The history of Sa Dec flowering village
After many generations of cultivating and nurturing, up to now Sa Dec Flowering Village stretches from Tan Quy Dong ward, An Hoa ward to Tan Khanh Dong, Tan Quy Tay, Tan Phu Dong communes and then spreads to neighboring localities such as: Tan Khanh Trung commune, Tan My (Lap Vo district), Tan Duong, Hoa Thanh commune (Lai Vung district), spreading down to Tan Binh, Binh Tien (Chau Thanh district), etc. Hoa Sa Dec is increasingly prosperous, bringing beauty for life, wealth for people, prosperity for the country.
According to Mr. Nguyen Nhat Thong - Former Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee/Head of the Committee’s Publicity and Education Commission of the Sa Dec City Party Committee, up to now, Sa Dec flowering village has experienced through 5 generations.
The first generation were horticulture growers in Sa Dec from the late 19th century to 1930. This is considered the pioneer generation, opening up the tradditional village. At this time, ornamental plants only met the needs of families and individuals, and did not have the conditions to be sold everywhere. However, the shaping of a new profession in agriculture was built and had a certain position in the lives and activities of Sa Dec residents at that time, which was horticulture. For that merit, we must respectfully thank the households of our predecessors such as: the families of Mr. Pham Van Nhan, Vo Van Phu, Tran Van Dau, Pham Van Xoai, etc.
The second generation from 1930 to 1945: Ornamental plants growers in Sa Dec at that time were honored by all of citizens as beautifying life such as Mr. Hai Ky, Nam Duong, Hai Nhung, Muoi On, Muoi Can, Nam Sam, Van Phap; Among them, Mr. Hai Huong is one of the few people who extracted Tung Ho Bach earliest and successfully. They are the second generation considered to have brought their products penetrating in foreign markets. People have seen ornamental flowers as an important resource for a land along the Tien River with heavy silt, nourishing the lives of Sa Dec people, and Tan Quy Dong is recorded in history books:
Full of alluvium from Sa Nhien river branch
To Tu Quy saplings with blossoms added
The third generation from 1945 to 1975, the horticulture career, Sa Dec flowering village also developed up and down with the times. Some people put aside growing ornamental flowers and joined the resistance war, while others stubbornly stuck to flower fields and ornamental gardens. Among those steadfast people is Mr. Duong Huu Tai, who are often so-called Tu Ton. He tried every way to maintain his flowering garden, collecting new varieties, especially rose flowers. Then his name became associated with "Tu Ton Rose Garden". This place has become a nursery for new rose varieties for Sa Dec, the South and the whole country, etc. Since then, many people know Sa Dec as a land of flowers. Mr. Tu Ton and his contemporaries such as Mr. Hai Ghien, Bay Oanh, Ut Nho, Tu Ba, Sau Bo, Bay Pheo, Sau Kinh and some others can be considered as the Third Generation.
The fourth generation from 1975 to 1990, Sa Dec ornamental flowers also have mixed joys and sorrows, or in other words, challenges mixed with opportunities. After the day of national unification, jubilant joy filled the hearts of every Vietnamese person, Sa Dec ornamental flowers also bloomed, but then the increasingly difficult economic situation, natural disasters, floods, and border wars made the country face many challenges and worries and ornamental flowers at that time were considered a luxury. The flower growing area is gradually shrinking, profits from ornamental flowers are not significant. It was not until 1986, when the renovation process began, that ornamental flowers revived. Ornamental flower growers during this period faced many hardships and difficulties to firmly step forward and rebuild the Ornamental Flower Craft Village in the country's renovation. This is the fourth generation of the ornamental flower village.
From the fifth generation from 1990 to now, Sa Dec ornamental flowers have accompanied the development of the homeland. Production here has continuously grown, creating competitive advantages, awakening the potentials and advantages inherent in previous centuries; Applying achievements of science and technology, biotechnology, hybridization, grafting, branching, etc. Promote the outstanding development of Sa Dec ornamental flowers, rapidly increase in scale, level and production value, beautify the landscape, and contribute to improving the material and spiritual life of Sa Dec residents. By 2023, the area of ornamental flowers in Sa Dec is over 950 hectares, with more than 4,000 households, with tens of thousands of people cultivating, producing, and trading ornamental flowers, providing products year-round to many regions in the country and go beyond to be exported to several countries. Since 2015, many gardeners have invested in building tourist destinations, attracting a large number of tourists inside and outside the province to visit, with notable highlights such as: Sa Dec Ornamental Flower Tourist Area, Rose Garden, Corrugated iron, Field of Roses, Hung Thy, Flower Viewing Platform, Upside Down House, Overland Cruise, Frog Flower House, etc. This is the fifth generation that some people also call this the golden generation.
Five generations have gone through two centuries of cultivating ornamental flowers, the names of land and people seem to blend together, from Rach Dau, Thong Luu, Sa Nhien, Cai Dao, Ong Thung, Tu Quy to Tan My, Tan Hue, Tan Hiep etc.
From a land along the Tien River, it became a peaceful, prosperous homeland with thousands of flowers famous throughout the country. Origining from Sa Dec, many artisans cultivate, care for, prune, and shape ornamental plants and bonsai trees; contributing to building and beautifying the unique Sa Dec cultural identity, molding the elegant and talented qualities of the Sa Dec people. From flowering village to horticultural city, five generations continue to cultivate to make Sa Dec forever beautiful for people, for life, for future generations.
Mr. Nguyen Nhat Thong - Former Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee/Head of the Committee’s Publicity and Education Commission of the Sa Dec City Party Committee
Translated by Giang Nguyen