Like many other flower villages around the country, Mekong Delta flower villages are in their peak season as the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday nears, which falls on January 25. — VNS Photo Văn Châu

MEKONG DELTA — Farmers who grow flowers in the Mekong (Cửu Long) Delta are busy preparing for the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, which falls on January 25.

Tô Văn Trắc, who has more than 20 years of experience in preparing flowers for Tết in Đồng Tháp Province’s Sa Đéc Flower Village, said he had planted about 2,000 sq metres of different types of flowers such as tulips, lilies, roses, hydrangeas, sunflowers, orchids and gerber daisies .

"I expect to provide about 50,000 flower pots of all types to Tet markets,” he said. “I have received orders from Hà Nội, HCM City and other cities. This business is profitable, but I have to work hard. To meet Tết demand, I have to wake up at 4am and take care of the flowers.”

Sa Đéc City’s Sa Đéc Flower Village provides more than 3 million flowers and ornamental trees to the market.

In the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bến Tre,  Chợ Lách District farmers have produced more than 12 million products of flowers and ornamental trees to meet the demand for Tết.

About 6,000 households are growing more than 650 hectares of flowers and ornamental trees, mostly in Long Thới, Tân Thiềng, Hòa Nghĩa, Vĩnh Thành, Phú Sơn and Hưng Khánh Trung B communes.

Among the many kinds of potted flowers, hanging flowers and ornamental plant pots are yellow orchard flowers, bougainvillea flower and bonsai citrus trees.
Besides traditional flowers and bonsai, farmers have also focused on making more bonsai featuring the 12 lunar animal symbols because of the is high demand, Trần Văn Tiếp, a farmer grower in Chợ Lách, said.

Flower cultivation depends greatly on the weather which has not been good. Lach said he expected flower prices this year to raise more than 10 per cent compared with last year.

Establishments making pots used for flowers and ornamental trees are also busy meeting demand of flower growers as Tết draws near.

Trần Văn Tiến, owner of a production establishment in Chợ Lách District, said the peak production time usually falls between the ninth and 12th lunar months.

Each year, his family produces about 1,000 pots including different types of various sizes. Most of the products are sold to flower growers in the Mekong Delta region.

Depending on the size, the price of a clay pot is VNĐ120,000 (US$5), VNĐ140,000 (US$6), or VNĐ450,000 (US$19). — VNS