Farmers in Tran Bien busy preparing for Tet flower season

With just over three months to go before the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, farmers and flower traders in Tran Bien ward have entered the peak period of care and cultivation to ensure the best blossoms for the festive season.

At Thien Lan Orchid Farm in Tran Bien ward, orchids bloom year-round to meet growing customer demand.

The atmosphere at gardens cultivating yellow apricot blossoms, a symbol of spring in southern Vietnam, and Phalaenopsis orchids, known as the “Queen of Flowers,” has become increasingly vibrant. Undeterred by sun or rain, local farmers work diligently and patiently, tending to each plant so it can absorb nutrients and energy in preparation for blooming brightly and releasing its fragrance when spring arrives.

Breathing life into apricot tree

Early every morning, Truong Quang Vinh, a resident of the Nhat Hoa neighborhood in Tran Bien ward, begins his workday by tending to his apricot garden. His family currently grows around 1,000 yellow apricot trees in pots, including 500 recently grafted with the Binh Loi super blossom and Saigon super blossom varieties, which are known for their large, multi-layered flowers with 20–27 petals each.

Vinh shared, “Since the seventh lunar month, when the grafted branches began to grow strongly, I started wiring and shaping the trees. Because there are so many, I also hired skilled artisans to help ensure everything is done on schedule.”

According to Vinh, the value of each yellow apricot tree is determined by multiple criteria. While perceptions and evaluations may vary from person to person, most agree that strength, aesthetics, and feng shui alignment are essential factors. After more than two months of care, hundreds of trees of various ages in his garden have been shaped and styled into eye-catching forms such as straight trunk (mai truc), waterfall (thac do), dragon-phoenix dance (long dan phuong vu), and dragon embracing water (long cuon thuy).

Holding pruning shears in one hand and aluminum wire in the other, Vinh remarked: “The person shaping the tree must have an artistic eye and a refined perspective to envision the hidden aesthetic potential that those outside the craft often cannot perceive. That’s why, in some cases, an artisan may stand silently for hours in front of a tree, ‘studying’ their work. Though the process appears quiet and still, in the artisan’s mind, it is an intense act of creative labor. Each tree grows according to the laws of nature, but through the artisan’s vision and hands, it is shaped, imbued with spirit, and transformed into a work of art and its value elevated.”

Vinh shared that the yellow apricot blossom is a signature flower of southern Vietnam, and during Tet, nearly every household wants at least one pot on display. Those with means often choose large, high-value trees based on personal preference or feng shui, while families with more modest conditions select trees suited to their budget. Regardless of size or cost, everyone hopes the vibrant yellow blooms will bring luck, prosperity, and abundance.

To meet the diverse needs of customers, Vinh divides his garden of 1,000 yellow apricot trees into various sections, with prices ranging from a few million to several hundred million dong.

In October, due to the impact of heavy rains and storms, yellow apricot trees are highly susceptible to fungal diseases and common pests, including thrips, anthracnose, leaf spot, powdery mildew, coin spot, and pink fungus. Alongside shaping and training the trees, Vinh’s family places particular emphasis on pest and disease prevention, using only biological pesticides to safeguard human health and the environment.

Ensuring orchids bloom right on time for Tet

Currently, orchid growers are also intensively caring for their plants. Among them, Thien Lan Orchid Farm, specializing in tissue-cultured Phalaenopsis orchids, is the largest in Tran Bien ward and has become a hive of activity.

Ngo Thi Kim Tuyen, the farm’s manager, said the facility supplies around 30,000 orchid plants to the market each year, mainly during the Tet season. The advantage of tissue culture lies in its ability to mass-produce healthy, disease-free plants with consistent quality and color, as well as to accelerate flowering compared to traditional propagation methods.

“With rapid urbanization reducing agricultural land in the ward, the local Farmers’ Association is encouraging residents to adopt organic and bio-agricultural models, focusing on small-scale, high-efficiency, smart, and technology-driven farming. Flower and ornamental plant cultivation has proven to be an effective direction.” To prepare for Tet 2026, the ward Farmers’ Association is reviewing all flower and ornamental plant producers to advise them on forming cooperative groups that create production and distribution chains. The Association also plans to collaborate with local authorities to organize the Spring Flower Fair 2026, promoting locally grown flowers, supporting sales, and adding vibrant color to the community’s New Year celebrations.

Bo Trong Hieu, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province.

At this stage, orchids that meet age and health standards are being placed into controlled flowering conditions in preparation for Tet Binh Ngo 2026. Specifically, plants that are at least six months old (since tissue culture), with 6 to 8 leaves and strong root systems, are transferred into a cool environment (around 20–22°C) to stimulate flower bud differentiation. As the greenhouse at Thien Lan Phalaenopsis Orchid Facility does not yet meet optimal temperature requirements, thousands of orchids have been relocated to cooler areas in Di Linh commune, Lam Dong province, for proper care.

Tuyen added: “To ensure the orchids bloom beautifully during Tet, we use fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium, such as NPK 10-30-20, starting from the ninth lunar month, followed by an even higher potassium concentration to promote strong flower spikes.”

Thanks to their diverse colors and elegant form, Phalaenopsis orchids are beloved by many, especially during the Lunar New Year when demand peaks. Every day, three agronomists are stationed at Thien Lan Orchid Farm to monitor and care for the plants, ensuring only the finest orchids reach the spring market.

Although Tran Bien ward is located in the urban center of Dong Nai province, it still has dozens of households growing flowers and ornamental plants, mainly yellow apricots and orchids. By the ninth lunar month, other farmers cultivating chrysanthemums, roses, and gladiolus also begin their new planting season.

The bustling atmosphere of farmers tending to their flower gardens fills the air with joy and anticipation, as if Tet and spring are already on their way.

By Q.Minh – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho