Chinese flowers flood Vinh city market

Present at Kim Chi flower and ornamental plant craft village, Nghi An commune (Vinh city), which is considered the largest supplier of flowers and ornamental plants for the city and surrounding areas. These days, the flower growers here are busy. However, they do not supply flowers grown in the village but mostly imported from the North and from China, then distributed to the flower market in Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Flower boxes originating from China are imported in large quantities by flower shops in Kim Chi flower and ornamental plant craft village, Nghi An commune (Vinh city). Photo: Lam Tung

According to observations by reporters at flower supply stores in Kim Chi flower and ornamental plant craft village, flower boxes originating from China are continuously imported.

Chinese Phuc Loc Tho flowers are sold for 550,000 VND/pot. Photo: Lam Tung

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhi, a flower seller, said: Flowers grown in Kim Chi flower and ornamental plant craft village are difficult to meet people's Tet needs, while flowers from China are popular so shops import them in large quantities; the cost of importing flowers for Tet can be up to billions of dong.

Chinese Cymbidiums are sold at flower shops in Kim Chi ornamental plant craft village. Photo: Lam Tung

Mr. Le Van Sau - Secretary of the Kim Chi Flower Village Party Cell said: Kim Chi flower and ornamental plant craft village now mainly supplies ornamental plants, which are traded by locals all year round; while flowers for Tet only supply a small amount of chrysanthemums, dahlias, and roses. However, competing with flowers from other localities is also very difficult, because imported flowers are more diverse and beautiful.

Azaleas from China are also imported in large quantities. Photo: Lam Tung

At flower shops serving Tet on Lenin Avenue, in addition to traditional flowers such as chrysanthemums, orchids, lanterns, and camellias, imported from Da Lat and Hung Yen, most of the flowers are imported from China.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Bich, a flower and ornamental plant trader on Lenin Avenue: The most popular and widely imported flowers are still cymbidiums, phalaenopsis orchids, azaleas, cymbidiums, and crab-claw orchids...

This year, the Man Thien Hong orchid originating from China looks quite unique, and has been imported by many flower shops to serve the Tet flower needs of people in Vinh city and neighboring areas.

Chinese Phuc Loc Tho flowers are sold at flower shops on Lenin Avenue. Photo: Lam Tung

Ms. Bich said that Chinese flowers have beautiful colors and diverse products, so many customers are interested, although the price is not cheap; currently, orchids cost 170,000 - 200,000 VND/branch; azaleas cost 500,000 - 550,000 VND/pot; the price of Phuc Loc Tho increases sharply as Tet approaches, currently a pot costs 550,000 - 600,000 VND.

Discussing the supply of Tet flowers to the flower villages in Vinh City, Ms. Le Thi Que - President of the Vinh City Ornamental Gardening Association said: Vinh City has 3 establishments supplying flowers to the people: Nghi An, Nghi Lien and Hung Dong communes. However, the flowers grown here are mostly chrysanthemums, dahlias, roses...

To meet the Tet flower market is quite difficult, because flowers imported from other localities are beautiful and diverse. Meanwhile, flowers originating from China account for a large market share because of their diverse types and suitability to the Tet flower hobby of Vinh city people.

Chinese flowers take up most of the space in flower shops serving Tet. Photo: Lam Tung

In addition, flower villages in Vinh City suffered heavy rains last October. At that time, the flowers had only been planted for about 10 days, so their growth was poor, making it difficult for the flowers to be beautiful during Tet.