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It seems people have been a little too "anxious." Tet is a sacred time of year, a time for people to reconnect with their roots, return to love, and share precious moments with loved ones; nothing can stop that. And thankfully, we can still clearly feel the Tet atmosphere, albeit somewhat less so than in previous years, but it's still vibrant in every street corner.
Not far from the city center, Phu Mau flower village has been in full bloom for Tet (Lunar New Year) since the end of October to November.
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), Phu Mau becomes even more vibrant, not only because hundreds of flower species are blooming, but also because many groups of friends cycle or jog here to breathe in the fresh air and welcome the spring atmosphere among the flowerbeds.
After the 20th day of the 12th lunar month, flowers from Phu Mau village and many other rural villages like Thuy Duong begin to be transported everywhere. Fresh flower stalls start appearing on the streets. This is truly the time when people realize that Tet (Lunar New Year) has arrived at their doorstep.
The potted plants are ready to be delivered to their new owners.
A year full of difficulties and challenges is coming to an end, and now everyone likes to bring home fresh potted flowers to display during Tet, hoping for a brighter new year.
The purple Hue-style cyclo, it could only be Hue, unmistakable.
Besides fresh flowers, people in Hue also use a type of paper flower, handcrafted in Thanh Tien village (next to Phu Mau flower village), for worship in kitchens or at ancestral altars.
People choose pairs of paper flowers with symmetrical colors...
...and cherishing each petal as a way of showing gratitude to the artisans who have preserved the traditional craft of making paper flowers for over 300 years.
Dong Ba Market at the end of the year.
People are shopping for jams and pastries.
Urban construction workers are busy decorating various park landscapes along both banks of the Perfume River, creating more space for people to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
February 27th - the last working day of the old year. Leaving the office, I leisurely strolled through familiar streets, admiring the bustling flower markets filled with sellers and buyers, and silently thanked life for allowing me to breathe in the scent of Tet, the sweet fragrance of my homeland.
Returning home after an afternoon stroll, I suddenly felt a warmth as my neighbors began lighting fires to cook banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes).
Mai Trang
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