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Many streets in Hanoi have been flooded with flowers, peaches and kumquats, which were predicted to be scarce due to the record-breaking floods in Hanoi last November.

Flowers for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival were brought to the capital city from its neighbouring provinces and even from abroad, and are priced much higher compared with last year.

Do Kim Toan, who have traded in ornamental flowers and trees in Hanoi for many years, said the 2008 inundation in the city and the adjacent localities damaged a great deal of flower and peach gardens. Some gardens on higher land were later affected by hoarfrost towards the end of 2008. This forced growers to spend more on fertilizers and other chemicals to take care of their crops, which pushed up the production costs.

Meanwhile, economic concerns have prompted the majority of consumers to limit spending.

At Tu Lien kumquat gardens, the prices of small trees with simple shapes range from VND150,000-400,000 per tree. Those with sufficient flowers, buds, green and ripe fruits, and of medium height sell for VND500,000 or more. Some beautiful trees are priced at VND1.5-5 million and have been booked in advance by many offices.

In contrast to kumquats, peach trees have flared no better. The area for growing peach trees in Hanoi’s Tay Ho district has shrunk to just 40ha after the historic inundation. Therefore, the price for a peach tree is much higher than last year.

Also in Tu Lien, ‘medium’ peach trees are priced at VND800,000 to VND2 million per tree. Peach trees transported from the northern mountainous region such as Sa Pa are offered at VND5-8 million per tree. Each peach branch is sold at VND1.5-2 million.

Due to high prices, many consumers have opted to rent peaches for Tet. Renting can save consumers VND400,000- 1million per tree.

Viet Ha, a florist in Nghi Tam market, said Hanoi’s flowers this year mainly come from provinces such as Thai Binh, Hung Yen, and Nam Dinh. There are also flowers imported from China, which she said are rather beautiful, fresh and long-lasting. Meanwhile, flowers planted in Hanoi and its surrounding areas are more traditional and monotonous, such as Vietnamese roses, dahlias, and daisies, she remarked.

Ms Ha added that Nghi Tam market in Quang Ba remains the largest flower transaction centre in Hanoi, which is crowded with flower vans from early morning until midnight. There, roses sell for VND6,000 per item, Da Lat roses – VND12,000-18,000, Hung Yen roses – VND70,000 per pot, and Chinese daisies – VND100,000 per pot.

(Source: VOV)

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