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Flowering plants at Ben Binh Dong, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

January 27, 2025

The Ben Binh Dong Flower Market on a Spring Morning

We got up early and headed to Ben Binh Dong’s flower street in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, as the sun began to rise, spreading a golden shades over the city. A delicate scent of emerges wafted on the cold morning breeze as the street ahead burst with life, color, and action.

We were in for a sensory extravaganza. A kaleidoscope of warmth and joy was created by rows and rows for flowers in all shades of yellow, which dominated the picture. The ochna, also known as mai vàng, was the showpiece, its pale yellow petals glittering like little sunbeams. As a sign of good fortune and joy, this blossom is highly prized in the South as a welcome sign of the approaching Lunar New Year.

I couldn’t help but think of the North, where the gentle blush of peach blossoms, or hoa đào, steals the show during Tet, even if yellow was the dominant color here. A delicate reminder of the many and equally rich traditions found throughout Vietnam, the rose tones of hoa Ƒào exude a certain allure, representing rebirth and optimism.
This flower street, though, is an ephemeral wonder. In the days leading up to Tet, the beloved Lunar New Year festival, it comes to life. Bringing flowers into a Vietnamese home is more than just a pretty gesture; it’s a ritual that ushers in the new year with elegance and prosperity. In order to fill their houses with a festive feeling, families anxiously choose flowers to decorate them.

Celebrations of the Lunar New Year, which this year marks the Year of the Snake, will commence on January 29 and continue for three festive days. These flowers and this custom hold great meaning, as they bring together cherished memories, aspirations, and the desire for a better tomorrow.

We could feel the excitement in the air as we walked down the street. With upbeat voices, vendors beckoned to youngsters, who giggled as they scurried from exhibit to display, and couples, like us, lingered over their beloved flowers. A monument to the timeless charm of tradition, it was more than simply a market; it was a joyous celebration of life.

Those few days at the flower street are like stepping into a time capsule of Vietnamese culture, where traditions and modernity blend in a beautiful kaleidoscope of smells, colors, and feelings.

Who Delivers the Flowers?

The hardworking flower growers and merchants from the provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City are the true heroes of Ben Binh Dong’s colorful flower street. The city will soon be graced by the delicate blossoms of these diligent folks, who hail from locales like as Bến Tre, Tiền Giang, and Vĩnh Long.
They travel in style that rivals the beauty of the flowers. Gliding down the waterways like floating gardens are wooden boats brimming with ochna blossoms, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and other vibrant flowers. When these boats, which are deeply rooted in Mekong Delta culture, land at the canals of Ben Binh Dong, the place becomes a verdant paradise.

The pier scene is just enchanted. A combination of the river’s breeze and the earthy aroma of flowers permeates the air as the boats draw near. As they cheerfully wear conical caps and spread their flowers out in rows down the roadway, farmers unload their wares. The flowers seem to retain some rural air, as if they were a living testimony to the care and attention given to their cultivation.

As the city prepares for the Lunar New Year, the farmers continue selling their goods until the day before Tet. This custom provides for their family and adds a genuine touch to the holiday cheer for them. However, some flowers end up in landfills despite their best attempts.

As the Tet festivities approach on the last night before the festival, these vendors gather up any remaining flowers. Some are kept as a melancholy reminder of the season, while others are given as gifts or utilized as decorations. Afterwards, they get on their boats and head back to their homes, frequently experiencing a mix of contentment and homesickness.

As they set sail, these boats bearing unsold flowers serve as a sobering reminder of the ebb and flow of life and tradition. That every house is graced with the beauty and optimism that new blossoms can impart is a testament to the perseverance of these farmers, who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to this yearly tradition.

By Ngoc Tran

IMG 2226 scaled
For the people of Ho Chi Minh City, the arrival of flower boats is more than just a convenient way to purchase decorations—it’s a cherished tradition that connects them to the countryside.

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