© VNA/VNS/Thanh HaFarmers in Nhat Tan gardens in Ha Noi's Tay Ho District get peach trees ready for market. Local growers worry that the cold will prevent trees from producing blossoms in time for Tet.
It is a poignant reminder for Dung, and all Hanoians, of the remarkable cold spell that is hovering over the north. The image of Tet with its banh chung xanh (green bean cake) and hoa dao do (red peach blossoms) has been engraved in their minds.
Peach flowers are believed to bring wealth and luck - and to chase away evil spirits. But this is not the case for Nhat Tan peach-flower village, the best known in the north, which has 30ha of peach trees in all sizes.
This year, there are many growers like Dung who are facing failure brought on by the bitter weather which hit the north in early January.
"In 20 years, this is the first time the weather has turned this cold. Most of the trees will be lucky to survive, let alone produce flowers," said Dung.
