Many night markets pop up especially for the festive season.
Tết is in January this year, and it is bringing in the year of the Metal Rat. Already you can start to see the early street stalls setting up with orchids and lucky flowers. As it gets closer to Tết, the main streets of the city will start to get lined with flower sellers and can look really beautiful. Cộng Hòa Street is especially busy, as it is where many farmers enter the city. In the northern part of Vietnam my Hanoian friend told me they prefer the pink peach flowers during the Spring Festival. However, HCMC is tropical and many blossoming trees just don't survive here. Instead, the pretty yellow ochna itegerrima, or Mai tree (Mai Vang) is popular here as it can survive the heat. A bonus is that the yellow can represent gold and abundance. A little more information is here.
The different meanings of flowers between Hanoi and Saigon.
The pretty yellow Mai Vang.
During Tết you can go to Nguyen Hue Street in District 1. When I went last year, at one end they had dancing and other performances by different Vietnamese ethnic groups, which was really interesting. While at the other end there were beautiful flower displays. I went during the evening. It was busy, but manageable. I get a bit antsy when things are too crowded. However, it had an energetic, friendly vibe and you could move about quite freely.
Finally, there's Tao Đàn Park Garden Show. Last year I found this by accident. It is near where I first stayed in HCMC, so it has frequently been a landmark for me. If I went anywhere I often went via the streets that passed it. So, when I saw it being set up just before Tết, I thought I'd go back and have a look at it - and it was totally worth it. I shared a few photos of the gate display last week and I have some more photos in this one. I can't wait to see what they create this year! Inside is a variety of competitions for large displays, bonsai trees, and bonsai gardens. There's lots of food, concerts and games. It's a family outing with many people dressed up in their new Tết clothes, but it's casual too. You have to pay to get in, about VND30,000 per person.
Overall, Tết is a great holiday for pot plant gardens. Many people have their newly acquired plants on the street right in front of their homes for all to see and share. It can be pretty finding little streets with their flowers lining the way.
I will put more photos up after Tết to show you what they did this year. If you are here in Vietnam for Tết, Chúc mừng năm mới! And all the best for the year of the Rat.
Update: I have been looking for dates of the various garden shows and displays. So far, I haven't found the dates for any of them. However, many websites mention past years Tết garden shows and markets starting on Lunar December 23rd or 25th, which this year (2020) are January 17th and 19th. Tết itself is on January 25-27th with family dinners starting on the Eve.
Looking for these dates has meant I have found out more about the flower markets and I have shared a link here. I used this website to find the dates. Vietnam starts out similarly to China, but doesn't officially prolong it.
