Hang Luoc traditional flower market adds vibrancy to Hanoi’s Tet festival

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Established in the early 20th century, Hang Luoc Tet flower market is Hanoi’s oldest flower market and a vivid reflection of Trang An culture. Held only once a year, from the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month until the final afternoon of the year, the market is not only a place for buying and selling peach blossoms and kumquat trees, but also a space where traditional memories are preserved and the flavour of Hanoi’s traditional Tet can be felt in the final days of the year.(Photo: A bustling scene at Hang Luoc flower market in the days leading up to Tet in the 1990s, captured by photographers Steve Raymer and Nevada Wier.)

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Peach blossoms are a common sight at Hang Luoc flower market in the 1990s.

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Over time, Hang Luoc flower market has changed, but many people still come here to reconnect with Hanoi’s traditional and cultural values and to find a sense of calm not found at every market. On the morning of February 3 (the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month), the market is bustling with residents out enjoying spring, shopping for ornamental plants, peach blossoms and festive decorations ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse.

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Today, the market continues to feature peach blossoms as its main offering, but with an increasingly wide range of varieties shaped in many different styles.

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Strolling along the flower market street, many long-time Hanoi residents visit Hang Luoc each year to enjoy the atmosphere, seek a sense of calm and reconnect with memories of the city’s past. While the market today is livelier and offers a wider range of goods, for older generations it remains a place to reflect on the marks of an earlier Hanoi.

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In 2026, the flower market expands across Hang Luoc, Hang Khoai, Hang Ruoi and Hang Ma streets, as well as the Phung Hung mural space, offering a wide range of goods including ornamental plants, fresh flowers and festive decorations for Tet shopping. The market runs from January 30 to 8:00 p.m. on February 16, 2026 (the 12th to the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month), and is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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Most of the kumquat trees on sale here, ranging from small to medium sizes, come from Tu Lien and Quang An, with prices for each tree ranging from VND 300,000 to VND 1 million.

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Alongside peach blossoms, kumquat trees remain a familiar Tet plant in northern Vietnam. At the market, the presence of apricot blossoms and peaches, now common on the market, adds to the bustle and diversity of Hang Luoc flower market.

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According Quang Phuong, a vendor with six years’ experience at the market, while the market retains its traditional character, the Tet 2026 season also reflects changes to meet modern tastes. Compact, moderately priced ornamental plants are becoming more prominent, with small peach bonsai and tabletop apricot trees gaining popularity. Apricot pots typically sell for around VND 400,000–500,000. Although trading has yet to peak, large crowds are visiting the market, with demand expected to rise toward the weekend.

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Antique and vintage stalls selling items such as tobacco pipes, bronze figurines and zodiac-shaped oil lamps add a distinctive touch to Hang Luoc flower market, drawing foreign visitors and those nostalgic for old Hanoi.

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…as well as decorative items inspired by the zodiac animal and symbols of the new year, adding to the lively Tet atmosphere at the market.

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Foreign visitors also stop to browse and admire reproduction antiques at the market.

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“During the Lunar New Year, Hanoi has many spring flower markets, but my family still keeps the tradition of visiting Hang Luoc Flower Market. Walking around and taking in the atmosphere of the year-end Tet flower market brings back memories of Tet when I was a child,” said Hai Hanh, a resident of Quang An ward in Hanoi.

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As Tet approaches, Hang Luoc flower market stretches across several Old Quarter streets, reflecting changes in organisation while remaining a cultural meeting point that preserves memories of Tet past for many Hanoi residents.