemums to markets both within and outside the province each year.

According to flower growers, chrysanthemums are sensitive to light and temperature. When the weather turns cold, with short days and long nights, the plants tend to bud prematurely, failing to reach the desired height and foliage. Therefore, using electric lights is applied to "trick" the plant's natural biological cycle, helping chrysanthemums focus on developing their stems and leaves, shaping them before entering the flowering stage.

Most of the illuminated gardens are planted with chrysanthemums, which the locals time to bloom based on years of experience.

Lighting the plants helps the chrysanthemums grow evenly and bloom at the time the gardener desires.

Typically, the lights are kept on continuously from around 6 PM to 5 AM the following morning. This lighting period lasts from 2 to 3 months, depending on the chrysanthemum variety and the weather conditions each year. When the plants reach a height of about 70-80cm, the growers turn off the lights so the chrysanthemums can begin to differentiate flower buds, form blossoms, and bloom just in time for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

In the chilly weather of late year, the entire flower village glows brightly throughout the night. In the warm yellow electric light, each row of vibrant green chrysanthemums stands out clearly, signaling that the Tet flower season is entering its final stage.

The flower gardens glowed brightly under the night sky.

Watching over each pot of flowers day by day, carefully tending to them for the Tet flower season.

In the flower garden of Ms. Tran Thi Luyen (54 years old), thousands of light bulbs still shine evenly down on the rows of young chrysanthemums. This Tet season, her family planted nearly 1,500 pots of chrysanthemums, interspersed with asters and marigolds.

"Using artificial lighting is an essential step. If we don't do it, and the cold weather persists, the flowers won't bloom in time, resulting in a total loss. In just a few days, the farmers will stop using the lights so the plants can begin to form buds," Ms. Luyen shared.

Flower growers meticulously monitor each pot of chrysanthemums, ensuring they bloom in time for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

Due to insufficient sunlight during the day, growers have to use artificial lights to extend the lighting time, helping chrysanthemums develop stems and leaves.

Not far away, the family of Mr. Nguyen Van Minh (62 years old) is growing about 1,000 pots of chrysanthemums for this year's Tet flower season. By this time, about 70% of the flowers in the garden have been reserved by traders.

"Tet flowers are a form of savings and a means of livelihood. A good harvest ensures a prosperous Tet holiday. In previous years, each flower harvest brought my family around 150-200 million VND," Mr. Minh said.

According to him, production costs are constantly increasing, from electricity and fertilizer to labor. Just a few days of carelessness, resulting in uneven plant growth or premature budding, can ruin a whole month's work. Therefore, each potted plant is closely monitored, with adjustments to lighting, watering, and other care conditions.

Getting flowers to bloom precisely for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is a laborious process that requires meticulous care.

The chrysanthemum cultivation in Nghia Hiep originated about 50 years ago, when some households brought chrysanthemum seeds from Da Lat to try growing them. Seeing the success, many families followed suit, gradually forming the concentrated chrysanthemum growing area as it is today.

In January 2023, the "Hoa Nghia Hiep" brand was recognized by the Intellectual Property Office ( Ministry of Science and Technology ), marking a new stage of development for the traditional flower village of Quang Ngai.