Authentic Tet in Mekong Delta

Gardeners work on Sa Dec flower village in Dong Thap Province - Photo: Dao Loan

The authentic delta image is presented on floating markets where hundreds of wooden boats in varied sizes drift on the alluvium water to sell local specialties which are often fruits, flowers and agriculture products.

Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang Province is known as the biggest market of its kind in the water land. It opens from 2 a.m. and gradually disperses from 8 p.m. Meanwhile, Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City is located six kilometers from the center of the city and takes about 30 minutes to reach the market by boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf. On ordinary days, the market opens from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. but at Tet it stays open all day long.

Sa Dec flower village in Dong Thap Province is a fascinating venue for those who love flowers. Sa Dec has more than 350 hectares of flower farms which are cultivated by 1,900 households mainly living in Tan Quy Dong and Tan Khanh Dong communes. They have about 2,000 species of flowers and many bonsai trees which are over 100 years old.

Moreover, another site for flower enthusiasts is Cai Mon flower village in Ben Tre Province, spanning through Vinh Thanh, Tan Thieng, Long Thoi, Phu Son and Hung Khanh Chung B in Cho Lach District. The village is famous for its many beautiful flowers such as daisy, apricot, clove pink, kumquat and marigold.

The 60-year-old Hoi Gia banh tet craft village in My Phong Commune, Chau Thanh District in Tien Giang Province is a place where tourists can enjoy mouthwatering cakes and enquire on how these traditional Tetcakes are made.

Many banh tet varieties are produced there such as with banh tet la cam (wrapped by cam leaves), banh tet ngu sac (colored by pineapple leaves and gac), banh tet bap (made with corn), banh tet nhan dua (with coconut flesh inside), banh tet nhan chuoi (with banana inside) or vegetarian banh tet. People say banh tetHoi Gia is so delicious because it is made from the water of Bao Dinh River, a branch of Tien River, running through the village.

Tra Cuon banh tet village in Tra Cuon Market, Kim Hoa Commune, Ngang Cau District in Tra Vinh Province is renowned for the stickiness, sweetness and skillful wrapping of the cake. The village is on National Road No.53, located around 12 kilometers from downtown Tra Vinh City.