Difficult choices 

Ninh Kieu Flower Market has an abundant supply of the trees, and local people have started to populate the markets for the Tet season. According to Dtinews reporters, however, the market lacks large–sized trees this year.

Yellow apricots, a very popular Tet tree in the south, are particularly rare. Because of the weather, most of them have bloomed early.

According to one merchant, yellow apricots are quite unpredictable when it comes to blossoming, being susceptible to abnormal weather.

Prices have remained largely the same as last year because of the scarcity of large trees. The average price of a yellow apricot tree ranges from VND200,000 to millions dong, depending on their size and shape.

This season, most customers tend to choose trees priced below VND1 million. In turn, many sellers have been forced to slash their prices.

Kumquat trees, on the other hand, are bigger and have a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular shapes are the pyramid, dragon and spiral.

The dragon-shaped kumquat trees are the most valuable this year because 2012 is the year of the dragon.

But, according to one seller, most of the people in the market are just there to look around, saying that nobody has bought the trees shaped as a dragon because of the high price.

At another flower market on Hoang Van Thu Street, many boats carrying ornamental trees on the nearby Cai Khe River contained numerous unsold trees that were left because of a lack of demand.

Another seller said that he only expects to sell 50% or 60% of his inventory, which would still bring him some profit.

The demand for ornamental plants will be highest from December 26 to 28, on the lunar Calendar.

Customers can either buy or lease  

Yellow apricots already blossomed with Tet still a week away

Potted yellow apricot tree priced at VND 15 million. 

Dragon-shaped trees capture attention

Boats carrying ornamental trees on Cai Khe River contained numerous unsold trees that were left because of a lack of demand.