In the heart of the Old Quarter in downtown Hanoi, one can find a traditional flower market which will stay open till the last day of the lunar year (January 24).

Hang Luoc Flower Market is located on Hang Luoc, Hang Khoai, Hang Ruoi, Hang Ma and Phung Hung streets in Hoan Kiem District.

Various decoration objects are offered at the market. VNS Photo Truong Vi

The market takes place every day between 8am and 10pm, offering bonsai kumquat plants, fresh flowers, fake antiques and various other decorations.

Handmade products of traditional handicraft villages, folk paintings and folk toys are also exhibited along Phung Hung Street together with folk music and calligraphy.

The market introduces the heritage values of the Old Quarter and surrounding areas to domestic and foreign visitors.

Foreigners are interested in bonsai and paintings displayed at the site. VNS Photo Truong Vi

The traditional flower market has been held in the area for the past century.

In the past, farmers from nearby Ngoc Ha, Nghi Tam, Nhat Tan and Quang Ba villages would take their bonsai trees and flowers to sell at the market, which only gathers once a year from the 15th to the last day of the 12th lunar month.

Hanoians visit the market not only for shopping but also to enjoy spring atmosphere when the lunar new year approaches. VNS Photo Truong Vi

Only in 1947, when Hanoi was fighting against the French, did the market not gather. Even during the American War, the market still gathered ahead of Tet (Lunar New Year) as a custom of Hanoians.

Since 2018, beside the traditional flower market, Hoan Kiem District authorities have hosted other festive activities on Phung Hung Street, which hosts dozens of murals on the stone walls of the railway viaduct drawn by Vietnamese and South Korean painters at the end of 2018, creating a cultural space for the community.

The market is a reason for people to take a walk round the area. VNS Photo Photo Truong Vi

The viaduct starts from the Phung Hung-Tran Phu crossroads and runs to Long Bien Train Station, passing through Phung Hung and Gam Cau streets. The viaduct is part of the historic Long Bien Bridge, built from 1899-1902 by French architects.

The cultural space is part of a pedestrian zone planned to be set up along Phung Hung Street, which will offer various services for tourists.

Further from the city centre, Quang An flower market on Au Co Street has been filled with peach blossoms, ochna and kumquat bonsai for nearly a month now. Flowers and bonsai trees planted from the nearby Nhat Tan Flower Village are available here.

People buy valuable that thon peach blossoms bonsai, which is an ancient peach blossoms genre with bright red flowers, in Nhat Tan Flower Village. VNS Photo Truong Vi

On the outskirts of the city, flower villages are busy for Tet as well.

Tay Tuu Ward, formerly known as Dam Village, in Bac Tu Liem District, 20km to the west of Hanoi's centre, provides fresh flowers to Hanoi and neighbouring areas.

Chrysanthemum harvested in Tay Tuu Ward is ready to be sold around the city. VNS Photo Doan Tung A farmer cares her violet flower in Tay Tuu Ward. VNS Photo Doan Tung

This time of year is the biggest harvesting season for locals in Tay Tuu, where some 200ha of flower planting area hosts various kinds of flowers, mostly lily, chrysanthemum and roses. — VNS

Crowds flock to Nhat Tan flower village as Tet draws near

With the Lunar New Year festival approaching, Nhat Tan flower village has become increasingly busy as young people head to the area in order to snap beautiful photos.

Hanoi's Tay Tuu flower village busy preparing for Tet holiday

Tay Tuu Flower Village in Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi is busy preparing for the Tet Holiday.

Tay Tuu flower village blooms for Tet

Tay Tuu village, the largest flower growing area in Hanoi, is a must-see for tourists before Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday with countless flowers all in full bloom.