Orchid arrangers earn huge income near Tet

Despite facing many economic difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people still spend a large amount of money on orchids. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang, owner of a flower shop in lane 178, Ha Huy Tap street (Vinh city) said: "The trendplaying Phalaenopsis orchidsThe demand for orchids during Tet is increasing because in addition to being beautiful, with bright and eye-catching colors, the orchid pots are designed in different shapes according to the player's requirements. In particular, Phalaenopsis orchids are very durable and can be played for 2-3 months. High customer demand and a large amount of flowers are sold, so skilled orchid arrangers and pot decorators have a very good income during Tet.

Near Tet, seasonal orchid weaving brings in huge income. Photo: Thanh Phuc

This Tet, Ms. Thang had to hire 3 main orchid workers and 5 assistant workers to design, shape, and pot orchids for sale to customers. On average, each day, the main worker earns 5-7 million VND, while the assistant workers earn 1-1.5 million VND.

Mr. Tran Van Sy, a long-time orchid arranger from Cua Lo, said: “I have been in this profession for nearly 10 years. Normally, I arrange fresh flowers for shops, undertake decoration and interior design. During Tet, I switch to arranging orchids in pots for shops. Every day, I arrange about 200-300 orchid pots, each pot is paid from 15,000 VND - 20,000 VND, with an average daily income of about 5 million VND. During Tet alone, my income from arranging orchids brings me approximately 70-80 million VND.”

The most difficult part is still making orchids on driftwood, requiring the craftsman to have an aesthetic eye, creativity and meticulousness. Photo: Thanh Phuc

As one of the facilitieslong-term orchid business in Vinh city,It is expected that this Tet holiday, Ms. Pham Thi Thuy (Mai Lao Bang Street, Vinh City) will sell about 10,000 Phalaenopsis orchid pots of various colors to the market. Therefore, she has to hire 2 groups of orchid potters including 10 people from Saigon, Hue and a group of 5 assistants in Nghe An to pot them for customers.

Mr. Ho Quang Phong, leader of a group of workers from Hue who are tying orchids for Ms. Thuy's facility, said: "Our orchid tying team consists of 8 people, most of whom have been working for over 5 years and are highly skilled. Every year, during Tet, we go to Nghe An under contracts with Phalaenopsis orchid shops. Working time starts from the 12th lunar month until around the 29th of Tet."

Among orchid weavers, it is very rare to have a female master craftsman. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Most of the orchid craftsmen are paid by the product, each orchid pot is grafted into a pot and is paid 20,000 VND. Skilled craftsmen who specialize in artistic orchids on driftwood are paid a fixed daily wage of 3 million VND per day, including accommodation and meals.

Orchid weavers in Vinh city mainly come from Hanoi, Hue and Saigon under contract with Phalaenopsis shop owners in Vinh. This is a seasonal job but the income is extremely high. On average, each main weaver earns 3-5 million/day, and assistant weavers earn 1-1.5 million VND. In particular, there are weavers who earn up to 10 million VND/day on peak days.

There are skilled workers who work from 8am today to 3am the next morning and can weave 500-500 orchid branches, earning 10-12 million VND/day. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh from Saigon, a person considered an "artisan" in orchid arranging, said: "My group of 8 people in Vinh city arranges orchids for 10 different orchid selling points. On peak days, skilled workers like me can earn 10-12 million VND. The closer to Tet, the higher the demand for orchids, the more goods arrive, the busier the work. From the 10th of December to the 28th of December, we have to work hard, sometimes working 18-20 hours a day. We only have a quick lunch at the place and then get to work until 2-3am before taking a nap, and at 8am we start arranging orchids."

Assistant workers earn 1-1.5 million/day. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to Mr. Thanh, to create a beautiful orchid pot takes a lot of effort. In addition to understanding orchids, the worker must also have an aesthetic eye, artistic talent and especially meticulousness, carefulness and creativity. This profession, no one does it the same way. Each person has their own way of perceiving beauty. But it must meet the basic standards: The color of the orchid pot must be harmonious, reasonably layered, when arranging and adding miniature landscapes, it must adhere to the position that the customer requests such as: Smooth sailing; Dragon and phoenix reunion; Waterfall or Horse returning successfully...

As Tet approaches, customer demand increases, so orchid weavers have to work at full capacity. Lunches are made for temporary meals, sleepless nights of back-breaking work are needed to meet the market demand. Photo: Thanh Phuc

As Tet approaches, the demand for orchids increases, so orchid weavers are busier. Sometimes, they have to stay up all night to weave Tet orchids to serve customers' needs, adding spring color to every home when there arebeautiful orchid potsTet decoration; and this seasonal job brings high income to orchid weavers, helping them have a prosperous Tet.