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Hanoi's Old Quarter becomes bustling during Tet (Lunar New Year) as people flock to streets like Hang Luoc, Hang Ma, and Hang Khoai to buy peach blossoms, kumquats, and decorations. The shopping atmosphere intensifies towards evening, with pedestrians having to move slowly between closely packed stalls in many sections of the street.
Crowds of people strolled along Hang Luoc and Hang Ma streets to do their year-end shopping.
At Hang Luoc flower market – a market that only convenes at the end of the year – the stalls selling peach blossoms and kumquats are always bustling with customers. Pedestrians and motorbikes move slowly through the narrow streets, especially in the afternoon and evening. Many vendors say that the number of customers gradually increases from mid-December and remains high in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) as many families take advantage of late shopping. Smaller peach blossom and bonsai trees are in high demand because they are suitable for the space of townhouses. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, who has been selling peach blossoms here for over 10 years, said: “The closer it gets to Tet, the more customers there are. Many people now have the habit of choosing peach blossoms and kumquats in the last days so that the trees stay fresh longer.”
People choose to buy peach blossoms and kumquats at Hang Luoc flower market in the days leading up to Tet.
Many families consider strolling through the Old Quarter in the last days of the year a familiar way to welcome the spring. The streets, adorned with lanterns and red couplets, attract many people stopping to take photos. Mr. Tran Manh Cuong (Long Bien district), who brought his child to choose mini kumquat trees, said: “Every year I come here for a walk. The Tet atmosphere in the Old Quarter is very distinctive; after walking for a while, you can clearly feel the Tet spirit.”
Kumquat trees planted on rocky islands, shaped like bonsai, are on display for sale, priced at around 1 million VND.
Mini kumquat trees are popular, priced at 120,000-180,000 VND per pot; small peach blossom branches cost around 100,000-300,000 VND depending on size and shape. Some nurseries also sell kumquat trees grown on rocky islands to create bonsai shapes, priced at around 1 million VND per tree, mainly catering to customers who enjoy ornamental plants or want to display them in their living rooms. Besides fresh flowers, shops selling red envelopes, Tet decorations, and lanterns on Hang Ma Street are always crowded. Many shops continuously restock during peak evening hours.
Besides peach blossoms and kumquats, many people choose other ornamental plants to decorate their homes for Tet.
The flower stalls, decorated with flowers, also attracted people to choose from a variety of options, along with fresh flowers and ornamental plants.
Besides fresh flowers, shops selling red envelopes, Tet decorations, and lanterns on Hang Ma Street are always crowded. The atmosphere becomes even more bustling in the evening when the number of people increases significantly. Red envelopes printed with the New Year's zodiac animal and traditional-style decorations are particularly popular choices.
Hang Ma Street is ablaze with the vibrant red of lanterns, red envelopes, and Tet decorations.
Hang Ma Street is ablaze with the vibrant red of lanterns, red envelopes, and Tet decorations.
Buyers carefully select decorative hanging ornaments for Tet (Lunar New Year).
Although Hanoi now has many modern flower markets and shopping malls, Hang Luoc flower market and the Old Quarter still retain their unique charm thanks to an atmosphere that strongly reflects the Tet (Lunar New Year) traditions of the past. Many people come here to shop and relive the familiar feeling of end-of-year markets.
For many Hanoi residents, a stroll through the streets, choosing a peach blossom branch or a small kumquat tree, is a way to feel spring approaching. The bustling yet tranquil atmosphere of the old town makes it a familiar destination every Tet holiday.
