In recent days, the rooftop tomato garden of Tran Thi Tuyet Nhung, 50, in Binh Tri Dong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, has entered peak ripening season, becoming an unusual backdrop for Lunar New Year, or Tet, photos.
A trellis heavy with tomatoes in shades of red, yellow and green stands out amid the surrounding concrete. Planted in late August 2025, the vines began fruiting simultaneously after more than four months of careful tending, covering the entire structure.
Before harvest, the tomatoes turned the rooftop a vivid red, drawing friends and acquaintances who came dressed in ao dai or the Vietnamese traditional dress to take Tet photos among the vines.
Because the rooftop is part of a shared family living space, Nhung does not accept strangers or offer photography services. All visitors are close friends who come to share the joy of gardening.
“Mostly friends invite each other to wear ao dai and take photos for fun, enjoying the early Tet atmosphere,” Nhung said. “Many people want to come, but this is a private home, so I cannot accept strangers.”
The photo sessions are informal and intimate, with visitors standing beneath the tomato trellis or sitting beside the rows, gently touching the fruit. For many, it is a rare chance to find a quiet green corner in the heart of the city.
To support the heavy crop, Nhung’s husband built a sturdy iron trellis designed to hold tall, fruit-laden plants, with reinforced welds to ensure stability and ease of care.
“This tomato crop will only look like this for a short time before harvest,” Nhung said. “Luckily, close friends came early and captured the most beautiful moments.”
The harvest yielded about 60-70 kg of tomatoes in two batches. All were shared with relatives, with some made into jam or preserved for use during Tet. None were sold.
The roughly 100 sq metre rooftop garden began modestly during the social distancing period, when Nhung planted a few pots of vegetables to supplement family meals. After seeing others successfully grow cantaloupes on rooftops, she tried it herself and enjoyed immediate success.
Since then, the fashion seller has spent time studying techniques, joining gardening groups, mixing soil, selecting seeds and designing trellises. The garden now produces seasonal vegetables and fruits including squash, loofah, bitter melon, cantaloupe and several tomato varieties.
All plants are grown organically, without chemical pesticides. Nhung uses biological fertilisers and natural preparations to prevent disease.
“Being high and airy means fewer pests,” she said. “The key is understanding each growth stage and checking water and fertiliser every day. Tomatoes look easy, but without proper technique they fail quickly.”
Each afternoon after work, Nhung tends the garden, watering and pruning while admiring the flowering vines. “My business is busy, but when I’m in the garden I feel lighter,” she said. “Green plants help me relax.”
