Top 10 Types of Flowers Typically Arranged for Tet Celebrations in Northern Vietnam

Gladiolus comes in a variety of bright colors with an elegant shape, and it lasts for a long time, typically 10 to 20 days. This makes it a popular choice during Tet, as people often buy gladiolus bouquets to decorate their homes for the festive season. Gladiolus is one of the most commonly used Tet flowers in Vietnam. With its tall, slender stem and multiple flowers arranged in a chain-like pattern, gladiolus is often used for floral arrangements in tall vases or as centerpieces, bringing a touch of elegance and grace to the home. These flowers are often combined with other types to create vibrant, colorful arrangements, and are displayed on altars, dining tables, or guest tables to create a festive atmosphere filled with joy and vitality.

Gladiolus is also known by another name, 'Sword Orchid'. It is one of the most beloved flowers during the New Year celebrations. Gladiolus has a graceful shape and can last for a long time. Many families prefer to place long-stemmed gladiolus in large vases, which can last from Tet through to the full moon festival in January. The gladiolus symbolizes warmth and a strong bond. During the 1980s, it was common for brides in Hanoi to carry a bouquet of red gladiolus during weddings, perhaps because of its symbolism. Today, gladiolus remains a popular flower for Tet in Northern Vietnam.

The Phalaenopsis Orchid has long been admired for its exquisite beauty and regal appearance, which captivate all who see it. This flower is a popular choice for home decoration during Tet, not only for its elegant and luxurious look but also for its auspicious meaning in feng shui, symbolizing positive spiritual energy. A pot of Phalaenopsis or a branch of this alluring orchid, full of grace, is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the household during the New Year.

Phalaenopsis Orchids have round, symmetrical stems and leaves that are a vibrant green, with large, round petals in a variety of bright colors. These flowers represent wealth, prosperity, happiness, and success. For this reason, placing a Phalaenopsis Orchid in the home during Tet is considered a way to ensure a perfect start to the New Year for the family. Additionally, gifting Phalaenopsis Orchids to loved ones during Tet is seen as a wish for good luck, wealth, and happiness in the coming year. This makes it a highly favored flower during Tet celebrations in Northern Vietnam.

For a long time, the Lily has symbolized elegance, nobility, and grace. It not only represents beauty and virtue but also embodies pride, expressing noble and faithful love. Due to these qualities, lilies are widely available today. Not only do they enhance the beauty of any space, but they are also perfect for gifting mothers, loved ones, or for occasions like New Year's celebrations, graduations, and grand openings. The beauty of lilies is often associated with purity, loyalty, and nobility. In recent years, many Vietnamese families enjoy displaying lilies in their homes because they come in various colors, shapes, last for a long time, and their strong, harmonious fragrance complements the incense during Tet celebrations.

Yellow lilies, with their large petals, are particularly fitting for altar displays during the New Year, symbolizing good fortune. If the flowers bloom on the first day of Tet, they are believed to bring wealth and prosperity to the household. However, it's best to avoid placing white lilies on the altar during Tet. For welcoming guests during the holiday season, a vase of orange lilies on the coffee table is an excellent choice. Not only do they create a warm, inviting atmosphere for visitors, but the tea served to guests during the new year also tastes even richer.

Gerbera Daisy, also known as the 'money flower' in feng shui, is believed to bring wealth, good luck, and prosperity to the household, especially during Tet. With its charming, vibrant, and graceful appearance, Gerbera daisies are often grown in small pots and placed on tables as decorative accents. The lively and bright colors of Gerbera daisies bring an energetic and joyful vibe to the spring season. Their small size makes them perfect for displaying on coffee tables, windowsills, dining tables, reception desks, counters, work desks, front porches, balconies, TV stands, bookshelves, storage cabinets, window sills, or staircases, creating a cheerful atmosphere full of meaning.

Gerbera Daisies are also popular for floral arrangements in clear vases. You can display them alone or mix them with other flowers to create a striking display. Like their miniature versions, a vase filled with Gerbera daisies adds a pop of color to any space. During Tet, if you want to brighten up your garden, planting Gerbera daisies in large containers to form a colorful carpet of flowers will create an eye-catching focal point that also attracts prosperity. Another creative way to display them is by placing the stems in a round glass bowl filled with water, typically arranging three to five flowers in each bowl. This simple yet unique decoration method is easy to do and visually appealing.

Dahlia flowers, known for their elegant beauty and wide variety of shapes and colors, are beloved worldwide and are considered the queen of the autumn garden. As the national flower of Mexico, and the official flower of San Francisco, dahlias are highly regarded in Japan for their delightful fragrance. In Vietnam, only a few varieties of dahlias are well-suited to the local climate, but they are commonly displayed during Tet for their vibrant beauty and symbolic meaning. The bright and graceful blooms of dahlias are believed to bring luck and happiness during the new year.

In feng shui, dahlia flowers are associated with resolving relationship issues and are thought to bring success and fortune to the entire family. Traditionally, dahlias are considered the flower of generals, following the peony as the 'king's flower'. Dahlias symbolize a love that endures, representing loyalty and the timeless nature of affection. These flowers bloom continuously from July through the end of the year, with new buds emerging before the old blooms fade, symbolizing gratitude. Because of their meaning, dahlias are often used to decorate homes during Tet in Northern Vietnam.

