The Mekong Delta, known for its bustling floating markets, lush fruit orchards, and ancient architecture, also captivates visitors with the gentle, alluring beauty of traditional flower villages. Every spring, as the Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) atmosphere fills the air, these villages in the Mekong Delta burst into vibrant life, showcasing their radiant colors. They become must-visit destinations for those seeking a connection with nature and the joyful spring ambiance. Among them, Vi Thanh Flower Village in Hau Giang province stands out as a precious gem, attracting tourists with its unique charm and diverse array of flowers.
Vi Thanh Flower Village – Hau Giang’s Radiant Gem
If you’ve heard of Hau Giang, you might immediately picture vast rice paddies or abundant fruit gardens. However, few know that Hau Giang is also home to a famous “flower sanctuary” – Vi Thanh Flower Village. Located not far from the city center of Vi Thanh, this village unfolds like a vibrant tapestry of colors, especially during the Tet holiday season.
History and Uniqueness of Vi Thanh Flower Village
Vi Thanh Flower Village may not have centuries of history like other flower villages in the Mekong Delta, but it has quickly established its position on the region’s flower tourism map. The diligent and hardworking people of Vi Thanh have transformed lands once thought only suitable for rice cultivation into boundless flower gardens. They continuously learn and seek out new flower varieties and advanced cultivation techniques to create high-quality flower products that meet the increasingly diverse demands of the market.
The uniqueness of Vi Thanh Flower Village lies in its diverse flower varieties. Here, you’ll be amazed by a “kingdom of flowers” with all kinds, from traditional favorites like chrysanthemum morifolium and marigolds to sunflowers, to elegant orchids, vibrant petunias, and sophisticated hydrangeas. Each flower possesses its own unique beauty, contributing to a multicolored picture that enchants every visitor.
Vi Thanh Flower Season: A Symphony of Colors
Spring, especially the period leading up to Tet Nguyen Dan, is when Vi Thanh Flower Village is at its most beautiful. This is the time when flowers bloom profusely, displaying their vibrant colors to prepare for the Tet market. Everywhere you look, along roads and alleys, is filled with floral hues. Fields of golden chrysanthemum morifolium stretch like sunlit carpets, bright orange marigolds symbolize luck and longevity, and colorful petunias resemble delicate little bells ringing in the spring breeze.
Beyond the flowers, the atmosphere in Vi Thanh Flower Village during spring is also truly special. Locals are busily tending to their flowers, preparing for the Tet flower season, with joyful chatter and the bustling sounds of flower-laden vehicles coming and going. It all creates a lively, vibrant spring atmosphere full of life.
Vi Thanh flower village in Hau Giang province blooming with colors in spring
Unique Tourist Experiences in Vi Thanh Flower Village
Visiting Vi Thanh Flower Village offers more than just flower viewing and photography; you also have the opportunity to experience many other interesting activities.
1. Sightseeing and Photography:
This is an essential activity when visiting the flower village. You can freely stroll through endless flower gardens, admire the beauty of each flower variety, and capture memorable moments amidst the colorful blossoms. The flower garden owners in Vi Thanh are very friendly and hospitable, happy to share stories about flower farming, rare flower types, and create the best conditions for visitors to take beautiful photos.
2. Buying Fresh Flowers:
If you love flowers and want to bring a touch of spring home, don’t forget to buy fresh bouquets at Vi Thanh Flower Village. The flowers here are not only beautiful and fresh but also reasonably priced. You can buy flowers to decorate your home or as gifts for loved ones and friends.
3. Learning About Flower Farming:
Vi Thanh Flower Village is not only a tourist destination but also a place that preserves the traditional cultural values of flower farming. You can chat with flower farmers to learn about the process of growing and caring for flowers, and the secrets to having beautiful, high-quality flower gardens. This is an opportunity to understand more about the hard work and dedication of the gardeners, and to appreciate the beautiful fresh flowers you admire even more.
4. Enjoying Local Cuisine:
After visiting the flower village, you can savor Hau Giang’s specialties at nearby eateries and restaurants. Hau Giang is famous for many delicious dishes such as grilled snakehead fish, hotpot with fermented fish sauce (lau mam), vermicelli soup with fish and shrimp paste (bun goi gia), and crispy pancake (banh xeo). This is a chance to explore the rich and diverse cuisine of the Mekong Delta.
Travel Tips for Vi Thanh Flower Village
To have a complete and meaningful trip to Vi Thanh Flower Village, keep in mind these tips:
- Ideal Time to Visit: The best time to visit Vi Thanh Flower Village is about 1-2 months before Tet Nguyen Dan. At this time, flowers are in full bloom, and the Tet atmosphere is starting to build.
