Peach blossom sellers on tenterhooks over low demand in Ho Chi Minh City

Falling demand for peach blossom trees grown in northern Vietnamese localities, despite high quality and appealing prices, has put sellers in Ho Chi Minh City on pins and needles.

Makeshift stalls selling peach blossom trees from Hanoi, northern Hai Duong Province and Thai Binh Province erected at the 23/9 Park in District 1 and the Gia Dinh Park in Go Vap District have welcomed fewer customers than previous years in recent days.

The number of peach bonsai trees, which are popular traditional decorations for the Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam, Uy, a seller hailing from Thai Binh, has sold for three days is less than one-fifth of the figure last year.

Uy said that the selling prices have been 35 percent lower than the previous Lunar New Year holiday.

“In previous years, many people went to buy [peach blossom trees] to gift others early, but this year stores are too empty [of customers],” Uy said.

At a booth next to Uy’s, Nguyen Thi Huong, hailing from Hai Duong Province, was unhappy as she just sold three peach blossom trees for a total sum of VND8.5 million (US$367), or VND5.5 million ($238) lower than the price last year.

“This year, the trees are more beautiful, with a lot of buds, but the prices are too low,” Huong said.

The low demand is caused by fewer gatherings and parties that need ornamental trees for decoration due to COVID-19, according to Ngo Minh Hoang, a customer in District 1.

Sellers are expecting better sales in the next three to six days so that they will still be able to return home timely for the Lunar New Year celebrations, which will start next week.