Tet flower prices up 50 percent on 2008

HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City flower markets are full of flowers and
ornamental trees but their prices are up by 20-50 percent from last year.

Orchids are selling at twice last year's prices.

Nguyen Van Thang, a flower stall owner at the Sept. 23 Park market in District 1,
said his shop has more than 100 peach plants ranging from 500,000 VND (29.4 USD)
to 35 million VND (2,058 USD), 20 percent more expensive than last year, adding
there are few customers due to the high prices.

Another trader, Doan Tat Tho, said only 30 percent of the traditional mai (ochna)
blossom, which are usually displayed in every house during Tet, is likely to bloom
in time for Tet as a result of bad weather.

Prices would be up during Tet as a result, he said.

The price of an eight-year-old ochna tree has gone up to 4 million VND (235 USD)
and that of a six-year-old to 3.2 million VND (188 USD). The price of orchids has
doubled this year from 350,000 VND (20.5 USD) to 700,000 VND (41 USD).

Ornamental trees, including various kinds of kumquat from Hanoi, central Nha
Trang, and southern Ben Tre, have gone up to 7 million VND (411.7 USD) each.

With Tet nearing, Da Lat gardeners say flower prices are increasing daily.

Daisy prices have increased since Jan. 17 from 800 VND to 1,200 VND, gladiolus
from 5,000 VND to 9,000 VND per branch, and orchids from 80,000 VND (4.7 USD) to
150,000 VND (8.8 USD) per flower.

A gardener in Ward 12, Da Lat, said a hectare of daisies could fetch him an income
of 100 million VND.

Muoi Luoi, a famous gardener in Da Lat, said the price of peach plants had risen
millions of dong this year.-Enditem