- Transportation: You can travel to Vi Thanh by bus or motorbike. If traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a bus to Vi Thanh city, then rent a motorbike or taxi to reach the flower village.
- Attire: Choose comfortable, easy-to-move clothing suitable for walking and visiting flower gardens. If you want to take beautiful photos, you can choose brightly colored outfits to stand out among the flowers.
- Hygiene: Please maintain general hygiene in the flower village, do not litter, and do not pick flowers or break branches to protect the landscape and environment of the flower village.
- Respect Local People: Respect the customs and traditions of the local people, and behave politely and respectfully when visiting the flower village.
Exploring Hau Giang From Vi Thanh Flower Village
Vi Thanh Flower Village is not only an independent tourist destination but also an ideal stop on a journey to explore Hau Giang and the Mekong Delta. From Vi Thanh, you can easily travel to other famous tourist attractions in Hau Giang such as:
- Nga Bay Floating Market: One of the largest and most famous floating markets in the Mekong Delta, where you can experience the bustling trading atmosphere on the water and enjoy local specialties.
- Lung Ngoc Hoang Ecological Tourist Area: The largest primary cajeput forest in Vietnam, where you can explore the diverse and pristine ecosystem of the wetland.
- Vi Thanh Fruit Orchards: Hau Giang is also famous for its abundant fruit orchards with varieties like Hoa Loc mangoes, king oranges, and Nam Roi pomelos. You can visit fruit orchards to enjoy fresh fruits and learn about the cultivation process.
- Chuong Thien Victory Historical Site: A place that marks the glorious victory of our army and people in the resistance war against the Americans.
Discover Other Flower Villages in the Mekong Delta
Besides Vi Thanh Flower Village, the Mekong Delta is home to many other famous flower villages, each with its own beauty and unique characteristics. If you have time, you can combine visits to these flower villages for a more complete Mekong Delta exploration.
Sa Dec Flower Village (Dong Thap)
Sa Dec Flower Village, also known as Tan Quy Dong Flower Village, is one of the largest and most famous flower villages in the Mekong Delta. With an area of nearly 600 hectares, Sa Dec Flower Village is known as the “land of flowers.” A special feature of Sa Dec Flower Village is that flowers are grown on elevated racks above water, creating a unique and poetic scene.
Sa Dec flower garden in Dong Thap with a unique flower growing method on racks
Cho Lach Flower Village (Ben Tre)
Cho Lach Flower Village in Ben Tre is famous for its nearly 100-year-old traditional ornamental flower and plant growing profession. Visiting here, you will admire unique artworks created from ornamental plants, especially during Tet Nguyen Dan.
Cho Lach flower village in Ben Tre is famous for artistic ornamental flowers and plants
Thoi Nhut Flower Village (Can Tho)
Thoi Nhut Flower Village, also known as Ba Bo Flower Village, is one of Can Tho’s famous tourist destinations. This flower village is known for its diverse flower varieties, especially imported and hybrid flowers.
Thoi Nhut flower village in Can Tho with a variety of flowers
My Tho Flower Village (Tien Giang)
My Tho Flower Village is one of the oldest flower villages in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its camellia flowers, along with many other types of flowers such as Dutch chrysanthemums, golden daisy chrysanthemums, and asters.
My Tho flower village in Tien Giang is colorful
Phuoc Dinh Apricot Blossom Village (Vinh Long)
Phuoc Dinh Apricot Blossom Village in Vinh Long is home to ancient yellow apricot blossom (mai vang) gardens. Visiting here, you will admire the elegant and gentle beauty of ancient apricot trees and choose a favorite apricot tree to display for Tet.
Phuoc Dinh apricot blossom village in Vinh Long with ancient yellow apricot trees
Conclusion: Vi Thanh Flower Village and Mekong Delta Exploration
Vi Thanh Flower Village is an attractive tourist destination, offering visitors memorable experiences of the beauty of flowers, culture, and people of the Mekong Delta. If you are looking for a destination to immerse yourself in the joyful spring atmosphere and explore natural beauty, Vi Thanh Flower Village is definitely a great choice. Come to Vi Thanh to fully experience the spring colors of the Mekong Delta and discover the interesting things this land has to offer. Your journey to explore the Mekong Delta will become even more meaningful and memorable when you stop at the vibrant flower villages, where flower colors blend with the scent of spring, creating a beautiful picture of the river region.