As Tet draws near, flower gardens in Binh Khe ward (Quang Ninh) are awash with color and alive with activity. Chrysanthemums, gladiolus, orchids, and ornamental kumquats are being snapped up by traders, with some growers expecting to earn several hundred million dong during the holiday season.

Binh Khe is the key flower and ornamental plant production area in western Quang Ninh, spanning around 250 hectares. These days, its flower fields are in full bloom and bustling with buyers and sellers.

In addition to traditional Tet plants like peach blossoms, apricot flowers, and kumquats, Binh Khe farmers are expanding their cultivation of cut flowers such as chrysanthemums, lilies, and gladiolus, while also introducing new flower varieties to diversify their offerings.

According to local flower growers, chrysanthemums were already hitting the market more than a month ago, with traders coming directly to the farms to make early selections. Thanks to favorable weather, this year’s flowers boast high yields and uniform, beautiful blooms with minimal spoilage.

The improved quality has prompted traders from across the region to pre-purchase entire flower gardens, scheduling harvests closer to Tet.

“Income from gladiolus is around $400 per 360 square meters, while chrysanthemums can yield up to $800 for the same area. This year, we’ve been selling flowers steadily from before Tet all the way through to the Thanh Minh Festival,” said Le Hong, a local grower.

Anticipating strong demand, Le The Hieu dedicated all 18 of his plots - each about 360 square meters - to growing gladiolus to boost his family’s Tet earnings.

“From planting to blooming, gladiolus takes about 85 days and is very reliable. That makes it easy for growers to time blooming for Tet. This year, our family expects to earn several hundred million dong,” Hieu said.

Orchids, considered a premium flower, are also a popular choice among Binh Khe farmers looking to cater to high-end customers.

With the Tet market heating up, many buyers have already visited farms to place early orders. Some growers report having to work non-stop to lift and pack flowers due to surging demand.

On average, Binh Khe’s flower growers earn between $6,000 and $8,000 per hectare per crop. For high-end flowers like orchids and ornamental trees, earnings can exceed $20,000 per hectare.

To meet varied consumer tastes, many households are also growing peach blossoms and ornamental kumquats. This year’s kumquat trees are notably robust and heavily laden with fruit, while low pest incidence has helped farmers save on production costs.

According to the local Department of Economic and Urban Infrastructure, Binh Khe’s farmers are well-skilled in intensive flower and ornamental plant cultivation. Every year, the area becomes a hive of activity in the run-up to Tet, attracting buyers and traders from far and wide.

In a bid to improve crop quality and expand the range of available flowers, the department is working with the Central Institute of Vegetables and Fruits to introduce two new gladiolus varieties - Viet Ha and F02 - into the local production system.

These varieties are well-suited to Binh Khe’s soil and climate and have gained strong market acceptance over the past two years, with traders placing early orders for the upcoming Tet season.