Peach blossoms, kumquat trees and bouquets of flowers are indispensable in Vietnamese households during Tet.
Flower and tree markets are teeming with shoppers this time of year. To have peach trees blossoming during the Tet holiday, orchards have worked hard for an entire year. This year, unseasonably hot weather has triggered peach trees to attempt to bloom earlier than expected. However, orchard owners in Hanoi are still positive, saying they have time-tested techniques to hold the trees off and ensure they bloom exactly during the TET holiday. A typical pink or red peach tree branch sells for US$13-US$18 (VND300,000-VND400,000). Meanwhile, a white peach tree branch can cost anywhere from US$89-US$133 (US4VND2 million-VND3 million) each. Kumquat prices range widely from US$9-US$53 (VND200,000-VND1.2 million). Hang Ma street in the old quarters of Hanoi is bustling and all decked out in the run-up to Tet. |
VOV