A truck driver waits for customers at the Ho Thi Ky flower market

Located in a shallow alley off Ly Thai To Street, Ho Thi KyFlower Marketis one of the biggest flower markets inHo Chi Minh City.

Entering the market in early morning, I was amazed by the sight of roses, lotuses, lilies, daisies and orchids being unloaded from trucks and motorbikes from all over Vietnam and beyond. I was overwhelmed by the pleasant fragrances of hundreds of varieties of fresh cut flowers dominating the air, which gave the place the feeling of eternal springtime.

A few hours later, I returned, but was unbothered by the summer heat of high noon, cooled by the good energy of people shopping for flowers, whose minds I could only assume were full of pleasant thoughts. Despite the heat, I found the atmosphere relaxed with shopkeepers who were happily willing to let me taking photos and interview them.

Flower trading is a tough job. The markets shops open early and many do not close until after midnight, most of the shopkeepers working long hours both during the week and on weekends.

But, just like flowers they sell, there is something tender, gentle, natural and polite about these shop attendants, who spend a large chunk of their lives surrounded by the citys most beautiful flowers.

Bundles of flowers for sale at the Ho Thi Ky flower market

When I was born, the flower market was already here. Our shop offers orchids from gardens in Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Long An, Da Lat and Thailand. Prices change a bit everyday, said Duong Thi Kim Thoa, 20, a shopkeeper at a small flower stall at Ho Thi Ky.

Thoa said because it was one day before first day of a new lunar month, prices were higher.

Whereas buying fresh flowers on a regular basis is more common in northern Vietnam, in HCMC most fresh flowers end up decorating events such as weddings and funerals.

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