Which yellow blossom commonly decorates homes in central and southern Vietnam at Tết? The answer is hoa mai, the yellow Ochna blossom associated with Tết in those regions.
Hoa mai refers to yellow Ochna blossoms, especially Ochna integerrima, a flowering plant widely linked with spring celebrations in central and southern Vietnam. Families display branches or flowering plants to brighten the home and welcome the new year. Its vivid yellow color is commonly associated with prosperity and good fortune.
Regional decoration patterns matter. Northern Vietnam is especially associated with hoa đào, or peach blossoms, while mountain ebony, hoa ban, is linked with parts of the northwest. Chrysanthemums, or hoa cúc, are also used during Tết, but they are not the characteristic yellow blossom identified by this question for central and southern homes.
Blooming can depend on weather and careful preparation, so growers sometimes tend plants to flower near Tết. The contrast between hoa mai in the south and hoa đào in the north is one of the most recognizable regional differences in Vietnamese New Year décor.