Large orchid vase with elaborate decoration – Photo: NGOC AN
Van Phuc flower market (Ha Dong - Hanoi) is a famous flower market in the south of Hanoi, crowded with people shopping on weekends when Tet is only a dozen days away. Many stalls of orchids, peach blossoms, and kumquats are displayed all over the sidewalks and streets, waiting for buyers.
Orchids are still a popular flower because of their durability and elegance. With a variety of prices, they meet people's shopping needs. Flowers grown in the North are "softer" in price than flowers grown in Da Lat and imported.
According to Ms. Mai (owner of a flower garden in Dan Phuong - Hanoi), orchids grown in the North are cheaper, at 160,000 - 250,000 VND/branch, depending on the type. Thanks to increasingly advanced cultivation technology, the flower colors are rich, the petals bloom as big as those of Da Lat flowers.
Due to the transportation cost compensation, the price of flowers is more competitive than that of Da Lat Phalaenopsis orchids, usually 300,000 - 350,000 VND/branch, or some types have high prices up to 450,000 - 500,000 VND/branch. Therefore, Northern orchids are increasingly chosen by many people on holidays and Tet.
A large-petal orchid with stones attached to the petals, priced at 2.5 million VND/branch, is displayed by a gardener.
Mr. Hung (owner of an orchid garden operating on Nguyen Xien Street, Thanh Xuan - Hanoi) said that in addition to familiar orchid models, in recent years many buyers have preferred multi-colored dyed orchids or large-petaled orchids.
Although these flowers are much more expensive than regular flowers, they still attract customers thanks to their unique colors and large, beautiful flowers. For example, multi-colored orchids cost from 500,000 to 1 million VND, large-petal orchids with 10 flowers/branch and studded with stones cost 2.5 million VND/branch.
Choosing a dyed orchid model priced at 1 million VND/branch, Ms. Ngoc (Kim Giang - Thanh Xuan) shared that she had just chosen a vase of 9 branches as a gift. Although the price is high, with many unique colors, she decided to choose it as a luxurious Tet gift.
According to garden owners, this year the price of orchids has not changed much compared to before, although the cost has increased. Especially the cost of transportation and the cost of arranging and decorating orchids, so many gardeners do not have enough money to support customers, so they have to calculate it into the price or separately for the cost of arranging.
An orchid arranger wraps flowers for shipping to a customer.
On average, each orchid branch hired by a technician costs 15,000 - 20,000 VND. Each technician arranges 7 - 15 orchid branches in a vase for 30 - 45 minutes, and can earn 300,000 - 400,000 VND. On peak days, each technician arranges hundreds of orchids, earning several million VND.
Mr. Ha Tung Long - a long-time florist from Hung Yen - shared that arranging orchids requires both skill and artistic shaping to suit each customer's taste. With the same flower model, it can be round, straight or flared in an elliptical shape, arranged in one layer or many layers depending on the number of flowers.
“During peak season, orchid arrangers can sit all day from morning to night. Although it is hard work, the income is quite good, increasing the income during Tet. For skilled orchid arrangers, arranging large vases of orchids from a few dozen to hundreds of branches, the income is tens of millions but happy because they can make beautiful vases for Tet” – Mr. Long shared.
Comment (0)