As the Lunar New Year (Tet) draws near, Thanh Hoa’s orchid flower market hits peak season. With demand soaring, skilled arrangers are overwhelmed with orders - working nonstop from dawn to dusk. In return, they’re pocketing earnings ranging from a few million dong per day to over $4,000 during the holiday rush.

At flower shops across Thanh Hoa’s Hac Thanh Ward, the atmosphere is intense. Workers rarely stop to rest, many opting to eat lunch on-site just to keep up with the tight delivery schedules.

Pham Van Hung, a local floral artisan, shared that while the job is seasonal, the income is substantial. “If you’re skilled and hardworking, you can easily make over $4,000 in just a month,” he said.

Paid by the stem, rewarded by the skill

According to Hung, wages are based on the number of stems arranged - anywhere from VND30,000 to 150,000 ($1.20 to 6) per stem, depending on complexity and design requirements. At peak times, experienced arrangers can earn between $80 to $200 a day, or more if handling large, intricate pots.

“Arranging orchids isn’t just about placing stems in a pot,” he explained. “You have to prepare the foam, anchor each stem properly, and create a balanced, artistic composition. A beautiful pot needs to ‘show shape’ - it should look elegant at a glance.”

The lead arrangers, he added, are typically those with at least five years of hands-on experience.

For more elaborate creations - such as phalaenopsis orchids mounted on driftwood - the process can take several hours. Nguyen Huy Lam, a seasoned arranger from Hung Yen with over a decade in the trade, noted that this premium line demands exceptional craftsmanship. From wood prep and root securing to branch shaping and miniature landscaping, every step requires precision and artistic judgment.

Even a minor misstep during the shaping or securing process could ruin the overall balance and significantly lower the product’s value, Lam emphasized. For this reason, high-end arrangements are assigned only to the most skilled artisans.

Custom orders dominate the Tet market

At a prominent shop along Le Loi Boulevard, Nguyen Huong, a store representative, said they’ve imported over 10,000 phalaenopsis orchids for the 2026 Tet season. Prices range from $60 to more than $4,000 per pot, depending on size, stem count, and design intricacy.

“About 80% of our arrangements are made to order,” she explained. “With driftwood-based designs, we have to confirm orders early to secure the right wood and complete the arrangement in time for delivery by mid-lunar December.”

To meet demand, the store has hired six additional workers for the peak season, all working around the clock.

From small pots for homes to extravagant displays for businesses and gifts, orchid arrangements are a central part of the Tet gifting economy. And for those with steady hands and a sharp eye for balance and elegance, it’s also one of the most rewarding jobs of the year.

Le Duong