On the afternoon of 14/2, the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Bich Hang, 45, from Truong Vinh Ward, Nghe An, completed her third round of the Central Park flower market, still unable to find a satisfactory peach branch. The one-million-VND "da dao" branch her husband bought four days earlier had already fully bloomed, with petals beginning to fall despite the family's continuous misting and binding of the canopy.

The warm weather in the days leading up to Tet caused the flowers to bloom faster than expected. She spent 4 million VND to find a new peach branch with more buds. "It's more expensive and not as beautiful as the old branch, but at least it guarantees we'll have flowers for the three days of Tet," Hang said.

Bich Hang, 45, from Truong Vinh Ward, Nghe An, ties a peach branch to prevent it from blooming early like her previous one, 2/2026. Photo: Provided by subject

In Hai Phong, Hai Nam, 57, faced a similar situation. In previous years, he typically bought peach blossoms from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month to enjoy them early. The branches would gradually bloom, reaching their peak splendor during the three days of Tet. However, his plans fell apart this year. Searching across the city in the days before Tet for a replacement, he found most peach trees had already bloomed over 60%, with prices as low as 100,000-200,000 VND per branch. In contrast, varieties with many buds were very expensive, with small branches costing 500,000 VND and larger, well-shaped ones reaching up to 5 million VND.

Van Hoang, owner of a 500-tree peach garden in Vinh Phu Ward, Nghe An, explained that the leap second lunar month in the Year of the Snake, combined with warm weather at year-end, caused 80% of his garden's trees to bloom from the 15th day of the 12th lunar month. Unopened peach buds, also known as "sleeping buds," are currently rare. Prices at the garden are three times higher than usual due to the effort required for cold-inhibiting techniques. According to the garden owner, peach blossom enthusiasts this year are less particular about the tree's shape, prioritizing the number of buds for longer-lasting blooms.

In Ha Noi, Ms. Tuyet, owner of a Nhat Tan peach garden in Hong Ha Ward, also confirmed the scarcity. Besides the weather, the impact of floods mid-year led to many peach trees being waterlogged and weakened. The remaining trees, exposed to warm weather at year-end, bloomed simultaneously. "Eight out of 10 customers demand branches with many buds, and growers are struggling to meet that," Tuyet said.

A man examines peach blossoms at Quang An flower market, Tay Ho Ward, Ha Noi, 11/2. Photo: Giang Huy

The early blooming of peach blossoms has also caused distress for vendors. Hai Dao, a peach vendor in Hai Phong, lamented that she had only sold one-third of the 300 branches she imported. Despite selling the fully bloomed stock at "super cheap" prices, customers hesitated, fearing that the petals would all fall off at home, bringing bad luck for the new year.

From a cultural perspective, sociologist Nguyen Anh Hong stated that the desire to hunt for peach buds stems from the belief that flowers blooming precisely at New Year's Eve or on the first day of the lunar new year symbolize new beginnings and prosperity. "When people buy a peach branch with many buds, they are buying hope. Flowers blooming on Tet day are like a 'validation' of a family's wishes for peace and good fortune in the new year," Hong shared.

To remedy the early blooming, Han Thi Lan, who has over 20 years of experience growing peach blossoms in Nhu Thanh, Thanh Hoa, offered some tips. For cut peach branches, enthusiasts can use ice-cold water instead of regular water to inhibit sap flow and slow the blooming process. For potted peach trees, it is advisable to spread cold pebbles around the base, water just enough, and absolutely avoid fertilizers. The tree should be placed in a cool, airy location, away from drafts and heat sources like televisions and altars.

Many people choose to "confine" peach trees in air-conditioned rooms set at 18-20 degrees Celsius to slow down blooming. However, Lan warned that if the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is too great, the flowers could suffer "shock" and shed their buds simultaneously when moved into open spaces.

Residents purchase peach blossoms in Ngo Quyen Ward, Hai Phong. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Having fortunately bought a wild peach branch with many buds on the 25th day of Tet, Tuan Anh, from Thanh Xuan Ward, Ha Noi, dared not turn on his fan, continuously adding ice to the base of the branch, fearing hot air would cause the petals to fall.

"Never before has displaying peach blossoms been as arduous as caring for a newborn; I'm admiring the flowers while constantly worrying about the weather," the 45-year-old said.

According to cultural expert Anh Hong, a beautiful peach branch only needs to suit the family's space and budget. "Instead of diligently hunting for buds, people should appreciate the pink hues already in bloom, as they represent the natural vitality and warmth of Tet," Hong said.

Quynh Nga