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Ho Chi Minh City’s Tet flower markets on the eve of Tết saw steep price cuts and heavy foot traffic, as vendors moved to clear stalls before the deadline to vacate by 12:00. At 9 a.m., shoppers were busy at Gia Định Park and along both sides of Hoàng Minh Giám Street, where many traders offered clearance discounts after operating for more than a week.
The Tet flower market at Gia Định Park is among the busiest and largest in Ho Chi Minh City, offering a wide range of Tet flowers from both southern and northern regions. Products include peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, paper flowers, and marigolds, drawing residents and visitors to browse and buy.
As the market neared closing time, many vendors hurried to clear inventory. Some traders gathered paper flowers and laid them along the sidewalk, spilling onto part of Hoàng Minh Giám Street to sell remaining stock before the stalls were removed.
Average prices for baskets of colorful blooms were reported at 100,000–300,000 đồng, more than half off compared with earlier levels. Chrysanthemums and marigolds were also in demand, with prices around 150,000–250,000 đồng per pair depending on type and size.
Nguyễn Phụng said: “These flowers are easy to display for Tet. I bought some a week ago, now I’m picking up a few more pots to place at the doorstep for a nicer look.”
More than 10 km away, the flower market at 23 Tháng 9 Park in central Ho Chi Minh City was also crowded. Stall owners held simultaneous clearance sales, with many items sold for less than half of the previous days’ prices.
Shoppers focused on Korean “mâm xôi” chrysanthemums, priced at about 200,000 đồng per pair. Mr. Văn Địa bought three pots of paper flowers for 300,000 đồng.
“This year’s flower prices are similar to previous years; it’s quite cheap, so I won’t haggle to support the sellers,” Mr. Văn Địa said.
Small apricot blossom pots, priced from 50,000 to 150,000 đồng, attracted buyers as Tết approached. Before stalls closed, Mr. Lơ Hổ displayed a “clearance” sign and sold remaining apricot blossom pots at a uniform price. He transported 120 pots from Bình Định, with about 20 left, now priced at around one million đồng per pot—down about 70% from before.
Mr. Lơ Hổ added: “Earlier it rained out of season here, causing blooms to open, so sales were a bit difficult, but there’s still some profit.”
Mr. Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, who has sold peach trees at this market for over a decade, brought 400 peach saplings from Thái Bình. About 50 trees remained, and he was discounting to clear stock before returning home after Tết.
Delivery demand was also high, with trucks transporting flowers to customers’ homes. Transportation costs within the city were reported to range up to several million đồng per trip, depending on vehicle type, quantity, and pot size.
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