Top 12 Most Beloved Flowers in Vietnam

Roses, also known as 'hồng' in Vietnamese, are flowering plants from the genus Rosa in the Rosaceae family, consisting of over 100 species with a variety of flower colors, ranging from temperate to tropical climates. Famous for their beauty, these flowers are widely referred to as roses. Most species are native to Asia, with a few originating from Europe, North America, and Northwest Africa. Native species, cultivated varieties, and hybrids are grown both as ornamental plants and for their fragrance.

These plants are either shrubs or climbing vines, with thorny stems and branches. The leaves are pinnately compound, with serrated leaflets and stipules. Roses bloom in a wide range of colors: pink, white, yellow, red, and more, often with many petals due to the transformation of male stamens. The flower base is cup-shaped, and the fruit, known as a hip, forms within the flower base.

Renowned for their beauty, shape, and fragrant aroma, roses are a symbol of love, especially in the West, much like the lotus symbolizes love in Asia. Both flowers are closely associated with the symbol of the wheel. In Vietnam, roses are especially popular during Valentine's Day, International Women's Day (March 8), and Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20). You can find various types of roses like velvet red and white roses, each carrying its own special meaning. Make sure to choose the right rose to give to your loved one!

Many women dream of having beautiful orchids to decorate their homes. Orchids emit a soft, delicate fragrance that creates a calming, soothing atmosphere. Known for their elegance, orchids belong to the orchidaceae family and are one of the largest plant families worldwide. They grow on other plants as epiphytes, clinging to trees or rocks. The leaves vary greatly, ranging from thick, succulent types to thin, delicate ones. The flowers typically have six petals, with the outer three resembling the sepals, often matching in color and size.

Orchids are highly favored for their unique beauty and the diversity of their forms. These flowers come in virtually all colors of the rainbow and various combinations of those colors. The smallest orchids are as tiny as a grain of rice, while the largest can have a diameter of up to one meter. Vanilla orchids, in particular, are prized for their fragrance and are used in culinary creations around the world. Get some lovely orchids today to gift to the women in your life!

Chrysanthemums are a widely used flower in Vietnamese culture. These flowers are often seen during festive occasions, rituals, and ceremonies. Chrysanthemums come in various colors such as white and yellow. The plant's leaves are arranged alternately and divided into several serrated leaflets. The flower heads form a complex cluster, sometimes a solitary bloom. The base of the flower is surrounded by layers of bracts. The flower petals come in different colors like white, yellow, or red, though through crossbreeding, various other color combinations have been created. The 'chrysanthemum' family also includes varieties with many small blooms clustered together, which are highly loved by people.

Chrysanthemums symbolize purity and are also a symbol of respect for one's ancestors. This flower has been featured in Vietnamese poetry for centuries, such as in the works of famous poets like Trần Khắc Chung, Huyền Quang, Phạm Mại, Nguyễn Trãi, Nguyễn Du, and Nguyễn Khuyến. Chrysanthemums, especially golden ones, are commonly displayed during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) as a sign of filial piety, wishing for the health and well-being of parents. They are also believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the home. The vibrant yellow color of chrysanthemums fills the house with life, attracting wealth and abundance into your home.

Frangipanis are often found in temples, shrines, and sacred places in Vietnam, as well as on coastal hillsides. These shrubs are evergreen and feature thick, fleshy stems with large, swollen roots. The leaves are elongated, slightly rounded at the tips, with smooth edges. Their color ranges from glossy green to grayish green, concentrated at the tips of the branches. Frangipanis typically shed their leaves during the colder months.

When most of the leaves have fallen, from spring to summer, frangipanis bloom in full glory. The original flowers usually have five thin petals that form a funnel shape, typically in basic colors like white, pink, or red. Today, through cultivation, frangipanis have been bred into varieties with more petals and more vibrant colors. Unlike many flowers, frangipanis bloom year-round, releasing a strong, sweet fragrance that symbolizes purity. If you visit Vũng Tàu, you can experience the beautiful sight of frangipani trees blooming by the coast.

