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Binh Dong Wharf, once considered one of the busiest trading centers in Saigon - Cholon in previous decades, is characterized by its riverine lifestyle, where boats played an extremely important role as a means of transportation, housing, and living space for the people. Binh Dong Wharf holds significant economic, historical, cultural, and architectural values, and is an indispensable part of the cultural landscape of old Saigon.
Every Lunar New Year, Binh Dong wharf becomes more bustling than ever with crowds of people from all over coming here to choose and buy Tet flowers.
Every Lunar New Year, Binh Dong wharf becomes more bustling than ever with people from all over coming here to choose and buy Tet flowers. Hundreds of boats carrying flowers and ornamental plants from various provinces arrive, creating a vibrant and colorful scene. A wide variety of ornamental plants of all sizes and styles are available to meet the needs of the people.
A diverse variety of flowers and ornamental plants display their beauty along Binh Dong wharf.
Yellow apricot blossoms on Binh Dong wharf.
Most of the merchants come from the southwestern provinces of Vietnam, such as Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Soc Trang. Their boats are their second homes, filled with fascinating everyday stories. Each boat is laden with fruits, flowers, and agricultural products, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year). Smaller boats mainly carry small potted flowers like chrysanthemums, marigolds, and bougainvillea, attracting tourists to visit and shop. Larger boats carry apricot blossom trees, kumquat trees, and other plants in a variety of shapes, creating a unique beauty at Binh Dong wharf.
Boats carrying yellow apricot blossoms have arrived at the dock.
Each boat was laden with various ornamental plants for the Lunar New Year season.
Thanh Dat (a photographer in Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "I see simple, hardworking farmers in the countryside, who, at the end of the year, pack their bags and head to the city. Some carry their young children, and these children grow up surrounded by the worn but incredibly warm clothes of their farming families. I also see the calloused hands of the men and men carrying heavy flower pots, and the women meticulously trimming each branch and flower petal, their eyes sparkling with hope for a successful business season."
Many people visited the flower market at Binh Dong wharf.
In the final days of the year, Thanh Dat also took the opportunity to stroll around the flower markets in the city to admire and capture memorable images of the bustling days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). From around the middle of the twelfth lunar month, flower markets everywhere began to open. Every time he passed a street corner, the vibrant colors of flowers brightened the entire city at the end of the year.
The "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" flower market at Binh Dong wharf this year attracted a large number of locals and tourists due to its many new features.
Every time you turn a corner, you're greeted by a dazzling array of colorful flowers.
And of course, we can't forget the fruit orchards of the people in the Mekong Delta.
A highlight of this year's flower market is the red ceramic art street, showcasing products from a traditional pottery village in Vinh Long that has existed for over 100 years. Furthermore, the flower space representing Da Lat City and the shared stalls introduce many unique flower varieties from different regions, such as Cho Lach district (Ben Tre), yellow dragon fruit (Vinh Long), and pink tangerines (Dong Thap)...
The flower market, "on the docks and on the boats," played a significant role in shaping the culture of old Saigon.
The scenic spots along Binh Dong Wharf are also decorated with a strong Tet atmosphere to serve the needs of people who want to visit and take photos, such as the calligrapher's street, the flower street of affection, stalls introducing typical regional products, or experiences in wrapping and cooking banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cake), and local cuisine...
Visiting Binh Dong Wharf during Tet (Lunar New Year), tourists not only get to immerse themselves in the bustling atmosphere of buying and selling but also have the opportunity to experience the unique riverine culture of old Saigon. Visitors can stroll along the wharf, admire the busy boats, buy beautiful potted plants to decorate their homes, or enjoy the special dishes of the Southwestern region of Vietnam during this time.
Bringing Tet (Vietnamese New Year) home.
