Colourful blossoms signal first sign of Tet in Hanoi

With over a month to go before Tet, many peach branches are going on sale to serve those who want to get one for display till the traditional holiday.

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A Tet atmosphere descends on the traditional flower market in Hanoi as customers head to the market and purchase beautiful peach branches in order to decorate their homes.

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The blossoming of the flowers marks the initial sign that the Lunar New Year is just around the corner.

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Small peach branches cost between VND150,000 and VND200,000 each, while the larger ones can fetch up to VND1 million each.

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A branch is much sought after by Vietnamese people, especially those living in the north, to put it on display on the ancestral altar or to decorate their houses.

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Peach blossoms are widely believed to represent both luck and prosperity moving into the new year.

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Aside from Nhat Tan peach blossoms, several traders at Quang An flower market also sell wild flowers ahead of the festive season.

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According to sellers, branches of wild pear flowers are typically brought from mountainous localities from throughout the north such as Lang Son, Lao Cai, and Ha Giang.

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Many customers choose wild pear flowers that last long while peach blossoms or Kumquat trees tend to fade away during the long Tet holiday.

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Whilst the flowers only bloom for about a month, if given professional care, the blooming time can last as long as two to three months. Indeed, the most beautiful wild pear flower branches must have some pear fruits, symbolising prosperity on the early days of the New Year.