From a purely agricultural occupation to a national heritage

Having quietly developed for over 100 years on the banks of the Sa Giang River, few would have imagined that flower cultivation in Sa Dec Ward (Dong Thap Province) would become a national intangible cultural heritage.

Báo Thanh niên•19/01/2026

The development of the national heritage profession

Sa Dec Flower Village is one of Dong Thap's centuries-old traditional craft villages. Currently, it is not only a place for producing ornamental flowers, but also an attractive destination on the Western Vietnam tourism map. Notably, the flower cultivation craft in Sa Dec has recently been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the category of folk knowledge.

From a purely agricultural occupation to a national heritage site - Photo 1.

Every day, Mr. Mai Van Nhan goes to the garden to tend to his flowers very early in the morning. PHOTO: THANH QUAN

However, few people know that just a few decades ago, this flower village was still secluded and quiet, with a purely agricultural way of life. Back then, flower growers spent their days diligently tending their plants, waiting for the Lunar New Year season, and then hoping for orders from traders. The flower gardens were simply a means of livelihood, never thought of as an experiential space or tourist attraction.

From a purely agricultural occupation to a national heritage site - Photo 2.

Thanks to his meticulous care, Mr. Nhan's flower garden is thriving and beautiful. PHOTO: THANH QUAN

In the past, gardeners mostly operated independently, each doing their own thing, with little sharing of experience or production cooperation. The transformation of Sa Dec flower village today did not come from a miracle, but began with a shift in the mindset of the farmers themselves. It is a journey of "opening hearts and gardens," daring to change their way of thinking and doing things to adapt to the new demands of the market.

Mr. Tran Van Binh, Chairman of the Sa Dec Flower Village Association, who has dedicated his life to the flower village, believes the biggest turning point was when the villagers gradually abandoned their closed-off way of doing business and became accustomed to sharing and collaborating. "Previously, flower growers rarely exchanged information with each other. But with the development of science and technology, the popularity of social media, and the increasing openness of information, people were forced to change. The market demands large, consistent production volumes, so collaborative production is inevitable," Mr. Binh shared.

Let's work together to build the image of the flower village.

From that reality, associations and cooperatives were established, becoming spaces for flower growers to meet, learn, and support each other. From individual businesses, the villagers began to think about building a common image for the flower village, working together to enhance the value of their products. Alongside this change in mindset was a bold innovation in production and, most importantly, a dedication to the profession.

From a purely agricultural occupation to a national heritage - Photo 3.

Growing ornamental plants that don't touch the ground is one of the distinctive features of Sa Dec flower village. PHOTO: THANH QUAN

At 55 years old, Mr. Mai Van Nhan (residing in Sa Dec Ward) cannot remember exactly how many years he has been growing flowers. He was born and raised in the Sa Dec flower village, so he started helping his family tend to the flowers from a young age. After getting married and having children, he and his wife continued growing flowers until now. "Growing flowers is hard work, but it's a profession that has supported many generations in my family," Mr. Nhan said.

Perhaps that's why Mr. Nhan and his wife are always so dedicated to their profession. Every day, they wake up very early to tend to their flower garden until dusk before returning home. For Mr. Nhan, the quality of the flower baskets brought to market is not only about his own reputation, but also the reputation of the entire Sa Dec flower village. "For every flower grower here, only when the flower baskets have been loaded onto trucks to be transported to other provinces for sale do the farmers feel relieved," Mr. Nhan added.

From a purely agricultural occupation to a national heritage - Photo 4.

Sa Dec flowers are transported to many provinces and cities across the country for sale. PHOTO: THANH QUAN

Thanks to the meticulousness and dedication of the farmers, the Sa Dec flower brand has become famous throughout the country in recent years. Every year, the Sa Dec flower village introduces many new products, not only increasing income for gardeners but also contributing to the increasingly vibrant appearance of the craft village.

From being completely dependent on traders, flower growers are now more proactive in their sales. Ornamental flowers not only sell better but also increase in value thanks to their association with tourism experiences. According to the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, the flower village currently has about 4,000 production households, 190 business households, 17 cooperatives and cooperative groups, with the value of ornamental flower production in 2024 estimated at over 3,000 billion VND.

According to the leaders of the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, the locality has developed programs to protect and promote the value of heritage associated with tourism development, aiming for sustainable development and promoting the image of the century-old flower village to friends both domestically and internationally.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-nghe-thuan-nong-den-di-san-quoc-gia-185260118144810284.htm