Particularly during the lead-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet), the bustling activity of locals completing the final preparations to bring flowers and ornamental plants to market creates a vibrant natural scene filled with the vivid colours of fresh blooms.

In early December of the lunar calendar, visitors to Cho Lach can feel the festive atmosphere of Tet as roads and fields are adorned with a sea of flowers. This traditional craft village, with over a century of experience, cultivates a wide variety of flowers, including chrysanthemums, bougainvillea, apricot blossoms, and marigolds. Farmers carefully nurture these plants in preparation for the most important season of the year—Tet.

The early arrival of spring

Travelling along roads from Hung Khanh B to Vinh Thanh, Phu Son, and Long Thoi communes, one can witness the residents tending to flowers and ornamental plants. Early in the morning, Tran Thi Thu Huong from Phu Son Commune, along with her family, waters and cares for thousands of pots of chrysanthemums, celosia, ornamental peppers, and others to meet orders from traders.

Huong shared, “I’ve been in this business for over 20 years, cultivating flowers for Tet. My husband’s family has been growing flowers for generations, and now my children continue the family tradition. Nearly every household in this village grows flowers, and it’s thanks to this that many families have prospered and can celebrate Tet abundantly.”

For this Lunar New Year, Huong’s family has cultivated over 3,000 pots of various flowers, all pre-ordered by traders for flower markets.

Flower and ornamental plant cultivation, along with seedling production, has become the local community's primary source of income. According to Tran Minh Duc, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Son Commune, nearly 2,000 households in the commune—accounting for 70% of all households—are involved in flower and ornamental plant cultivation. While products are sold year-round, demand peaks during Tet, with a wide variety of items in different types and sizes supplied to the market.

Some households, like Nguyen Van Cuong’s in Long Thoi Commune, prepared their chrysanthemums early for markets in Hanoi and northern provinces. His 2,500 pots of golden chrysanthemums have been sold to traders for 80,000 VND per pot, yielding a profit of nearly 100 million VND after six months of cultivation.

Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Cho Lach District, Tran Huu Nghi, shared that this year, flower and ornamental plant villages in the area have produced approximately 12 million products of various types to supply the Lunar New Year market. As of now, a portion of the flowers and ornamental plants have been pre-ordered by traders, while the remaining products are being sold directly by residents at markets or through online sales channels. Each year, the local authorities coordinate and connect with flower markets in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces to help sell their flowers and ornamental plants in the lead-up to Tet.

A land of artisans

Cho Lach is also renowned for its artisans, who skillfully shape trees like kumquats, bonsais, and bougainvillea into intricate designs such as animals, urns, and homes. Of the 6,000 households specialising in flower and ornamental plant cultivation, 2,500 are members of the Ornamental Creatures Association, with about 700 certified provincial-level artisans and seven at the national level.

Local artisans credit Truong Vinh Ky (1837–1898) for introducing ornamental plant cultivation to the area. Cho Lach has developed famous craft villages specialising in bougainvillea, apricot blossoms, animal-shaped plants, and chrysanthemums, taking advantage of its fertile soil and abundant water.

One notable artisan, Nguyen Van Cong, 77, was the first to shape banyan trees into unique designs, including dragons, elephants, and teapots. His creations have been exported to Singapore, Cambodia, and Australia.

Sustainable development of craft village

Efforts are underway to build the Cho Lach craft village into a sustainable brand and tourism destination. In 2017, Ben Tre Province initiated the Cho Lach Cultural Tourism Village project, connecting four hamlets across 1,490 hectares and featuring landmarks such as the Truong Vinh Ky Memorial Site, historic churches, and fruit orchards.

This initiative is part of the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, aiming to develop rural tourism, enhance production, and promote agricultural products.

According to Pham Anh Linh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cho Lach, the district is transitioning from traditional cultivation to value-chain production while building a recognisable brand for Cho Lach flowers and ornamental plants. Plans for the 2025 “Cho Lach Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival” aim to showcase the district’s rich agricultural heritage and attract investment for further development.

Additionally, a nearly 85-billion VND national-level project is being implemented to establish specialised production zones spanning 300–500 hectares. This will enhance value chains and support the district’s goal of becoming a national hub for plant seedlings and ornamental plants.