If you live in Hanoi, an absolute minimum Tet item that you need, is a kumquat tree in your living room. This tree is very symbolic to Tet. If you rent a house there, it is very common that the landlord will give you one.
The kumquat tree symbolizes gold, wealth, unity and perfection. So the selection on each tree purchased is not taken lightly. Each tree comes fully laden with hundreds of mandarins (tiny oranges) which symbolize the blessings the family hopes for the coming year.
Vietnamese lady is pleased with peach blossom.
Flowering Peach blossoms line this street for sale in Hanoi.
Peach blossom sales person, brings branches for sale on bicycle into Hanoi before Tet.
The peach blossom is considered the most auspicious flowers of all as it produces a peach which is a symbol of long life. It also has magical powers so is the strongest defence one has against anything evil.
