Kumquat bonsai is among many people’s favourite choices of ornamental plants for Tet. The photo is taken at a shop on Cu Chinh Lan street in Phuong Lam ward, Hoa Binh city.
Whenever a Lunar New Year (Tet) comes and the spring arrives, families often buy flowers and ornamental plants to decorate their homes. In Hoa Binh city, many flower and plant shops have welcomed a large number of visitors and buyers on these days. Most sellers have increased flowers and plants for sale by three - four times compared to normal days to meet people’s demand.
Nguyen Phuong Thuy, owner of the Giap Thuy garden on An Duong Vuong street of Thai Binh ward (Hoa Binh city), said to meet the Tet flower demand, her shop has purchased more flowers and ornamental plants for sale since the end of the 11thlunar month. Most of the flowers have bright and fast colours and are fresh for a long time. Meanwhile, small ornamental plants that can be put on tables or hung and suitable for small spaces like "do quyen” (Rhododendron), orchids, "trang nguyen” (Euphorbia pulcherrima), "da yen thao” (Petunia hybrida), and daisy are also available. The shop also offers the plants believed to be good for house owners’ fortune like "kim ngan” (Pachira Aquatica), "kim tien” (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), "phu quy” (Aglaonema hybrid), and "ngoc ngan” (Osaka White Aglaonema).
Most of the flowers and plants hail from Van Giang district of Hung Yen province, she said, adding that prices do not vary much, from over 100,000 VND (4 USD) to several millions of VND each plant.
Tran Thi Ngoc, owner of a shop in the vicinity of Hoa Binh Square in Quynh Lam ward (Hoa Binh city), said that this year, she sells mainly "nhat chi mai” (Prunus Mume Sieb & Zucc), which was often displayed by rich families during Tet in the past. As this plant could be shaped in many beautiful forms, many families have chosen it to decorate their homes in recent years. Each plant is sold at about 700,000 VND – several millions of VND.
Besides, traditional plants like peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and yellow apricot blossoms with diverse shapes and prices are also put up for sale in the vicinity of Hoa Binh Square, markets, gardens, and shops across Hoa Binh city.
To meet consumers’ demand, some gardens also rent out ornamental plants. Consumers can also use growers’ plant caring service for one year and bring it home when Tet comes.