Eastern Lam Dong farmers rush to tend Tet flowers
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, farmers across eastern Lam Dong’s flower-growing hubs are busy tending their crops in anticipation of a bountiful and profitable season.
From early dawn until late afternoon, they diligently water, fertilize, and prune their plants. The Lunar New Year market for the Year of the Horse 2026 is forecast to be vibrant, and flower growers are expecting healthy growth and timely blooming to boost their income during the Tet holiday.
Flower fields bursting into color
In the final days of the year, flower fields in Tuyen Quang Commune (Lam Dong Province) are glowing with brilliant colors. Rows of fragrant marigolds, bright yellow chrysanthemums, and vividly colored cockscombs have transformed once-dry hillsides into lively landscapes.
The Farmers’ Association of Tuyen Quang Commune has 22 village chapters with 3,038 members. The locality has maintained the tradition of growing flowers for many years, supplying both local and inter-provincial markets during Tet and other major festivals.
Tien Thanh Village is considered a long-standing Tet flower-growing area, almost a traditional craft village. During the Tet season, flower cultivation expands to more than 6.5 hectares (compared to about 3.5 hectares during regular days), with varieties such as marigolds, cockscombs, longevity flowers, chrysanthemums, hollyhocks, sunflowers, and gerberas. Of the 154 association members in the village, more than 85 are engaged in flower and ornamental plant cultivation.
Typical households include those of Nguyen Van Loi, Pham Ngoc Dien, Nguyen Van Tanh, and Nguyen Thi Ban.
Nguyen Van Loi, who has been growing Tet flowers since 2009, said this year looks promising. “Some large flower-growing regions in the Mekong Delta were affected by weather conditions, causing early blooming. So flowers here are likely to fetch good prices. Well, that’s what we growers hope for,” he shared with a smile.
In addition to cultivating more than 1,500 flower pots of various types, Loi’s family also grows tomatoes, cauliflower, and chili peppers for the Tet market. Nearby, Vo Van Hong has planted over 3,000 flower pots. “In previous years, we planted more, but this year it’s just my son and me, so we reduced the scale. Sudden weather changes made it impossible to grow some varieties,” he explained.
Tet Flowers – A Final Sprint for a Prosperous New Year
These days, in Hong Son Commune, the atmosphere is more urgent and bustling than ever. Flower fields are entering the final “sprint” stage before harvest.
This year, her family is cultivating about 2,000 square meters of Tet flowers, mainly ornamental chili peppers, pompon chrysanthemums, marigolds, cockscombs, and longevity flowers—traditional varieties favored by residents during Tet.
Currently, Hong Son Commune has nearly 2.2 hectares of Tet flower cultivation. Together with traditional varieties such as pompon chrysanthemums, marigolds, longevity flowers, and ornamental chili peppers, growers have introduced new varieties—such as Korean and Pico chrysanthemums—to diversify their portfolio and meet evolving market demands.
Having been engaged in Tet flower cultivation for nearly 20 years, Nguyen Van Dung, head of the Farmers’ Association in Quarter 2, Tien Thanh Ward, said: “Thanks to flowers, my family enjoys a comfortable Tet every year, and my children can pursue their education properly.”
Despite unpredictable weather, heavy rains, and a rise in pest outbreaks, many flower gardens have been affected. However, thanks to careful tending, Hoa’s family has managed to maintain about 2,000 pots for the Tet market. Traders have already pre-ordered nearly half of the output directly at the garden. If all goes well, after expenses, the family expects a profit of around 15–20 million VND.
Similarly, Tran Van Muon from Liem Hoa Village is producing around 10,000 flower pots of more than 10 varieties, an increase of over 2,000 pots compared to last year. “The market still favors traditional flowers, and traders have pre-ordered about 50% of the output. Prices are generally stable,” he said.
Hong Son’s land is considered favorable in terms of climate and soil conditions, allowing many flower varieties to thrive, comparable to major specialized growing regions. However, increasingly unpredictable weather requires farmers to continuously improve techniques and proactively prevent pests to ensure flowers bloom on time.
These days, across the flower fields of eastern Lam Dong, each budding flower is carefully nurtured, awaiting its journey to city streets to welcome the Spring (Year of the Horse 2026). For farmers, ensuring flowers bloom in time for Tet also means preserving hope for a prosperous and fulfilling New Year.