Camellia trees stand apart from many other flowers we typically see; they are woody plants with slow growth and can grow to substantial sizes. Camellias bloom in the spring, making them a popular choice during Tet celebrations in Vietnamese homes. Not only do they boast a sweet and captivating beauty, but they are also loved for their deep symbolic meaning. Camellias usually bloom at the same time as the Lunar New Year, making them a quintessential Tet flower, even though they are not as commonly seen as plum or peach blossoms.

For generations, camellia trees have been a favorite in Vietnamese households during the spring. People admire them not only for their aesthetic value but also for the significant meanings they carry. The word “đường” in camellia (hải đường) refers to a grand house, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Furthermore, camellias represent the arrival of spring and are a cherished gift exchanged with the wishes of warmth, success, and affluence for the new year. Many Northern Vietnamese families enjoy placing camellia flowers on altars or in their homes during Tet as they symbolize prosperity, harmony, and a happy, warm family life.

Roses are a popular choice for many families during Tet celebrations. Known worldwide as a symbol of love, roses represent both romantic love and family affection. Displaying roses in the home during the Lunar New Year not only adds beauty and elegance to your space but also conveys wishes for lasting love and happiness in the coming year. Many families place large vases of roses in their living rooms or on the altar, as the flowers are both beautiful and meaningful, bringing good fortune and blessings.

Roses are still regarded as the ultimate symbol of love and passionate devotion. In feng shui, roses are believed to bring good luck and prosperity to a household. The thorns of the rose are thought to ward off negative energies, while its rich fragrance attracts positive vibes, making the living environment more peaceful and pleasant. Choosing the right rose color and style according to the room’s décor can help create a joyful, refreshing atmosphere for the family. Roses come in various colors, each associated with different astrological elements, so selecting the appropriate rose based on personal feng shui can help enhance harmony and well-being.

Peach blossoms symbolize the arrival of spring. For centuries, they have been an essential part of Tet celebrations. Peach flowers are representative of the northern Tet festivities, while the yellow apricot flowers are a symbol of the south. For many Vietnamese, a Tet celebration feels incomplete without these flowers. People often prefer peach blossoms because they bring beauty, warmth, and are believed to bring good luck and happiness. The red flowers are said to ward off evil spirits, and according to folklore, they strengthen friendships and connections. The peach blossom tree adds warmth to homes, filling the heart with joy and hope for the New Year. The peach tree is considered a precious element of the Five Elements, not only banishing negative energies but also bringing vitality and good health to the family.

Beyond enhancing the home’s festive atmosphere, peach blossoms hold profound meanings. They are regarded as a powerful force of the Five Elements, believed to repel evil spirits and bring peace and happiness to the household. Additionally, peach blossoms symbolize fertility and growth. People wish for prosperity, successful ventures, and a happy family. The sight of peach blossoms fosters optimism and hope for a brighter future. The peach tree breathes new life into the home, with everyone in the family blessed with health and good fortune. Beyond choosing the most beautiful tree, decorating it with ornaments such as paper firecrackers, red envelopes, coins, or string lights will make the peach tree stand out and complete the festive look.

During Tet, many flowers are used to decorate homes, such as apricot blossoms and peach flowers, but perhaps the most popular is the golden chrysanthemum. With its simple yet vibrant golden hue and its gentle fragrance, the golden chrysanthemum brightens up any space, bringing freshness to your home. In addition, it symbolizes joy, good fortune, wealth, and happiness. Chrysanthemums are also regarded as a symbol of longevity, nobility, and filial piety, often seen as a representation of virtuous individuals. This is why golden chrysanthemums are a favorite decoration during the Tet holiday.

In folklore, chrysanthemums are one of the four precious flowers—“pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and plum”—symbolizing longevity and abundant blessings. According to feng shui, chrysanthemums bring luck and a peaceful life to the family. For this reason, they are an essential part of Tet celebrations in northern Vietnam, often displayed in small pots at the entrance or as offerings on ancestral altars. Chrysanthemums thrive in the autumn-winter season and are believed to bring wealth and health in the new year. The vibrant yellow color of the golden chrysanthemum creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, enhancing the festive spirit of Tet and symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Moreover, chrysanthemums are affordable, long-lasting, and retain their color, making them a popular choice for the holiday season.

Narcissus flowers are believed to purify the air and bring prosperity to a household. In Hanoi, the sight of a Narcissus flower blooming exactly at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve is considered an omen of a prosperous year ahead. Many Hanoians place a Narcissus vase on their ancestor altar, waiting for the precise moment of the new year to witness the first bloom. The delicate fragrance of Narcissus blends beautifully with the scent of incense and other citrus fragrances, filling the home with tranquility and good fortune. To create a perfect Narcissus arrangement for Tet, flower enthusiasts often choose bulbs that are three years old, with thin skin and dark brown petals. The process of peeling and nurturing the Narcissus requires great care and precision.

For traditional Vietnamese families, particularly in Hanoi, Narcissus flowers are a must-have decoration during Tet. The white petals with golden centers are compared to 'precious jade,' a symbol of wealth and purity. The blooms are known for their long-lasting beauty and subtle, soothing fragrance that creates a calm and joyful atmosphere in the home. Additionally, Narcissus flowers are not just ornamental but are also believed to represent wealth and prosperity, making them a perfect symbol for the new year.