In recent days, the flower market inside Lac Hong Vien Cemetery in Ky Son Ward, Phu Tho Province has been busy from early morning, with chrysanthemums, peach blossoms and kumquat trees filling the walkways.
Most visitors were families from Hanoi and nearby provinces, stopping to buy flowers and offerings before heading to the burial sites of their loved ones.
Tran Phuong Nghia, 68, from Tay Ho Ward in Hanoi, said his family visits the cemetery every year in the days leading up to Tet. After selecting two pots of marigolds and a kumquat tree, he asked staff to transport them to his parents’ graves about 200 metres away.
“We want the graves to have peach blossoms, kumquat and chrysanthemums so it feels like Tet. If the children have Tet at home, the elders should have it too,” Nghia said, adding that the family also brought banh chung, pork rolls and betel leaves as offerings.
Nearby, Le Duc Ky, 68, from Hong Ha Ward in Hanoi, was shopping with his children and grandchildren. He said preparations were planned a month in advance, with each family member responsible for different items such as sweets, votive paper and incense. They also bought two kumquat trees to place at the graves.
Ky's family purchase two kumquat pots to place on their relatives' graves. (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).
Another visitor, Nam from Ha Dong Ward, said his family brought four pots of chrysanthemums along with a peach tree and a kumquat tree to decorate his father’s grave.
“When he was alive, my father always made sure there were peach blossoms and kumquat trees for Tet. Since he passed away, we have kept doing the same for him,” Nam said. “We want to bring Tet to him so he doesn’t feel lonely, and so the grave looks more full of life.”
Families choose kumquat trees to place on their ancestors' graves. (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).
A visitor at Lac Hong Vien Cemetery (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).
According to Venerable Thich Tri Thinh, deputy head of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Phu Tho Province and abbot of Kim Son Lac Hong Pagoda, grave visits become especially common in the final days of the lunar year.
He said the tradition involves cleaning and repairing graves, replacing fresh flowers and arranging offerings, not only to prepare for the new year but also as a time for descendants to remember their ancestors, reflect on the past year and pray for peace and good fortune in the year ahead.