Sunflowers are native to North America. These annual plants have tall, straight stems covered in rough, bristly hairs and can grow between 1 and 3 meters in height. The large leaves are usually arranged alternately, with long petioles, and the leaf blades are egg-shaped with pointed tips, heart-shaped bases, and serrated edges. Both sides of the leaves are covered with white hairs. The flowers form large heads with a diameter of 7 to 20 cm, surrounded by egg-shaped bracts. The outer petals are yellow, while the bisexual flowers in the center are pinkish purple. Sunflowers typically bloom in winter or early spring.

The vibrant yellow of sunflowers, combined with the bright sun, creates an incredibly romantic atmosphere. Although sunflowers are easy to grow, they do not yield high results in Vietnam due to the less favorable climate. They are found growing wild in many places, from plains to mountain regions, and along roadsides and abandoned fields. You can visit Vietnam's largest sunflower field in Nghĩa Sơn Commune, Nghệ An, which spans nearly 60 hectares. Sunflowers are mainly grown for tourism purposes and for harvesting seeds at the end of the season. Purchase some beautiful sunflowers and place them in your home for a cheerful touch.

Lilies were first cultivated in Da Lat, Vietnam, due to its temperate climate, which is ideal for growing this flower. The species was then spread to other provinces. Lilies, along with other imported flowers like roses, carnations, and violets, have become particularly popular in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Lilies are hermaphroditic flowers, typically single, and bloom from the axils of the leaves or at the tips of the stems. These flowers are large, with five soft petals and a fragrant scent. They come in a variety of colors, including deep pink, light pink, orange, yellow, and white. The plants are herbaceous perennials, growing upright with smooth stems that reach a height of 50 to 120 cm. Their leaves are simple, opposite, lance-shaped, and about 10 to 15 cm long, with prominent veins.

For many years, lilies have symbolized elegance, nobility, and refinement. They represent not only beauty and virtue but also pride and the nobility of love. Lilies are often seen as a symbol of luxury and prestige. They bloom from spring to early summer, typically in April, but only last for about two weeks. With just three to five stems, you can create a stunning vase of lilies to brighten your home.

Gardenia, also known as the evening jasmine, is a unique flower that blooms at night, releasing a powerful fragrance. In Vietnam, gardenias are commonly used in religious ceremonies and rituals. To keep gardenias fresh in vases, it's important to wash the stems and change the water daily. Adding a few drops of purple or red dye to the water helps prevent bacterial growth and keeps the flowers from wilting.

The gardenia flower is white, shaped like a funnel, and emits a strong fragrance in the evening. Some people believe that the scent is not ideal for health, which is why gardenias are rarely placed in bedrooms. These plants thrive in sunlight and bloom year-round, though they mostly flower in summer, with fewer, smaller blooms in winter. Gardenias release their scent to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, hence they must bloom at night to draw these insects.

Gardenias are widely cultivated in the northern and central regions of Vietnam, as well as parts of the northern provinces. The tradition of purchasing gardenias during festivals has become a common practice, making the demand for these flowers quite high. Despite urbanization reducing gardenia cultivation areas, the demand remains strong, and the prices have stayed elevated over the years.

The flame tree is closely associated with student life. It holds beautiful memories of school days, especially in summer. The sight of bright, fiery flame trees under the summer sun, their green leaves swaying in the schoolyard, is an iconic image. The flame tree's petals are large, with four wide petals in vivid red or slightly orange, measuring up to 8 cm. The fifth petal, which grows upright, is larger and has streaks of white/yellow or orange/yellow (sometimes white/red).

The flame tree is native to tropical and subtropical climates, first discovered in western Madagascar. It grows well in Vietnam's climate and is especially abundant in Hai Phong. The flower blooms around the time school years end and the season of goodbyes for many students. This is why the flower has become a symbol of school memories, often referred to as the 'student flower.' In the heat of summer, there's nothing quite like sitting under the shade of a flame tree and watching its red petals fall in the breeze.

Gladiolus is a beautiful and elegant flower that is widely used in Vietnam. During festivals and special occasions, gifting a gladiolus flower brings a sense of luxury and breathtaking beauty. The flower's stem grows straight and tall, giving it a strong appearance while maintaining its delicate charm. Gladiolus flowers come in a wide range of colors, including deep red, cream, and purple, with various hues blending together wonderfully.

