Artisans countrywide are seeking buyers for their precious trees of hundreds of years of age at an ongoing flower fair held on occasion of the Lunar New Year, or Vietnamese Tet, in Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu My Hung residential area.

Vo Phi Son, an artisan hailing from the southern province of Tay Ninh, demands VND7 billion (US$326,219)) each for two star fruit trees he claims to be more than 300 years old.

The trees both are 3.9 meters of height and have great, unique shapes.

The 300-year-old star fruit tree. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Son, who is also known by the name of Ba Hung, said he spent 20 years taking care of the trees.

The costly star fruit trees are the most expensive at the Phu My Hung flower exhibition.

Ba Hung also showcases many other unique, centuries-old trees at the event, including a Canarium that is of hundreds of year of age and has a diameter of 5 meters, and toothbrush tree whose shape is dragon-like.

The trees are worth dozens of billions of dong, according to the artisan. (VND1 billion = $46,603)

The centuries-old Canarium tree. Photo: Tuoi Tre

It is not difficult to spot other pricey plants at the flower market.

A yellow apricot flower, known in Vietnamese as mai, a near-homophone of may, which means good luck, stands out from others of its kind thanks to its giant size and attractive color.

The tree is 4 meters high and full of blossoms, and is valued at VND2 billion ($93,205), according to its grower, which comes from the outlying district of Hoc Mon.

The grower claims it is a 99-year-old apricot flower tree.

The 99-year-old apricot flower tree that is worth VND2 billion. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Bay Toi, an artisan tasked with taking care of the precious tree, said it is not a simple job to tend to such a giant plant.

“Watering depends on weather, and you may have to wake up at 2:00 am to do so,” he said.

Bay Toi said the tree’s old age and its good shape is what makes it worth as much as VND2 billion.

Yellow apricot blossom is one of the commonest flowering trees to display around the home for Tet.

The dragon-like toothbrush tree. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Huong, a District 7 resident, said her family visits the Phu My Hung flower fair every Tet to see the beautiful ornament trees and take photos.

“My family members are all excited to see the giant trees,” she said.

The Phu My Hung flower fair will end on February 17, or the 29^th day of the current lunar year.

Tet begins on February 19 this year, with festive activity to linger for around one week after that.

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