The Sa Dec Flower Village, located along the Tien River—a distributary of the Mekong River—and spanning nearly 1,000 hectares, boasts a history of over a century. Initially known for rose cultivation, the village now showcases hundreds of flower varieties, including numerous ornamental plants.
During the Tet holiday, flowers such as chrysanthemums, marigolds, and lisianthus are among the most popular choices for cultivation.
The village is home to 4,000 flower-growing households besides 190 trading households and 17 cooperatives. In 2024, the flower and ornamental plant industry in Sa Dec generated an estimated revenue of VND3.3 trillion (US$130.23 million).
This year, chrysanthemums have gained significant popularity, prompting growers to triple their production compared to last year.
According to the Sa Dec City Economic Office, approximately 70 hectares of flowers have been cultivated specifically for the 2025 Tet holiday, representing 7% of the city’s total flower and ornamental plant cultivation area. Among these, growers have planted 75,000 pots of traditional yellow chrysanthemums, 100,000 pots of multicolored chrysanthemums, and 100,000 pots of Taiwanese chrysanthemums.
Farmer Dang Quang Giau has cultivated 15,000 pots of multicolored chrysanthemums this year, compared to just 1,000 pots of traditional yellow chrysanthemums.
In addition to selling flowers, Giau has created rustic mini-landscapes and opened his garden to visitors, charging an entry fee of VND20,000 (less than a dollar) per ticket.
“Most visitors to my garden end up buying a few pots of flowers before leaving. On average, I sell about 300 pots a day at prices ranging from VND130,000 to VND150,000 per pot,” Giau said.
He added that 70% of his stock has already been pre-ordered, with the remaining flowers sold directly at his garden. After six months of care, Giau estimates his profits will reach several hundred million dong. (VND100 million = US$3,950)
Farmer Nguyen Van Thanh waters the roots of his flower pots.
The 2025 Tet holiday in Vietnam will span nine days, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2, including two weekends.
Many gardens in the village offer backdrops for visitors to take photographs.
Nga, a local resident, visited the village with her colleagues to capture holiday photos. “We chose to wear ao ba ba, the traditional shirt of southern Vietnamese people, and posed with the vibrant multicolored chrysanthemums,” she shared.
The atmosphere of the flower village draws tourists from across the region.
Ho Thi Thanh and a group of friends rented a car to travel 130 km from HCMC to Sa Dec to visit the village.
"This is my first time here, and I love the lively ambiance and the variety of flowers," Thanh said. "I bought five pots at very reasonable prices."
Nguyen Van Rot, a seasoned flower grower with over 20 years of experience, planted 1,000 pots of chrysanthemums this year—a 50% reduction from last year—due to concerns about market saturation, which he encountered during the previous season.
His flowers have been purchased by traders at prices ranging from VND50,000 to VND60,000 per pot, and up to VND200,000 for larger ones.
"Production costs have gone up, but prices remain the same, so profits are lower. Still, selling out is a relief," Rot said.
To maintain a steady income year-round, he and his wife also grow flower pots for sale throughout the year.
The riverside road along the Sa Giang River, a branch of the Tien River, serves as a central hub for loading flowers onto trucks for delivery.
Truong Cong Loi, a trader specializing in providing Sa Dec flowers for the HCMC market, has purchased over 10,000 pots since the two weeks ago.
"Prices are steady this year. But I'm cautious about stockpiling because flowers remain a luxury item, and many families are cutting back on spending."