Which flower commonly decorates northern Vietnamese homes during Tết?

Peach blossom commonly decorates northern Vietnamese homes during Tết.

Known in Vietnamese as hoa đào, peach blossom is a signature Tết decoration in northern Vietnam. Its pink flowers bring a vivid seasonal display during the cool late-winter period and are associated with vitality, renewal, luck, and the arrival of spring. Families may display cut branches or small peach trees in their homes during the holiday.

Vietnam’s regional climate helps explain the distinction. In central and southern Vietnam, yellow ochna blossom—hoa mai—is more characteristic of Tết decorating. Northern mountain areas may have their own local preferences, including mountain ebony, while kumquat trees are popular in northern and central homes because their abundant fruit suggests fertility and fruitfulness.

The common mix-up is treating one flower as universal across the country. Orchid, chrysanthemum, and lotus can all appear in Vietnamese homes or gardens, but they are not the clearest regional answer to this question. Peach blossom specifically points to the northern Tết tradition, while yellow ochna blossom is the better-known counterpart farther south.