New Year's Eve on the boat of those who bring Tet to Binh Dong wharf

(Dan Tri) - "Every year, whether we sell out or not, on the night of the 30th of Tet we get on the boat to return home. When the boat just passed Binh Dien bridge and heard the sound of New Year's Eve fireworks, I was eager to get home faster," Duy confided.

On the afternoon of January 29 (December 19), Mrs. Cuc's family (57 years old, living in Ben Tre province) took turns carrying each flower pot to the Ben Tre river bank to load onto the boat. After transferring about 100 apricot pots and 50 bougainvillea pots, Mrs. Cuc returned home to prepare dinner. At 4am the next morning, the boat started its engine and began its journey to "carry Tet" from Cho Lach district (Ben Tre) to Ho Chi Minh City. On the not-too-big boat, which had faded over time, Mrs. Cuc and Mr. Duy (38 years old, Mrs. Cuc's son) took the opportunity to eat the prepared rice, regaining their strength to cross the river. At 5pm the same day, Mrs. Cuc's family's boat arrived at Binh Dong wharf, right on Tau Hu canal, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. After registering with the ward People's Committee, Mrs. Cuc was allowed to sell. Over the past 20 years, Mrs. Cuc cannot remember how many houses in Ho Chi Minh City she has "brought Tet".

New Year's Eve on the boat back home

Every year at the end of the 12th lunar month, the spring flower market at Binh Dong wharf is bustling with boats loaded with fresh flowers and ornamental plants from the Western provinces to Ho Chi Minh City for sale. On this occasion, along Binh Dong Street and Tau Hu Canal parallel to Vo Van Kiet Avenue, there are colorful apricot flowers, chrysanthemums, bougainvillea, bonsai trees, kumquat trees, etc. "Come and see these flowers, uncle, apricot flowers are only 200,000 VND/pot, buy to support uncle", that is what Mrs. Cuc calls out every time a customer passes by. In Cho Lach, Mrs. Cuc's family has 4 sao of land growing apricot and bougainvillea. This year, the batch of flowers she brings to sell has been cared for for more than 6 years, these types of flowers cost from 200,000 VND to several million VND depending on size and style.

Mrs. Cuc's quick nap (Photo: Hoang Huong).

After 2 days at Binh Dong wharf, the number of flowers that she sold was only a dozen. According to Ms. Cuc, compared to previous years at this time, there are still not many customers buying, most of them are people who come to see. "Thanks to the boat that the family bought themselves, there is no need to pay for rent, otherwise it would have cost a lot. A few years ago, my husband and I went to sell together, but last year we had a loss, so this year we split the selling at two locations. My husband came later, selling at Nguyen Van Cu, District 5," Ms. Cuc said. This year, although busy with work, Mr. Duy still took the opportunity to leave early to go home to help his family bring flowers to sell. According to Mr. Duy, going by boat takes a lot of time, but this method of transportation is better than using a truck, the flowers will not fall or break branches. "Every year, whether we sell out or not, on the 30th night we take the boat home. When the boat just passed Binh Dien bridge, hearing the sound of New Year's fireworks, I felt even more excited and wanted to go faster to reunite with my family soon," Duy confided.

"I have to go every year. Staying home is so boring."

After traveling dozens of kilometers from Ben Tre to Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Lien (50 years old) ate a loaf of bread and took the opportunity to check the flowers for sale. 10 years ago, Ms. Lien's parents planted apricot trees, but only for fun. When she got married, they discovered the economic value that apricot trees bring, so the couple decided to borrow money and contribute capital to start a business. This year, Ms. Lien brought about 200 apricot pots to Ho Chi Minh City. There are still many trees in her garden, but they are not of good quality, so she kept them to take care of and wait until next year to sell them again. "Last year I brought more, but I couldn't sell them, so I considered it a waste. This year I brought just enough, but I don't know if there are any left," Ms. Lien said, laughing.

A boat loaded with apricot flowers docked at Binh Dong on December 22 (Photo: Hoang Huong).

To transport the apricot blossoms to the city, Ms. Lien rented a boat from the 20th to the 30th of the twelfth lunar month for 20 million VND. Arriving at Binh Dong wharf, she was alone all night and all day watching the stall. "This job is very hard, working hard all year round, "selling your face to the ground, selling your back to the sky" just to hope for a Tet crop. The apricot blossom growing job is inversely proportional to the grower, the tree is beautiful but the body is withered. Although it is difficult, I cannot give it up, this job has supported my family for many years," Ms. Lien confided. Along Binh Dong wharf, when asking who has been selling flowers for Tet, everyone will surely know Mr. Hoang and Mrs. Ngon (over 70 years old, both from Ben Tre). Although they are old, every year, Mr. Hoang and his wife are the first to bring flowers to Tau Hu canal to sell.

Many traders were happy when they completed dozens of kilometers to Binh Dong wharf (Photo: Hoang Huong).

"I have been selling for decades, this year I did not go by boat, on December 15th, my wife and I rented a truck for 3 million VND to transport the flowers to sell. Even though some years we make a profit, some years we lose money, but every year we have to go, we cannot not go, it is very sad at home", Mr. Hoang said. Recalling the old Binh Dong wharf, Mr. Hoang said that this area used to be complicated, with all kinds of evils, and small traders who came to sell were often robbed. However, in recent years, trading has become more organized, the authorities organize spring flower festivals on the wharf and on boats, the police force and security guards are on duty 24/7, so people and traders feel more secure.

Dantri.com.vn

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