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Flower-decorated boats dock, spring colors spread along the Tau Hu canal.
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the Bình Đông wharf (Phú Định ward, Ho Chi Minh City) is ablaze with the vibrant colors of apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, and marigolds from boats overflowing with ornamental plants from the Mekong Delta. Along Nguyễn Văn Của street, passersby can witness a familiar scene: apricot blossom pots being passed from boats to shore, the lively calls between merchants and vendors, and the scent of the river mingling with the fragrance of flowers, creating a unique atmosphere of the year-end.
Boats carrying apricot blossoms and chrysanthemums from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City travel along the Tau Hu Canal and dock at Binh Dong wharf.
The flower market "on the docks and on the boats" at Binh Dong Wharf (formerly District 8), now Phu Dinh Ward, has existed for many years. Amidst an increasingly modern Ho Chi Minh City, the existence of a Tet market connected to boats and canals has become a rare highlight, reminding us of the riverine identity of this land.
On the evening of February 12th (the 25th day of the 12th lunar month), the "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" Spring Flower Market for the Year of the Horse 2026 officially opened in Phu Dinh Ward. Organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Organizing Committee for Major Holidays in collaboration with the Phu Dinh Ward People's Committee, this event continues an annual cultural activity that has become a hallmark of the Binh Dong wharf area for many years.
A Tet holiday photo spot set up by residents living around Binh Dong wharf.
The Nhieu Loc cruise ship on the Tau Hu canal features performances of traditional Vietnamese folk music.
The Ben Binh Dong flower market has become a familiar destination for people every Tet holiday.
More than just a place to buy and sell ornamental plants, the flower market also recreates the traditional Tet market associated with the characteristic canal system of this region. The Tau Hu Canal – once the busiest trading route in old Saigon – is now bustling with boats every spring. Dozens of boats carrying ornamental plants continuously dock from early morning. From the shore, the rows of boats along the water create a long strip of yellow, red, and green colors stretching along the canal.
The boats and canoes were lined up one after another along the canal.
The festive atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) is vibrant from the docks to the boats.
While the Bình Đông wharf is ablaze with colorful flowers during the day, it becomes even more bustling in the evening as people flock back and forth to buy flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year). The flowers mainly come from Chợ Lách (Vĩnh Long), Sa Đéc, and Cai Lậy (Đồng Tháp) – famous flower-growing regions in the Mekong Delta. Many gardeners say they have to travel through the night to get their goods to the city before the peak shopping season.
As soon as the boats docked, the vendors busied themselves unloading their goods, arranging pots of apricot blossoms and chrysanthemums neatly along the canal bank or expanding their displays onto the sidewalks to increase supply. Tall apricot trees were propped up close to the water's edge, their branches spreading out in a brilliant yellow; chrysanthemums, marigolds, and cockscomb flowers crowded together, creating vibrant patches of color stretching along the road.
Small traders busily carry flowers from their boats down to the dock to display and sell.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Be (from Vinh Long) stands on the bow of her boat, her hands nimbly adjusting the ropes tying the potted apricot blossom trees. “We came here on the 20th of the 12th lunar month. The first few days were quiet, but today the customers are starting to get more numerous,” she said. Her boat carries nearly 200 potted apricot blossom trees of various sizes, each representing a year's worth of care. For her and many other traders, this end-of-year trip is not just about trading, but also a time for making a living on the river.
This year's ornamental plants still focus on familiar varieties from the Mekong Delta such as yellow apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, marigolds, kalanchoe, sunflowers, along with many small bonsai trees suitable for urban spaces. In the boats, apricot blossom trees are stacked in layers, their trunks carefully tied with string to maintain their shape. On shore, vendors continuously water, wipe leaves, and adjust the trees' forms to be ready for customers.
The vibrant flowers cluster along the canal, creating a long strip of color.
As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the crowds grow larger. Pedestrians weave their way through the rows of flowers, stopping to admire, inquire about prices, and compare each budding apricot blossom. Some carefully bend down to examine the base of the tree, while others step back a few paces to admire its overall shape. The sounds of bargaining mingled with lively laughter and conversation, creating a distinctive rhythm of the Tet market.
Many people are attracted by the unusual white plum blossom pot.
Around 6 p.m., when the streetlights came on, the golden light reflected off the canal's surface, creating a shimmering strip of color along the entire dock. Flower buyers, carrying pots of apricot blossoms and chrysanthemums on the back of their motorbikes, slowly blended into the late-day traffic. On the dock, the flowers gradually dwindled with each passing customer, while on the boats, merchants anchored, preparing for a new day of trading.
According to observations, the price of apricot blossom trees this year is generally stable compared to last year. Small pots range from 200,000 to 600,000 VND; medium and large apricot blossom trees range from 2 to 10 million VND depending on their shape. The price range under 1 million VND is chosen by many customers, suitable for the Tet holiday needs of young families and working people.
Small traders predict that more boats carrying flowers will continue to arrive in the coming days, as the market enters its busiest period before the New Year. For them, the last days of the year are the most important time, determining the entire season.
Boats and ships carrying flowers will continue to dock, supplying flowers from now until just before Tet (Lunar New Year).
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dong Wharf is more vibrant these days, as if to ensure the flowers bloom in time, to ensure spring arrives. And as each person walks past that dazzling golden hue, they suddenly realize that Tet (Lunar New Year) is not just a calendar date, but is anchored somewhere in the canal sparkling with lights and the boats laden with spring flowers.
