A topiary elephant from Ben Tre Province’s Cho Lach District

A Mekong Delta district is churning out ornamental plants by the millions.

Bonsai trees from the district in Ben Tre Province are well-known, as well as plants sculpted to resemble animals, which are popular during the holiday season.

Of the nearly eight million ornamental plants and flower trees of various kinds that will be bought and sold in Vietnam over the next 10 days, ochna trees account for nearly one-third.

Households cultivate 30,000-40,000 ochna trees, with some families growing nearly 100,000 on their land.

Farmers grow two types of ochna trees. Varieties with many branches and flowers are cut for use as short-term decorations for Tet.

Bigger, older trees can be sold in one piece for hundreds of millions of dong each.

According to the Vinh Thanh Commune People’s Committee, the area has nearly 1,000 flower farmers. The agency says it has officially designated eight out of the nine hamlets of the communes to be Traditional Craft Villages. The commune is also completing procedures for their farmers to be recognized as artisans.

Many products from Cho Lach’s most famous artisans – Xuan Hoang, Nguyet Thu, Ly Hai and Nam Cong among them – are being exported overseas to help Vietnamese abroad enjoy the New Year festival.

Cho Lach District households grow some five to seven million ornamental plants a year, according to the local Chamber of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Ornamental plants rake in annual sales of about VND50- 70 billion (US$2.8-3.9 million) in Cho Lach.

Reported by Hoang Hau