It is a Vietnamese tradition for people to buy peach flowers to decorate houses for Tet (Lunar New Year Festival) celebrations.

As the capital city has grown in size and is now several times larger than it was decades ago, a number of flower markets have mushroomed across the city to meet the increasing demands of the additional residents during the festival.

However, Hang Luoc Street in the old quarter is famous for its traditional Tet flower market. Nguyen Viet Thanh shows images of the market on a spring morning, a week ahead of the Year of the Goat.

 

A seller sprays a peach blossom to keep it fresh.

 

 

 

 

 

Hang Luoc is a busy street with different varieties of shops but one week before Tet it turns to be a flower market.

 

 

 

 

 

Hang Luoc flower market is next to Hang Ma street which specialises in votive offerings.

 

 

 

 

 

A young seller tenders a peach blossom for buyer.

 

 

 

 

 

As a temporary market, few sellers have stalls while many others are movable.

 

 

 

 

 

Peach blossoms are in different sizes and in two colours: pink and light pink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The traditional flower market attracts old-aged residents.

 

 

 

 

 

Two sellers are trying to fix their peach blossom.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonsai trees are on sale at the market.

 

 

 

 

 

A woman check buds of peach blossom. Buyers tends to prefer the branch with more buds than flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man hopes to sell the blossom before noon.

 

 

 

 

 

A boy follows his mother to the morning market.

 

 

 

 

 

 
The women tries to measure the size of the peach blossom to ensure it matches her house.


 

VNS