Sa Dec flower village is bustling in the days leading up to Tet.

Every spring, the flower village of Sa Dec in Dong Thap province becomes more vibrant than ever. Potted ornamental flowers spread their fragrance and display their beauty, bringing joy and happiness for the new year to every home. As the largest concentrated flower production area in the Mekong Delta, Sa Dec has flowers available year-round, but they are especially brilliant during Tet (Lunar New Year). During these days, the Sa Dec flower village is adorned with vibrant, fresh blossoms, adding color and beckoning the arrival of spring.

The largest flower capital in the Western region.

Established in the late 19th century, nestled romantically beside the Tien River, Sa Dec flower village was initially known as Tan Quy Dong flower village – a traditional craft village over a hundred years old. In those days, people in the area grew flowers to decorate for Tet (Lunar New Year). Gradually, this annual activity became the main occupation for households in Tan Quy Dong. From a traditional craft village, Sa Dec flower village has expanded to many different areas, becoming one of the largest flower growing regions in the Mekong Delta and Southern Vietnam, with over 2,300 households cultivating 2,000 different ornamental flower species on an area of ​​500 hectares.

As a native of Dong Thap province, Huy Bao (29 years old) had the opportunity to visit Sa Dec flower village right when the locals were busy preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year). He said: "Usually, the time before the Lunar New Year is when the flowers in Sa Dec are at their most beautiful. The garden owners will take care of their plants to ensure they have the most beautiful flowers, both to sell in Sa Dec city center and to transport and supply to other neighboring provinces."

Born and raised amidst the beloved fields and gardens, what impressed Huy Bao the most were the simple and rustic images of the scenery and people here. Around December, visiting Sa Dec, tourists will witness Sa Dec flower farmers busily tending to their flowers and ornamental plants in preparation for the Lunar New Year, creating a truly lively atmosphere. For those who have set foot here once, watching the farmers pulling water hoses to irrigate the flower trellises, fertilizing potted plants, pushing carts of fertilizer... amidst countless blooming flowers is a truly peaceful and worthwhile experience.

Currently, the flower village cultivates many varieties of flowers such as diamond chrysanthemums, raspberry chrysanthemums, violets, rose hips, blue roses, ray chrysanthemums, and super dwarf mini marigolds… The flowers are planted in straight rows in the fields because, due to the geographical characteristics, the flowers here are grown on elevated platforms, with water flowing from the canals below. Whenever they need to care for the flowers, the villagers have to wade into the water, and during the flood season, they use boats to navigate between the flower rows to tend to them. This is what makes Sa Dec flower village so special and impressive.

Preserving the beauty of traditional craft villages.

Despite the economic difficulties of the past year, the local people here are still eagerly preparing for the end of the year with an optimistic and positive spirit.

"I haven't had the chance to talk about the artificial flower making profession with the people here, but I have a friend who does it. Every Tet holiday, my friend and her family members are always busy doing all sorts of things, big and small. From caring for and watering the plants, preparing pots, fertilizing, and bundling flowers for transport and sale to customers… all while doing household chores."

"In truth, every profession has its own difficulties, especially this year due to the impact of the global economy, which has affected the lives of ornamental plant growers to some extent because of the increased prices of fertilizers and transportation costs. Even so, they always strive to preserve the craft village, maintaining the beauty of the colorful ornamental plants and flower pots here to beautify the Sa Dec area in particular and the Mekong Delta in general," Huy Bao confided.

The flowers begin to bud and bloom most profusely from mid-November to December in the lunar calendar at Sa Dec flower village. During this time, the village becomes most beautiful and vibrant, attracting tourists who come to visit and buy flowers to decorate for Tet (Lunar New Year). The entrance to the flower village is beautifully decorated, and along the road are the lovely flower gardens of local households, attracting visitors to discover how to grow and care for flowers, as well as learn about the lives of local farmers.

Ha Mai Trinh - Photo: Huy Bao