Tet flowers - A hobby for those who are perpetually addicted and never sober.

For those Hanoians who are as captivated by flowers as they are by strong wine, enjoying flowers during Tet (Lunar New Year) is not simply about appreciating their natural beauty and fragrance, but also about using that natural beauty to express their worldview and convey their wishes for the coming year.

From the "regal" flower, the daffodil.

Among countless flowers, the narcissus is the earliest to bloom, usually at the beginning of spring, making it a popular choice for Hanoians during Tet (Lunar New Year), alongside traditional flowers like peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and kumquats. According to cultural researcher Huu Ngoc, the tradition of cultivating narcissus – a flower symbolizing royalty – in Hanoi dates back thousands of years. In those times, it wasn't just a decorative plant in the living rooms of many families; the narcissus was also used as a fragrant offering to worship ancestors, or as a cherished flower placed in temples and shrines to express reverence to deities. Ancient beliefs also held that if a family had a vase of narcissus blooming precisely at the moment of the New Year's Eve, they would experience good fortune in the coming year.

Recalling memories of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in the past, Mr. Huu Ngoc recounted: “In the old days, during the Lunar New Year, people would wait for shipments of narcissus bulbs from Yunnan Province, China, to be sold at Dong Xuan Market. Professional flower growers would buy larger quantities, soak them to sprout and grow roots before selling them. Flower enthusiasts, on the other hand, would buy a few bulbs, carefully selecting and storing them in small baskets, surrounding them with rice husks, and watering them daily to maintain moisture. Once they sprouted, they would transfer them to glass cups or bowls and begin trimming and shaping them.”

Pruning and shaping daffodils is also a cultural custom with profound meaning and noble artistry that has become deeply ingrained in the traditions of Hanoi people. As someone who enjoys growing daffodils during Tet (Lunar New Year), Mr. Huu Ngoc shared: “A beautiful daffodil arrangement must meet three criteria: a five-blessing arrangement (a vase with five bulbs, one of which has five equally sized branches); large, thick, smooth, and strong leaves that grow straight upwards; and flowers that bloom at the right time, with buds opening simultaneously at the moment of the New Year's Eve.”

In the past, when the competition for carving narcissus flowers was a grand event, it was held at Huyen Thien Temple on Hang Khoai Street or Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake. Back then, on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve), contestants would bring their narcissus flowers to submit, waiting until midnight for the judging to begin. On the morning of the first day of Tet, the winning narcissus vase was placed on a gilded palanquin, paraded around Hoan Kiem Lake, and then carried to the winner's home. In front of the house, the elders, dressed in traditional ao dai, along with their families and neighbors, stood solemnly with a string of red firecrackers, joyfully reaching out to receive the flower symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and happiness in the spring.

The peach blossom branch tells the love story of the emperor and empress.

Turning the pages of ancient Vietnamese history, anyone who admires the commoner king Quang Trung will surely have heard of the peach blossom branch that symbolized victory and love, which this passionate emperor sent from Thang Long to Phu Xuan to give to his beloved wife, Princess Ngoc Han, on the 5th day of Tet in the year of Ky Dau (1789).

The ancient legend about the emperor and empress's love may be just an oral tradition of uncertain veracity, but according to cultural researcher Huu Ngoc, when combined with Nguyen Trai's "Geography of Vietnam," peach blossoms were indeed planted in Nhat Chieu village at that time, which was renamed Nhat Tan during the Nguyen dynasty, and is the same as Nhat Tan peach blossom village today.

From time immemorial, through countless springs, peach blossoms have captivated people not only with their beauty and fragrance, but have long become an indispensable spiritual nourishment for the people of Northern Vietnam, especially in the capital region, during Tet (Lunar New Year). Displaying peach blossoms during Tet, Vietnamese people express their hopes for a prosperous and peaceful new year. The vibrant color of the peach blossom, like the color of blood, symbolizes life and the flourishing of all things; it is also the color of good fortune, representing the warmth of spring that dispels the cold of winter and wards off evil spirits.

