It seems that people are a bit too “worried”. Tet is a sacred time of heaven and earth, an opportunity for people to return to their roots, return to love and share precious moments with their loved ones, nothing can stop it. And fortunately, we can still clearly feel the Tet atmosphere, although it is a bit less than previous years, but it is still bustling in every corner of the street.
Not far from the city center, Phu Mau flower village has been in Tet flower season since late October - November.
In the days before Tet, Phu Mau becomes more bustling because not only are there hundreds of flowers competing to show off their colors, but there are also many groups of friends cycling and jogging here to breathe the fresh air and welcome the spring atmosphere in the flower beds.
After December 20, flowers from Phu Mau village, and many other villages like Thuy Duong, begin to be transported everywhere. Fresh flower stalls begin to appear on the streets. This is truly the time when people realize that Tet has come to their doorstep.
The flower pots are ready to go to their new owners.
A year full of difficulties and challenges is almost over, now everyone likes to bring home pots of fresh flowers to display for Tet, with the hope of a better new year.
The purple Hue cyclo, can only be Hue, unmistakable.
In addition to fresh flowers, Hue people also use a type of paper flower handmade in Thanh Tien village (next to Phu Mau flower village) to worship in the kitchen, or in Ong and Ba altars.
People choose pairs of paper flowers with symmetrical colors...
...and cherish each petal as a way to show gratitude to the artisans who have preserved the traditional paper flower making craft for over 300 years.
Dong Ba market at the end of the year.
People go shopping for jams and cakes.
Urban construction workers are busy decorating many park landscapes along both banks of the Perfume River, creating more space for people to enjoy spring.
27th of Tet - the last working day of the old year. Leaving the office, I leisurely strolled around the familiar streets, looked at the flower markets bustling with sellers and buyers and silently thanked life, because up to this moment, I am still lucky enough to breathe in the scent of Tet, the sweet scent of my homeland.
Coming home after an afternoon stroll, I suddenly felt warm when the neighbor started to light a fire to cook banh chung.
Mai Trang
