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The vibrant "Tet workshops" of the Mekong Delta.
Walking through the Sa Dec flower village in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), visitors feel as if they are stepping into a "factory" without the sound of machines or dust, only the sound of water flowing under the tall flower trellises, the gentle clinking of pots against each other, and the quick, silent rustling of pruning shears. Flower growers move slowly among the flower beds, their footsteps light as if afraid to disturb the young buds waiting to bloom.
As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, Sa Dec flower village becomes even more vibrant as gardeners meticulously cultivate flower beds, preparing to burst into bloom.
In Sa Dec, flowers are placed on elevated racks to prevent them from touching the ground, allowing for good aeration of the roots, easy rotation of pots, and protection from sunlight and wind. Seen from afar, the entire village resembles a giant hanging garden, layer upon layer of vibrant colors. Morning dew still clings to the petals, the sun rises slowly, and trucks carrying flowers begin to roll, bringing the festive atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) to all corners of the country.
Viewed from above, Sa Dec flower village resembles a giant "factory," where rows of flowers are arranged in neat lines.
Over more than a hundred years, from a few small flower-growing households, Sa Dec has developed into the largest ornamental flower capital in the Mekong Delta with an area of nearly 1,000 hectares. Currently, the flower village has about 2,000 varieties of ornamental flowers, from seasonal flowers, foliage plants, landscaping trees to fruit-bearing plants.
It is this richness and diversity that has led Sa Dec to be likened to a land with "four seasons of spring." Throughout the year, the flower villages are always vibrant, but the Tet holiday is still the most beautiful and lively time. Traditional flowers such as chrysanthemums, marigolds, and lucky bamboo remain the dominant choice every spring.
Chrysanthemums and marigolds are among the best-selling flowers during Tet (Lunar New Year), and are favored by many gardeners in Sa Dec.
Bustling with traders and lively with tourists in the days leading up to Tet.
As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, life in Sa Dec flower village becomes increasingly hectic. From early morning, traders are present at the gardens to check quality, finalize orders, and organize the transportation of flowers to various provinces and cities. Most of the beautiful ornamental flowers have been pre-ordered and are loaded onto trucks, heading south to Ho Chi Minh City, the southeastern region, and then spreading throughout the country.
Trucks and trains travel back and forth, carrying flowers from Sa Dec to other provinces for sale before Tet.
The remaining flowers are used by the gardeners to display along the central roads leading into the village, creating vibrant "flower paths." This also serves as a highlight, attracting tourists to visit, take photos, and buy flowers directly. Many gardens offer free entry or charge a symbolic fee of 10,000 - 50,000 VND per person, providing an opportunity for tourists to experience the flowers while also allowing gardeners to sell directly to consumers.
Not only local visitors, Sa Dec flower village also welcomes a large number of tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. Located about 150 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Sa Dec is a destination that's far enough for a change of scenery, yet close enough for a short trip. The cool mornings and sunny afternoons at the end of the year are also favorable conditions for the flowers to bud and prepare to bloom in time for spring.
People come to the flower street to buy flowers to decorate for Tet early.
Chrysanthemums bloom early, locals join forces to save them.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the upcoming Tet flower season, the Sa Dec flower village is still worried this year as many chrysanthemum fields – the main flower of the spring season – have bloomed prematurely. The prolonged hot weather interspersed with unseasonal rains has caused the chrysanthemums to burst open, displaying their vibrant yellow blossoms while Tet is still quite far away, putting growers in a difficult position: beautiful flowers, but missing the market opportunity.
The early blooming of the flowers has made traders hesitant, resulting in many orders being canceled or prices being forced down. Facing the risk of losses, many gardeners have been forced to sell their produce retail and appeal for "rescue" on social media in the hope of recouping some of their costs after months of care.
Mr. Loc's floating chrysanthemum garden has bloomed more than two-thirds, prompting calls for its rescue on social media.
Mr. Loc, the owner of a chrysanthemum garden where two-thirds of the plants bloomed prematurely, said that once the chrysanthemums entered the budding stage, there was almost no way to stop them from blooming early. "Traders had placed orders but then canceled because the chrysanthemums bloomed too early. Now, I just have to take care of them as best I can, and I'm happy with whatever pots I can sell; I don't dare think about profit," he shared.
Similarly, Loan's family, who were growing chrysanthemums for the first time, also struggled when hundreds of pots of chrysanthemums bloomed nearly a month before Tet due to a lack of experience in timing the harvest. Fortunately, thanks to sharing on social media, most of the chrysanthemums found buyers, helping her family relieve some of the pressure after many anxious days.
Besides appealing for help online, many gardens also sell directly at the garden or bring their products to flower streets for retail sale to tourists.
This year, a wave of "rescue" efforts for chrysanthemums has spread rapidly on social media, with many posts and videos documenting the early blooming of the flowers in gardens. Many consumers are willing to buy the flowers early for Tet (Lunar New Year), as a way of showing support for the flower growers.
According to observations, chrysanthemum plants in Sa Dec this year are mostly of the type with wide canopies, nearly one meter in diameter, selling for only about 80,000 - 100,000 VND per pot, almost half the price compared to last year. Mr. Nguyen Tran Hieu, a tourist visiting Sa Dec's flower village at the end of the year, said he bought two pairs of chrysanthemum plants for 170,000 VND per pair to display for Tet early. "Hopefully everyone will have a lighter burden for Tet," he said.
Pots of chrysanthemums, over half a meter in diameter and with more than 50% of the flowers in bloom, are being sold at a low price so that farmers can recoup their capital.
A pot of chrysanthemums placed on a balcony or porch not only brings the vibrant yellow of spring but also helps ease the burden on flower growers during the turbulent Tet season. Despite the challenges, flower growers in Sa Dec maintain the familiar patience of a centuries-old craft village: some seasons are bountiful, others difficult, but the flowers still bloom, and Tet is still sown by the quiet hands amidst the spring gardens.