The flower clusters are fragrant and consist of large, bisexual flowers arranged on one side of the stem. They have two green, leathery bracts that grow opposite each other. The sepals and petals appear quite similar and fuse together at the base, forming a tubular structure known as the calyx. The three outer sepals are smaller, while the largest one wraps around the three stamens. The flowers are funnel-shaped, attached to the stamen at the base, with three slender, spoon-shaped styles that spread outward toward the top.

Gladiolus is a popular and highly cherished flower, commonly used for decorating homes, offices, or businesses. It is the perfect flower to enhance any living or working space, making it ideal for creating a more perfect environment.

The lotus flower is instantly recognized as the national flower of Vietnam. In ancient times, it was commonly found along the banks of the Nile River in Egypt, along with a related water lily known as the sacred blue lotus of the Nile. The lotus is a perennial aquatic plant with a deep root system.

The lotus has a root system that grows in the mud at the bottom of ponds and lakes, while its large leaves float above the water's surface. Typically, the lotus can grow up to 1.5 meters tall, with its roots spreading horizontally up to 3 meters. The leaves can have a diameter of up to 60 cm. The flower emits a faint, soothing fragrance, symbolizing purity and tranquility, much like the spirit of the Vietnamese people. A bouquet of lotus flowers is a perfect gift for a loved one. Additionally, various parts of the lotus plant, including the petals, seeds, young leaves, and rhizomes, are edible. In Asia, lotus petals are sometimes used as garnishes in cooking, while large leaves are used for wrapping food. The lotus rhizome (known as 'ngó sen') is commonly used in soups, stir-fries, and other dishes, making it the most commonly consumed part of the plant.

In 2011, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam held a public vote to select the country's national flower. According to the results, the lotus flower emerged as the most popular choice among the Vietnamese people.

The Golden Apricot Blossom was domesticated by Vietnamese settlers when they expanded into the southern regions of the country. The flower has five petals and typically blooms around the time of Tết Nguyên Đán (Lunar New Year), much like the peach blossoms in the north, making it a common decoration during this festive season. Over time, the golden apricot flower became a symbol of Tết in Southern Vietnam. During the holiday, these blossoms bloom vibrantly, releasing their subtle fragrance and glowing in the sunlight, adding to the festive atmosphere. Nearly every household will have pots of these bright yellow flowers either indoors or in their gardens.

The Golden Apricot Blossom is a hallmark of spring in Southern Vietnam. It is usually known for its mild fragrance, but a special variety of five-petaled apricot has a stronger scent and is known as 'scented apricot'. The tree has an elegant form, with soft branches, delicate green leaves, and bright, radiant flowers. The apricot tree sheds its leaves in the winter and blooms in the spring. The flowers grow in clusters, with long stems hanging from the branches, emitting a soft, discreet fragrance. Each flower typically has five petals, although some rare blooms can have up to nine or ten. It is believed in local traditions that if a household has a branch with such a flower, it signifies good luck and a prosperous year ahead.

While the southern region is symbolized by the golden hue of the apricot blossom, the northern region is represented by the pink blossoms of the peach tree. Peach pots, whether of the pale, pink, or Japanese varieties, are essential decorations in every Northern home during the Lunar New Year. The peach tree is known for its fruit and flowers, with a small, deciduous wooden stem that can grow up to 5–10 meters tall. Its lance-shaped leaves are 7–15 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. The flowers bloom in early winter before the leaves appear, either singly or in pairs, with a diameter of 2.5–3 cm, and typically have five pink petals. The peach fruit, like that of cherries, plums, and apricots, contains a large seed encased in a hard, woody shell (called the 'pit'), while the flesh is yellow or white and has a fragrant, sweet taste, with soft, velvety fuzz on the skin.

In Vietnamese folk culture, the image of the peach blossom is often associated with young, delicate, and fragile girls, as depicted in the expression 'willow weak, peach blossom fresh' or in a traditional chèo song 'Peach and willow are alone, yet your two shoulders still carry the burdens of life's journey.' The peach blossom also symbolizes love and fate, and is featured in many Vietnamese folk songs and proverbs.