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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Saigon Flower Market

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Location of Ho Ky Thi flower market

Location of Ho Ky Thi flower market

There is a very narrow web of alleyways call Ho Ky Thi which is off the larger street Le Thai To in District 10. This is the flower market of Saigon, and if you didn't know it was there, you could easily miss it.

I will tell you ahead of time that I do not know the names of many flowers. But not knowing the names did not lessen my joy at seeing such colorful splendor!

Shop after shop with flowers

Shop after shop with flowers

Each shop is in front of individual homes and the alleyways are narrow, just wide enough for motorcycles to pass through. No car would fit!

The people of Saigon live in narrow laneways off the major streets. This was a true neighborhood of Vietnam where the local people lived and these are the shops in which they worked.

Beautiful packaged fresh flowers

Beautiful packaged fresh flowers

There were all sorts of buckets and bouquets of fresh flowers. You could get just about any color and shape of flower you desired.

 

 

 

 

A woven arrangement of orchids

A woven arrangement of orchids

Artistic display is important and great attention to detail is given. Orchids are everywhere. They available in lots of colors and many types are native to Vietnam. Compared to what prices they bring in the States, they are amazingly cheap here. A small orchid plant with a few shoots on it will only cost you a couple of dollars.

Dozens of roses already wrapped for purchase

Dozens of roses already wrapped for purchase

Roses in colors of red, orange, tangerine, peach, pink and white are wrapped in these corrugated cardboard cylinders. Makes for a beautiful front-of-the-store arrangement.

A spray of white flowers

A spray of white flowers

These white flowers show a lot of action and energy when displayed in a spray. The best time to go to the Ho Ky Thi market is in the earlier part of the morning when flowers are fresh before the heat of the day gets to them.

Palm leaves and other greenery set of this white and yellow arrangement

Palm leaves and other greenery set of this white and yellow arrangement

The dark green set against this bright yellow mum and white floral display was beautiful. You can also purchase baskets and vases here which are made from bamboo or ceramics. You may also choose your flowers and have them arranged.

Individually protected

Individually protected

Each flower here is wrapped separately for the protection of its individual daisy-like petals.

Selling flowers is a major industry in Vietnam. Most delicate flowers come from Dalat due to its consistent year-round climate. It is often referred to as the Paris of the East. Brightly colored flowers such as these are exported to Europe and Japan   

Fresh!

Fresh!

These flowers remind me of an Easter display.

Tropical flowers are grown in the southern part of Vietnam.

Rose bouquet

Rose bouquet

These roses are ready to burst.

 

 

 

 

Another spray of flowers

Another spray of flowers

Could anything be more yellow or tropical looking?

Individually wrapped bouquets

Individually wrapped bouquets

This woman is picking out a multicolored bundle of flowers amidst packed buckets of choices.

Even though the best time to purchase flowers is in the mornings, the area is a hotspot from about midnight to sunrise. This is when dozens of trucks rush to the market with thousands of flower boxes from both Ha Noi and Dalat cities.

More choices

More choices

Each home style shop seemed to sell a different selection of flowers and we wandered in between the colors. Ho Ky Thi is considered the biggest flower market in town, and most locals know about it. Foreigners could easily miss this market because it's sort of hidden away from the main streets.

Flower man on bicycle

Flower man on bicycle

Home delivery!

What a fun sight to see in the city of Saigon! Have you seen anything like this in your home town?

For more stories and photos about Vietnam, click here

About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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