The bustling atmosphere of the days leading up to Spring, combined with the unique natural scenery of the Cai Mon flower and ornamental plant village, will bring you unforgettable experiences.

Coming here, you will fully embrace the “miet vuon” (orchard) cultural space with ancient traces of the “Six Provinces of Southern Vietnam” (Nam Ky Luc Tinh), which were often recreated in the works of writer Ho Bieu Chanh. You will find dear thatched houses, “xuong ba la” (three-plank canoes) traveling up and down the rivers, the scent of burning field stubble, and folk songs echoing in the afternoon sky…

Cai Mon flower village (located in Vinh Thanh commune, Cho Lach district, Ben Tre) is the homeland of Truong Vinh Ky. For a long time, it has been famous not only for its healthy trees and sweet fruits but also for its ornamental plants. Many people have become billionaires with just 2,000 square meters of land thanks to seedlings and flowers. House after house, the community is dedicated to the craft of floriculture.

Regarding Tet, nothing is more interesting than the days before the New Year, especially in the countryside—where traditional cultural flavors are most vividly preserved. This is the time when those living away from home return to watch locals wrap and boil “banh tet” (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes) and taste rustic Tet dishes of the local people.

In the peaceful setting of the Southern countryside, entire families sit around large bamboo trays filled with rice, meat, and green banana leaves. The kitchen smoke rising from the “banh tet” pot brings a stirring feeling, a sign that Tet is drawing near.

Tourists can also venture deep into the Southern orchards to admire simple flowers like daisies, petunias, orchids, lilies, and miniature roses at Sa Dec flower village, Go Cong, or Cai Mon. You can also visit the ornamental garden of artisan Nam Cong—a “garden artist” who created topiary designs that have been displayed in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay and Botanic Gardens.

From the 20th day of the 12th lunar month, floating markets in Cai Be (Tien Giang) and Cai Rang (Can Tho) enter their busiest festival season of the year. These places transform into wholesale hubs gathering all the produce and fruits of the wealthy Mekong Delta. Visiting at this time, you will witness the bustling trade “on the wharf and under the boats,” the urgent atmosphere of transporting goods to bring Tet everywhere, and the echoing calls of traders that stir the entire river section.

The “Six Provinces” region also bestows upon people many sweet and fresh specialties. Your pre-Tet excursion to the West will be full of emotions, with gifts to bring home such as star apples, bright orange Lai Vung pink mandarins, Ben Tre coconut jam, or Chau Doc dried fish…

Compiled by Bang Tam