Spring Flowers Market

Totally different from the one I wrote about previously, they are annual markets that only meet once a year in the spring, shortly before the arrival of the Tet's holiday. In Hanoi, there are many places, such as Quoc Tu Giam (Van Mieu), Nhat Tan, Nghia Do, and Phung Hung, which will be full of beautiful blossoms throughout their sessions. By the first day of New Year (this year's falls on January 29th), all the markets will be clear, leaving no indication of them ever being there.
As Westerners like to have Christmas tree in their houses during the holiday, Vietnamese will usually have kumquats, decorating with greeting cards or red money envelops. This has been long a Vietnamese tradition that people would try their hardest to keep. When the time comes around, those who can will buy the finest ones to match with their status; those with little money will buy small ones; and if one family cannot afford it, their big family will buy one together. In a lot of cases, there might be alternative for kumquats, such as Dao and Mai.
Even though these choices might not be as popupar as kumquats, people demand more and more every year because of their decorative appearances. As a result, the flowers markets also have more varieties each time they meet.
In addition to those places, one can easily tell when Tet is coming to Hanoi by merely counting the flowers "mobile" shops on the streets. Within ten days or two weeks before a new year, Hanoi streets, which is already crowded during normal days, will now be occupied on every square centimeter. Occassionally, one might find it interesting (or a bit scary) when there is a motocycle or bycircle full of flowers coming toward him as its driver being completely covered inside.
Anyhow, this is doubtlessly the most fascinating time in Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular. If you are there, then visit these places because it won't happen again until next year. If you are not, then come and visit us soon, because you surely want to be there! :)
-nxh