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This young Vietnamese brought an abandoned vacant lot back from the dead

This young Vietnamese brought an abandoned vacant lot back from the dead

Friday, February 26, 2021, 11:07 GMT+7
This young Vietnamese brought an abandoned vacant lot back from the dead
Three women pose for photos in the field of cosmos flowers grown by Nguyen Van Ly in the northern province of Ha Tinh. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A once desolate field in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam has been given a facelift by 30-year-old Nguyen Van Ly.

The now stunning field in Thach Khe Commune, about five kilometers from Ha Tinh City, is where visitors stroll through the vibrant cosmos flowers as they snap photos, especially to commemorate the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday which fell on February 12.

The field is the result of Ly’s hard work and desire to start a sustainable business.

Nguyen Van Ly, the owner of the cosmos garden, holds a small bunch of cosmos flowers in his garden. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Van Ly holds a small bunch of cosmos flowers in his garden. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Most of the visitors are surprised when they hear that the now blooming field was once a desolate, dry, abandoned strip of land.

According to Ly, about two months before Tet, he began planting the flowers and building dressing rooms for visitors to change outfits for photos. 

The field also features notice boards with youthful messages and an area in the middle of the field where visitors can take shelter from the rain or sun.

“The land was once used to plant watermelon but it was abandoned because the owner thought it couldn’t turn a profit," Ly shared.

"We decided to rent it at a cost equivalent to their watermelon sales in order to plant cosmos.

"We’ve so far spent about VND60 million [US$2,600] on this lot.”

The field of flowers hit peak blooms timely during the Tet holiday and has attracted large crowds of visitors ever since. On peak days, up to four hundred people visit the garden.

At first, visitors could enter free, but from February 15, Ly began charging an admission fee of VND30,000 ($1.30), except senior citizens and children.

The fee is used for watering and taking care of the flowers.

“I hope to be able to expand the field of flowers and then collaborate with local farmers to provide tourism services,” Ly shared. 

“I can’t imagine how many people have come to visit my garden!”

A section of the garden set up to provide visitors with a shelter from the sun and rain during. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A section of the garden set up to provide visitors with shelter from the sun and rain. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

The field of the cosmos blooms in the sun. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

The field of cosmos blooms in the sun. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A four-member family in the cosmos garden. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A four-member family in the cosmos garden. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A young woman holds a flower in the garden of cosmos. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A young woman holds a flower in the garden of cosmos for photos. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A notice board among the beds of flowers reminds visitors not to step on the flowers. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

A notice board among the beds of flowers reminds visitors not to step on the flowers. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

The field of cosmos bloom attracted many locals during the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

The field of cosmos blooms attracted many locals during the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Three middle-aged women hold hands in the garden of cosmos. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Three women pose for a photo in the garden of cosmos. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Visitors come to the flower farm Sao Nhai to enjoy the beautiful blooming flowers on February 15, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Visitors come to the field to enjoy the beautiful blooming flowers. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

Three young women pose in the field of cosmos flowers. Photo: Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre

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Kim Thoa - Ngoc Thang / Tuoi Tre News

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