On the morning of February 16 (the 29th of Tet), along the 30/4 Park area and Hai Ba Trung street (Phu Loi ward, Can Tho city) became bustling when dozens of apricot branch selling points were displayed to serve people playing Tet.
From early morning, many gardeners have transported apricot branches from neighboring areas to display for sale. Buyers and sellers are bustling; everyone hopes to choose a satisfactory apricot branch to bring home for display. According to traditional beliefs, the yellow color of apricot blossoms symbolizes luck, fortune and a smooth start to the new year.
The bustling trading atmosphere lasts until noon. The brilliant yellow apricot blossom branches not only carry the colors of spring but are also the fruit of the grower's care throughout a year.
Ms. Ut (An Ninh commune, Can Tho city) is busy arranging each bunch of apricot blossoms just transported from her garden to the selling point. Attached to the profession for nearly 20 years, every year she goes out to sell on the 29th or 30th of Tet.
Apricot trees are all grown by my family. In the garden, there are currently about 50–60 trees, cared for year-round. Near Tet, I choose beautiful branches with many buds and balanced shapes to prune and bundle neatly to serve customers for spring decorations," Ms. Ut said.
The price of each apricot branch sold by Ms. Ut ranges from 50,000–150,000 VND, depending on size and abundance. In addition to apricot branches, she also sells some small apricot trees, but branches are still the main item because "they are easier to display and easier to put in jars".
Ms. Ut said that on the 29th of Tet alone, about 30-40 large branches can be sold, not to mention a few hundred small branches.
Similarly, Ms. Phuong (Phu Loi ward, Can Tho city) said that her family has 3-4 apricot trees about 3 years old. About 19 days before Tet, she started to peel the leaves, then prune them to make the branches sprout evenly.
Today I sell about 20 branches, priced at 80,000 VND/branch. Having more money to prepare for Tet is also very fun," Ms. Phuong shared.
A 66-year-old apricot blossom garden owner in Phu Loi ward (Can Tho City) said that he has been attached to the apricot blossom selling profession for more than 30 years. His family grows many old apricot blossom trees to cut branches for sale right on the 29th of Tet. The price of each branch ranges from 50,000–100,000 VND; and whole apricot blossom trees are sold from the beginning of December, some trees with roots are priced at 500,000–700,000 VND.
On the morning of the 29th of Tet, a whole small truck full of apricot branches can be sold out. The whole family of 3-4 people helps sell together, and only at noon do they collect them to prepare for the ancestral worship," he said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lieu (Phu Loi ward, Can Tho city) said that every year her family buys apricot branches to display for Tet. Even though there are 3 apricot trees in front of her house, she still likes to choose large branches, thick flowers, and beautiful shapes.
I like to display apricot blossoms during Tet, both to admire and to wish good luck in the new year," Ms. Lieu shared.
Mr. Ly Truong Khoa (My Xuyen ward, Can Tho city) said that from early morning he went to the apricot blossom selling area to buy 2 branches of apricot blossoms for 130,000 VND to display for Tet.
Flowers are plentiful, buds are even, and the shape is beautiful, so I chose them immediately. That price is reasonable, the important thing is that I find it pleasing to the eye and there is a Tet atmosphere in the house," Mr. Khoa shared.
