Various traditional Tet plants including peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and potted chrysanthemums have been transported to Ho Chi Minh City from across Vietnam to serve local buyers as the biggest holiday of the year is less than one week away.

Vietnamese people often shop for such flowers and plants as yellow apricot, peach blossom, chrysanthemum, and kumquat to decorate their houses during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, which falls on February 1 this year.

Nguyen Ngoc Nam from northern Nam Dinh Province said he had transported more than 300 peach blossom trees to Ho Chi Minh City on Monday night.

About 500 to 600 more trees would be brought to the metropolis over the next few days, Nam added.

His peach blossom trees are being sold at Gia Dinh Park in Go Vap District.

Thanks to favorable weather conditions, the peach blossoms bloom at the right time and are of good quality this year, Nam elaborated.

However, prices are expected to decrease by about five percent compared to last year.

A small-sized peach blossom tree sells for VND400,000 (US$18) to VND1 million ($44), while a tree of medium and large size is priced at VND1-4 million ($44-176), the merchant said.

Nguyen Quoc Ca, who hails from Gia Xuyen Village in northern Hai Duong Province, said he and other people in his village have brought approximately 10,000 peach blossom trees to Ho Chi Minh City ahead of this year’s Tet holiday.

The trees from Gia Xuyen Village are offered at VND1-15 million ($44-662), depending on their size.

Ca also expects a 10 to 15 percent drop in prices compared to previous years.

“Although the flowers are of good quality, we decided to lower our prices because many people have tightened their spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the seller explained.

From south-central Phu Yen Province, Bui Phu Dinh has carried more than 200 kumquat trees to the southern metropolis, charging VND1-3 million ($44-132) apiece.

The wholesale prices of kumquat trees remain the same this year, while the retail rates will depend on the actual market demand, Dinh stated.

Kumquat trees stemming from the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre are also available for sale in Ho Chi Minh City at up to VND10 million ($441) a pair.

Residents can also shop for potted chrysanthemums originating in south-central Khanh Hoa Province at Gia Dinh Park, as well as 23/9 Park in District 1 and some other major parks in the city.

The potted chrysanthemums sell at VND1.5-10 million ($66-441) a pair, depending on their size.

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