Hanoi White daisies – the flowers that call winter home.

Daisies, or cúc họa mi, have long been one of the most delicate symbols of autumn in Hanoi. To many, they are the flowers that gently call winter home, blooming from October to early December, right when the city slips out of its golden autumn and begins to grow quietly colder in preparation for a new season.

Hanoi daisies - A symbol of pure love and quiet strength

In love, hoạ mi represents purity, sincerity, and simplicity – a kind of affection that doesn’t need to shine loudly, yet remains steady and resilient through challenges.

In life, these flowers symbolize endurance. Their thin stems and soft petals may look fragile, but they stand tall even in harsh weather, embodying the quiet strength and elegant simplicity that many people associate with Hanoi.

A special season after the historic floods

This year, historic floods following the typhoons swept through many flower fields, leaving behind only smaller surviving patches. Farmers worked tirelessly, draining water from the flooded fields in the hopes of saving whatever they could.

And perhaps because of all this, every bouquet feels even more precious this year – a small gift from nature, a reminder of resilience, and a token of what managed to grow back after the water receded.

December – the last bloom and the familiar sights of Hanoi

Early December often marks the end of the daisy season. This is when you’ll see hoạ mi everywhere across Hanoi:

– Nestled in street vendors’ shoulder baskets,

– Overflowing from old bicycles cycling through tiny streets,

– Glowing softly in the chilly morning markets,

And of course, in the arms of girls and women dressed in their graceful áo dài, strolling around Hoàn Kiếm Lake or along Phan Đình Phùng Street – a familiar and beloved image of Hanoi during this time of year.

Photo: Cong studio

A season meant for sharing

I buy these flowers every year, and this year is no different. I’ve lost count of how many bouquets I’ve brought home since the season began. Not just for myself – I’ve given them to my mom and my friends as little gifts, a way to share Hanoi’s fleeting beauty and to pass along a bit of happiness to the people I love.

A happy flower vendor at a wholesale flower market where I often buy flowers.

And how about you? Have you managed to bring home a bouquet of hoạ mi yet?

If not, maybe this is the year. You might just bring home a little piece of Hanoi’s winter.

I bought three bouquets of daisies from the wholesale flower market to give as gifts to my friends.

Join us for local experiences that capture the charm of Hanoi — from its hidden cafés to poetic autumn corners.

Dung (Emma)

Beyond Vietnam