Streets in Ho Chi Minh City are overwhelmed with fresh bouquets of new flowers, roses crusted with tasty chocolate layers, and pea paintings on the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8.

Though sale was low on Saturday, it has picked up on Sunday, as more men buy them as gifts to present to their loved women, female employers or colleagues on this special day.

As Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters observed, Ho Thi Ky Flower Market in District 10, one of the city’s largest, was packed with buyers on Friday evening, with flower prices inching up compared to previous days.

Red roses remain the bestsellers, with a bouquet of around 50 flowers fetching roughly VND350,000 (US$16.31).

Purple roses, one of the new varieties, are sold between VND450,000 ($21) and VND500,000 ($23) for each bunch.

Roses imported from Ecuador are also a new addition to floral choices, with each flower priced up to VND200,000 ($9.3).

Chocolate-crusted roses, which sell for VND250,000 ($12) apiece, also add richness to this year’s floral assemblage.

The thin chocolate layers do not melt at room temperature and can even be tasted.

At the center of the roses is a stylized heart. Loving words written in fancy styles can also be given on petals.

Roses and other types of flowers can also be boxed or arranged into the shape of a purse, handbag or heart.

Roses arranged into the shape of handbags are shown at a souvenir shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Buyers can ask the sellers to dye conventional fresh flowers with fancy colors.

The gorgeously dyed blossoms are able to stay fresh for a long time and can also be made into everlasting dried flowers.

Seedlings and clay flowers are also available at low prices on such streets as Su Van Hanh in District 10.

Collages made from peas, which cost around VND250,000 per item, are also put up on sale at souvenir shops on different streets, including Nguyen Tri Phuong in District 10 and Hoang Dieu in District 4.

Fake flowers are found in abundance on many of the city’s streets including Ly Thai To and Nguyen Tri Phuong in District 10; Nguyen Van Cu and Hung Vuong in District 5; as well as streets around 23-9 Park in District 1; and Hoang Van Thu Park in Tan Binh District.

Cloth and paper bouquets are pictured on a Ho Chi Minh City street on March 7, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Cloth and paper bouquets fetch around VND150,000-400,000 ($7-19). Paper bouquets adorned with couples of teddy bears are also in good demand.

Paintings with cloth flowers attached are also a draw this year.

Their prices fluctuate between VND300,000 ($14) and VND900,000 ($42), depending on size and intricacy.

Paintings with cloth flowers attached are on sale on a street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!