A yellow apricot tree estimated to be over 50 years old sold for VND6 billion (US$264,300) at a flower market in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.

The tree was sold on Monday, just two days after it was brought to a spring flower market in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, which opens every year prior to the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

This year's Tet festival is due around late January and early February, with flowers to be displayed on the streets and in households as festive decorations.

Yellow apricot blossoms are considered a typical Tet flower in southern Vietnam, including the Mekong Delta.

The yellow apricot tree in question stems from a garden in Thach Hoa District, located in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, said Cao Van Trong, the merchant.

It is five meters tall and has a circumference of 1.1 meters, Trong elaborated, adding that transporting the tree to Long Xuyen cost him about VND50 million (U$2,200).

“It took me ten years to successfully persuade the owner to sell this tree,” the merchant continued.

When the tree arrived at the flower market on Saturday, someone offered to pay VND4 billion ($176,000), but Trong did not agree.

Another buyer offered VND6 billion ($264,300) on Monday, and the deal was reached.

The new owner let Trong display the tree at the flower market for another ten days.

Le Van Minh, a frequent visitor to the flower market, said this is the first time he sees such a unique yellow apricot tree at the venue.

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