The spring atmosphere is overwhelming Hanoi with bonsai gardens around the capital.
As the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) approaches, peach blossom and kumquat gardens in Nhat Tan and Tu Lien villages are their busiest this time of year.
The bonsai is important to Vietnamese people’s Tet the same as pine trees to Westerners at Christmas.
Farmers are preparing for a bumper harvest.
Pham Duy Thang, who runs Thang Nga Kumquat Garden in Tu Lien village, said he planted more than 2,000 kumquat bonsai this year and so far, he has sold 60% already.
“Customers like bonsai with big fruits, lush green leaves, flowers, and young buds,” he said. “This year’s weather is favorable for kumquat bonsai. I’m happy as my kumquat bonsais are beautiful and sold better than other years.”
Chu Thi Hoa, a farmer in nearby Nhat Tan Peach Blossoms Village, said that in general, peach blossoms this year are good. “After recent rains, the moist wind from the east made the bonsai sprout very quickly,” she said.
“The recent gust of cold has done well to slow peach blossoms from blooming so that they can bloom at the right time for Tet. We have to pick young buds on bonsai so that the leaves do not cover flowers.”
Hoa said her duty includes taking great care of peach blossom bonsai; otherwise, there may be insects harming the bonsai. “We use pesticides and fertiliser and spend lots of time caring for the bonsai,” she said.
Some farmers focus on rare peach blossom bonsai, which offer more beautiful flowers. Le Ham, whose family resides in Nhat Tan village and has planted peach blossoms for many generations, said he used to plant all genres of peach blossoms.
“Since I know how to plant ‘That Thon’ peach blossoms, I have focused on this rare genre of peach blossoms,” he said.
According to Ham, "That Thon" is very strong, and is easier to plant than other types of peach blossoms. It can resist worms and diseases very well. Yet the time to harvest is longer. “A 'That Thon' bonsai may take seven or eight years before it can bloom well,” he said.
“Some bonsai may take dozens of years. Normal peach blossom bonsai can be harvested after two to three years. That’s why the price is much higher.” He said "That Thon" peach blossoms offer the best flowers among various genres of peach blossoms.
“In recent years, we have made it bloom right at Tet, so many more people know about this genre,” he added.
Ham said this year’s weather is favourable for peach blossoms to grow with sufficient rains, sunlight, and coldness.
However, a long heatwave has harmed the peach blossoms. Before Tet, weather changes may affect peach blossoms. The flowers may bloom too early or too late for Tet.
“I think people will seek beautiful flowers,” he added. “If the price is too high, growers should reduce the price or plant more bonsai, and cut down costs so that the bonsai can be sold at a reasonable price and more customers can enjoy it.
Due to the long time for growing, the number of That Thon peach blossom bonsai is still limited. Though its flowers are beautiful, few people can enjoy them.”
“More and more customers visit my garden as I have reduced the price so that more customers can enjoy it,” Ham said. “I think soon, That Thon peach blossoms will be more popular.”
These days, many visitors come to the site to enjoy the spring atmosphere.
Tran Dinh Hung, from the central province of Quang Tri, visited Nhat Tan Peach Blossom Village. “I feel the spring atmosphere here in the gardens,” he said. “I think the peach blossoms may come into full bloom right at Tet.”
In Quang Tri, people have bonsai of ochna, but not peach blossoms, for Tet.
“Hanoi’s peach blossoms are beautiful,” he said. “They bear the power of spring inside.”
Hung said he would take a bonsai of peach blossoms home to enjoy Hanoi’s spring essence.
Come to the bustling scene in the villages and you will get inspired by the spring colours here.
Vincent Dubois, a visitor from France, said he was impressed with the gardens.
“I love the colors and flowers and the resin inside kumquat plants,” he said. “Hanoi is so beautiful with these bonsai villages inside the city.”