The festive colors of Tết holiday flowers and ornamental plants, along with the lively bustle of locals admiring and purchasing them have fostered an exciting atmosphere.

In recent days, peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and pomelos can be seen on every corner, especially on Võ Nguyên Giáp, Nguyễn Chí Thanh, and Phạm Văn Đồng Streets. At the May 7 Square, one of the busiest spots for selling ornamental plants in the city, the Tết market is buzzing with a wide range of plants with prices ranging from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of VNĐ, catering to diverse customer needs.

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Lương, a vendor from Thanh Luông Commune, Điện Biên District, shared: “For the past four years, I have been transporting kumquat trees from Văn Giang District, Hưng Yên Province, to the May 7 Square. Prices range from VNĐ 300,000 to 5 million per tree, satisfying on demands of local households, offices, or businesses. This year, I have brought in many beautiful kumquat trees at reasonable prices, and I hope to sell them out.”

Apart from the May 7 Square, vendors are busy transporting and carrying peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and other ornamental plants to meet people’s demands for Tết decoration.

However, purchasing activity currently remains relatively subdued. Notably, the number of wild peach branches on sale this year has significantly decreased. Due to increasing scarcity, the prices of wild peach branches are considerably higher than in previous years. In the past, branches brought down from highland orchards were sold for several hundred thousand VNĐ, but this year, prices have doubled or even tripled.

In recent years, stricter regulations on harvesting, transporting, and selling wild peach trees have led the market to rely primarily on Nhật Tân peach trees from lowland provinces and some communes in Điện Biên District. Nhật Tân peach trees, particularly the two main varieties - the “đào bích” (deep rosy color) and the “đào phai” (light pink color) - are popular among customers. Prices for these trees range from VNĐ 150,000 to 3-4 million.

Besides Nhật Tân peach trees grown in nurseries, the most striking are rare, ancient peach trees brought from highland areas and grafted with Nhật Tân buds. These trees are meticulously cared for and artistically shaped over many years before being introduced to the market. “These peach trees are ideal for large spaces such as office lobbies, business settings, or garden villas. Due to their high price - up to several tens of millions of VNĐ - most customers opt to rent them for display during Tết. After the holiday, they are returned to nurseries for further care,” shared vendor Trần Thị Hương.

The impact of recent Typhoon No.3 (Yagi), which struck during the crucial budding and fruiting period, coupled with unfavorable weather conditions afterward, has led to a decline in both the quantity and quality of peach and kumquat trees for Tết. Additionally, the dry weather in November and December 2024 posed significant challenges for cultivating and maintaining flowers and ornamental plants intended for the holiday market.

Although the market for kumquat and peach trees has been somewhat subdued, the early arrival of these trees on the streets has added vibrant colors to usher in a new spring, filled with fresh hopes and aspirations.