On January 28 (29th of the 12th lunar month, also the last day of the year of the Dragon), the Tet flower market in Vinh City was bustling and busy. However, there were still some deserted places, where even though the prices were very low, the products were still unsold.
The vacant land next to Le Nin Street (near the Customs Roundabout) has become a gathering place for flowers and ornamental plants. For many days now, this place has become the largest Tet flower market in Vinh City.
On the morning of January 28, along Lenin Street, there were many motorbikes and cars parked on the roadside. There were many people buying Tet flowers.
“This year, there are a lot of Tet flowers coming in, but the economy is difficult and purchasing power is low, so the prices are not higher than last year. Especially tonight is New Year's Eve, so we have reduced the prices to the maximum to sell off and recover capital" - Mr. Le Van Dung - a Tet flower trader here said.
According to a survey, the price of a small Northern peach tree is about 1 million VND, a decrease of 2 million VND; the price of a medium-sized peach tree is only 2 million VND, a decrease of 5 million VND compared to about 1 week ago.
Kumquat bonsai also has a sharp price drop. A medium-sized kumquat pot with lots of fruit cost about 500,000 VND 5 days ago, now it's only 200,000 VND. Kumquats grown in a ceramic vase cost only 300,000 VND, a decrease of 300,000 VND compared to a few days ago.
The Vinh City Central Park area (adjacent to Truong Thi Street) has also become a large flower market. Here, orchids, peach blossoms, kumquats, and especially gladiolus are bought in large quantities by the people.
“This year there are so many flowers, beautiful colors and shapes, and especially since it is close to New Year’s Eve, they are very cheap. I bought a peach blossom branch and a kumquat tree to display for Tet, also to support the people,” said Mr. Le Van Hai (Truong Thi ward, Vinh city).
Although purchasing power has increased in the days leading up to Tet, the amount of Tet flowers left over is still very large and it will likely be difficult to sell them all before New Year's Eve.
In particular, the purchasing power of Tet apricot trees is very slow, with a large amount of inventory, even though retailers have lowered prices very low.
“It’s almost New Year’s Eve, but I still have more than 300 5-year-old bonsai mai trees that I haven’t sold yet. This year I’m sure I’ll suffer a big loss, and I don’t know how to make ends meet,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh (living in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh), who is selling Tet flowers in Vinh City, sadly.
