At about 2 am on March 3rd (the full moon of the first lunar month), the night flower market area of Nhon (Hanoi) was bustling with the sound of trucks and motorbikes carrying flowers from everywhere. Da Lat roses, daisies, lilies, jade lilies... were neatly bundled and stacked higher than people's heads.
Small traders quickly unload, sort and deliver goods to traders. The bargaining takes place quickly but is full of excitement. In just a few minutes, dozens of bouquets of flowers have been shipped away, in time to return to inner-city stores before dawn.
Doing this job requires getting used to staying up all night. But in return, on days like these, flowers usually sell better, so I also feel happy and have more motivation," shared Mr. Toan (32 years old), a long-time small trader at Nhon night flower market in Hanoi.
Under the high-pressure lights, the whole market seems to be wearing a brilliant coat. The bright red rose petals, the yellow color of chrysanthemums, and the gentle purple color of lavender blend together, creating a scene that is both bustling and romantic.
Besides the source of goods, the selling location is also a decisive factor. Many small traders said that they must be present very early to choose a central point, convenient to attract traders to import goods.
Mr. Phuong (62 years old) - a familiar face at Nhon night flower market in Hanoi said that on holidays, the number of customers increases sharply because the demand for buying incense flowers is higher than usual. "Competition is very fierce. Gardeners who do not watch for flowers to bloom at the right time, if they bloom too early, they are easily pressured by traders to lower prices immediately," he shared.
Behind the shimmering beauty is the persistent rhythm of livelihood of hundreds of workers. Many people start working from midnight to dawn, regardless of rain, cold or hot.
The night flower market is not only a place to supply flowers to the whole city but also contributes to creating stable livelihoods for many families. For them, each sleepless night is a new day full of hope.
However, according to some people in the market area, the later it gets at night, the more late sellers encroach on the road, causing unsafety in the market area.
Amidst the modern pace of life, the night flower market still retains its own unique features, both traditional and vibrant. When the sky lights up, the crowd gradually decreases, but the fragrance of flowers still lingers, as if preserving a part of the city's soul in the night.
