Foreign flowers enter Lunar New Year market in Vietnam

Foreign flowers enter Lunar New Year market in Vietnam

The flower market for the Lunar New Year, or Tet in Vietnamese, is no longer a game solely played by domestically grown plants, but also exotic varieties from South Korea, Thailand, and the U.S.

Whether they are on sale under Vietnamese or the original foreign names such as protea, banksia, and allium, the foreign flowers are enjoying good sales at deluxe florists across Ho Chi Minh City.

Today is the 22nd day of the final month of the lunar year.

Flower imports to Ho Chi Minh City this year are 30 to 50 percent higher than last year, according to industry insiders.

Bui Van Tuan used to buy Phalaenopsis Blume, commonly known as the Moth Orchid, to give away as Tet presents in previous years. But since the plant has become too popular, Tuan decided to try imported orchids this year.

Tuan was introduced to orchids from South Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China at a florist's in District 4, and ended up buying three pots of South Korean orchids for VND9 million (US$419).

Nguyen Van Phuoc, the owner of the florist's, said he imported 250 Cymbidium, or boat orchid, pots from South Korea, up 50 percent from last year, for the Tet market, and managed to sell 80 of them in only four days.

The boat orchid fetches VND450,000 to VND700,000 ($20.97-32.62) per pot.

Many different types of orchid, including those from Taiwan and South Korea, are also available at the My Hanh flower shop on Thanh Thai Street, home to dozens of florists. The shop owner said imports of Taiwanese orchid have risen 50 percent compared to last Tet.

Nguyen Thi Van, a representative of Flowerbox Co., said the company’s flower imports from the Netherlands, Thailand, Taiwan and Ecuador have surged 30 percent compared to last year as demand for foreign flowers soared.

Dalat Hasfarm, a major florist based in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat, also said it has imported more foreign flowers to serve the Tet market, besides domestic products.

“Imports of cursed buttercup, Ecuadorian and Kenyan roses, allium, and hydrangea are up to 40 percent higher than in 2014,” said Nguyen Minh Hanh, the company’s director of marketing.

Imported flowers are selling well despite their high prices because they are strange and cannot be grown in Vietnam, according to traders.