Explaining the belief in the demon-repelling power of delicate peach blossoms, Mr. Huu Ngoc recounted: "The story goes that, long ago, on the eastern side of Soc Mountain, there was an unusually large and ancient peach tree, its shade covering a wide area. Two deities, the God of Tea and the God of the West, resided there, protecting the people of the entire region. Thanks to this, demons dared not approach; they fled at the sight of the peach blossoms. Therefore, to prevent demons from causing trouble, on Tet (Lunar New Year), people would break branches of peach blossoms and place them in their homes. Those without blossoms would draw images of the two deities on red paper and paste them in front of their doors to ward off evil spirits."

Leaving aside the display of peach blossoms, the mere act of buying and selling them in Nhật Tân, for flower enthusiasts, is undoubtedly a sophisticated yet pure and elegant pastime. Those not passionate about flowers often hastily buy the last branches on the afternoons of the 29th and 30th of Tết (Lunar New Year). This is because they are cheap, because they are busy, and because it saves them the time of haggling over a flower that, for them, is simply a necessary item for Tết.

For those who are captivated by peach blossoms like the intoxicating effects of wine, what could be more enchanting than immersing themselves in a space filled only with flowers and nature, amidst the cool spring air, weaving through the bustling crowds, and venturing into peach orchards still budding in the early spring of Tet to select the most beautiful and satisfying branch?

Choosing a peach blossom tree might seem easy, but it's actually quite meticulous. The trunk of the beautiful peach tree can be gnarled, but it must be strong and sturdy. The branches must be even, of moderate size, with small twigs that shoot straight out from the canopy, and buds evenly distributed from the beginning to the end of each twig. The petals should be double-petaled, densely packed like the wish for a spring reunion, and when they bloom, they burst forth, filling the hearts of flower enthusiasts with their beauty.

What makes Nhat Tan peach blossoms special is precisely those densely packed, clustered petals. When the Nhat Tan peach blossoms fully bloom, the petals fall one by one, never withering. Therefore, discerning Hanoi residents don't just enjoy them during the three days of Tet (Lunar New Year); many even enjoy them half a month before Tet and into the new year, to fully appreciate the vibrant pink blossoms from the time they are still buds until the last petal falls to the doorstep. And once they've chosen Nhat Tan peach blossoms, they'll never want to admire any other variety again.

The flower is intoxicated; who knows when its fragrance will fade!

Nhat Tan has now become part of the city. The land for growing peach blossoms is gone. But many people who were deeply attached to Nhat Tan peach blossoms have brought them to the banks of the Red River and are determined to cultivate them so that the blossoms remain as vibrant and beautiful as they were in the past. With the development of trade, peach blossoms from all over have been imported to Hanoi: rustic and wild like the forest peach blossoms of Son La; delicate and pale pink like the Tam Diep peach blossoms; or elegant yet rugged like the Thất Thốn peach blossoms… But no matter how many varieties of peach blossoms there are, perhaps none can replace the warm, vibrant pink of the Nhat Tan peach blossoms in the hearts of the people of Hanoi.

The once-lively daffodil contest at Huyen Thien communal house has long since disappeared, but quietly, somewhere in the small corners of Hanoi, those who are passionate about the beauty of daffodils still diligently tend to them amidst the bustling streets when spring arrives. And perhaps it is thanks to this simmering affection that in recent years, from a regal flower of the wealthy in the past, daffodils have gradually become a popular hobby for all kinds of people, from young flower lovers to scholars who appreciate a peaceful life, from office workers to housewives, and of course, even the elderly who are as captivated by flowers as young people are by love.

As spring approaches, it's also the busiest time for these enthusiasts. Those who cultivate peach blossoms spend their days gazing at the moon, watching the sun, turning over the plants, stripping leaves, girdling, and controlling the growth of the flowers… Those who love daffodils begin caring for them like newborns from the moment they select their desired bulbs: soaking the bulbs, trimming them 3-4 times, waiting for them to sprout roots, shaping them, and finally allowing them to bloom… Every small change makes their hearts race, filled with either sadness and regret, or a feeling of blossoming within. All this silent hardship is for the sake of enjoying a few days of the narcissus' beauty, like a "golden platter in a jade cup," harmonizing with the vibrant red of the peach blossoms overflowing under every roof.

Through time, through countless ups and downs, the tradition of enjoying flowers during Tet (Lunar New Year) remains unchanged. And so, wherever they are, just seeing a branch of peach blossoms or a vase of narcissus flowers, the hearts of Hanoians will be filled with a warm whisper: "Ah, Tet is coming, it's so close!"

Bui Anh Tuan