When Heritage “Takes Flight” With The Flower Capital

(DTO) After an 8-day journey, the 2nd Sa Dec Flower & Ornamental Plant Festival was more than a celebration of flower beauty. 

It was a strong affirmation of Sa Dec’s status as a dynamic “Flower Capital,” where a century-old heritage is turning into a striking cultural and economic momentum.

THE PULL OF NEW EXPERIENCES

Held from December 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the 2nd Sa Dec Flower & Ornamental Plant Festival saw an explosive surge in visitor numbers from the very first days. Across all routes leading into the flower village, crowds streamed in nonstop, creating a vibrant and dazzling festival scene.

Notably, this year’s visitor profile showed a clear shift. Alongside traditional tour groups from HCMC and Mekong Delta provinces, the festival recorded an increase in international visitors and Gen Z travelers.

Thanks to creative communication campaigns on TikTok and Facebook, Sa Dec’s photogenic corners quickly became social-media sensations.

Visiting from Tay Ninh with a group of 10 friends, traveler Nguyen Ngoc Khanh expressed satisfaction with the festival’s scale and organization. Khánh was particularly impressed by the activities involving hot air balloons for their uniqueness.

For Khanh’s group, the trip felt complete as they enjoyed beautiful spaces and left with a collection of artistic, memorable photos.

The most emotional and pride-worthy highlight of this year’s festival was the official recognition of Sa Dec’s floriculture as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This recognition not only honors the skilled hands of generations of artisans but also elevates the cultural value of every flower pot and ornamental plant from Sa Dec.

The creativity of Sa Đéc residents was further showcased through a Vietnam record-setting achievement: “The Vietnam Map Created from the Largest Number of Flower and Ornamental Plant Varieties.”

This massive artwork was not only an eye-catching attraction but also stirred feelings of national pride as visitors stood before a map of the homeland formed from the colors and fragrances of its own soil.

WHEN TRADITION MEETS MODERNITY

The 2nd Sa Dec Flower & Ornamental Plant Festival marked a major leap forward in its production, introducing entirely new experiential spaces: hot air balloon performances filled the skies above the flower village for the first time; and the show “A Century of Fragrance and Colors” offered a feast of sound and light.

Through these performances, the history and development of the craft village were vividly reenacted, striking deep emotional chords with audiences.

The street parade brought an intriguing blend of cultures as ao ba ba and ao dai (Vietnamese traditional clothes) appeared side by side with costumes from Japan, Korea, and Latin America, creating a multicultural space in the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Meanwhile, the exhibition of 1,000 flower and ornamental plant varieties, equipped with QR-code information lookup and free Wi-Fi, gave visitors maximum convenience in the era of Industry 4.0.

Ms. Duong Ngoc Van, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Thap Association for Women Entrepreneurs, shared: “The biggest highlight of this year’s festival is its pure celebration of local identity. Displaying only flower varieties grown in Sa Dec, with no outside mixes, created a gentle, uniquely charming beauty for the flower village. I was especially impressed with the scale of the festivities, particularly the hot air balloon performances, an exciting experience that not all festivals can offer. Though each visitor may feel differently, it’s clear that continuous innovation and leveraging local strengths have brought great joy to residents and tourists alike. Personally, I’m very happy to have captured beautiful memories here with friends.”

The success of the 2nd Sa Dec Flower & Ornamental Plant Festival reflects a new mindset among farmers and local authorities: shifting from “agricultural production” to “flower economy.” Today, farmers don’t just sell flowers. They sell experiences, cultural stories, and hospitality.

The strongest proof of this growing appeal can be seen at the Tan An Flower & Ornamental Plant Cooperative. With its highlight attraction, the “Heart of Sa Dec,” and a series of carefully designed decorative displays, the cooperative has become a major draw for visitors.

Mr. Dang Quang Giau, Head of the Tan An Flower & Ornamental Plant Cooperative, said: “Since opening on December 20, 2025, we’ve welcomed about 20,000 visitors, five times more than during the first festival in 2023.”

Notably, direct sales of roughly 20% of flowers to tourists brought in significant revenue. This festival is hoped to grow in the coming years so Sa Dec Flower Village can further elevate its reputation.

The 2nd Sa Dec Flower & Ornamental Plant Festival concluded with brilliant achievements, far beyond the scope of an ordinary celebration.

The event left a lasting impression of a hospitable Dong Thap and a dynamic Sa Dec that keeps reinventing itself upon a strong foundation of heritage.

 By M. NHAN
Translated by ANH DUC