Covid-19 breaks out pre-Tet, flower villages anxious about sales

The new Covid-19 outbreak on days close to Tet could seriously affect the Hanoi flower market. Flower growers are worried as prices have dropped dramatically.

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Nguyen Thi Tuong and her flowers

The flower village of Tay Tuu and the flower market of Quang An are still looking forward to merchants.

Tay Tuu, the busiest flower village in Hanoi, is now quiet and deserted.

Looking at the flower beds she has been growing for a year, which may have to be thrown away, Nguyen Thi Tuong, the owner of a flower garden in Tay Tuu Village, said she had sold all flowers by this time last year. But this year many households have not received any orders.

According to Tuong, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Hai Duong are big markets for Tay Tuu’s flower growers. However, the localities have been put into lockdown after Covid-19 infection cases were found.

Meanwhile, the prices of tens of kinds of flowers have decreased by 50 percent compared with last year because of the pandemic.

Tuong has 3 sao (1sao is equal to 360 square meters) of flower growing area.

“Tet is very near. Tomorrow is Ong Cong Ong Tao (Kitchen Gods). If merchants don’t come the next days, we will carry flowers to the flower shops in the city,” she said.

“Only when we can sell out the flowers will we have money to celebrate Tet. If not, we will incur big losses and our efforts in the last year will be in vain,” she said.

Le Thi Loan, a merchant in Ba Vi district in Hanoi, told VietNamNet that she has changed the way of doing business because of Covid-19.

“In previous years, I visited gardens to collect flowers for reselling at markets. But I have shifted to sell flowers online. After taking orders, I will come to the flower village to collect exactly the number of flowers as ordered,” she said.

At Quang An, the largest flower market in the north, merchants were seen sitting idle because of few buyers. It is quiet in the market, a contrast to what was seen in previous years.

While the flower demand is on the decrease because of Covid-19, flowers continue to be carried to the market, which has caused prices to fall dramatically.

A bunch of roses sold at VND70,000-80,000 before the outbreak, but now are selling at VND40,000 now, while a bunch of white daisies are selling at VND40,000 instead of VND80,000.

Quoc Anh