Hundreds of boats from Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Soc Trang arrive in quick succession, laden with a wide range of flowers, ornamental plants and regional produce, creating a distinctive riverside market scene.
The flower market stretches about three kilometres along Binh Dong Wharf and the Tau Hu Canal, running parallel to Vo Van Kiet Boulevard and offering city residents a lively Tet shopping experience.
In addition to southern favourites, the Binh Dong Wharf flower market also features varieties from other regions, including peach blossom, wild roses and azaleas, adding diversity to the Tet offering.
Flower prices are seen as stable this year. Small apricot trees sell for VND 200,000-600,000 (USD 7.80-23.40) per pot, while larger specimens range from 2 million to 10 million dong (USD 78-390), depending on their age and shape.
Nguyen Thi Mai from Ben Tre said she was selling bougainvillea pots for VND 150,000 (USD 5.85) each and had brought more than 200, hoping to sell out before returning home for New Year’s Eve.
From around the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, many residents begin buying flowers early. “In previous years, I saw traders forced to smash pots and slash prices close to New Year’s Eve, which was heartbreaking,” said My Hong.
Wooden planks linking boats to the riverbank have become a defining feature of the market. When buyers show interest, traders lift apricot trees ashore for inspection.
One trader said boat hire this year runs at VND 15-18 million (USD 585-702) per trip, with capacity for around 60 tonnes, or over 1,000 small to medium-sized pots.
Beyond selling yellow apricot trees, traders at Binh Dong Wharf also offer rental services, which have grown in popularity to meet varied household demand.
Traders from the Mekong Delta have been moored at Binh Dong Wharf for days, living aboard their boats to care for their flowers as Tet approaches.
Huu Thinh, an eighth-grade pupil on holiday, has been helping his mother at the market. “It’s hard work, but I enjoy it and look forward to coming here every Tet,” he said.
The road along Binh Dong Wharf is busy with trade at all hours. Shoppers browse from their motorbikes, stopping to buy and carry flowers home, creating a uniquely convenient Tet shopping scene.