Even as Tet approaches, they anxiously wait for customers, hoping to recoup their investment.

The market for yellow apricot blossoms in Binh Dinh is quiet as Tet approaches.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 1

Binh Dinh is one of the provinces with the largest development of apricot blossom cultivation in the country.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 2

The yellow apricot blossoms of Binh Dinh have their own unique characteristics, making them well-known to customers everywhere.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 3

An Nhon town (Binh Dinh province) is considered the capital of yellow apricot blossoms in Binh Dinh and the entire Central region. Thousands of households here cultivate apricot blossoms, with over 2 million potted apricot trees spread across 145 hectares.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 4

In previous years, the revenue from An Nhon's yellow apricot blossoms consistently exceeded 100 billion VND per year.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 5

In the period leading up to the Lunar New Year of 2023, many apricot blossom growers in Binh Dinh were disheartened because the flowers did not bloom on time, but the quantity of apricot blossoms sold and the prices remained stable, which somewhat eased the burden for the traders.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 6

However, this year, even though it's already the 25th day of the 12th lunar month, according to observations, the yellow apricot blossom capital of Binh Dinh province is experiencing decreased demand and a quiet atmosphere, with sales becoming sluggish.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 7

Mr. Nguyen Van An (45 years old, a bonsai grower in Nhon An commune, An Nhon town) shared that his family has thousands of bonsai trees, but he only dares to bring out 1/3 of them to sell.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 8

Mr. An explained: "Last year there were losses, but they were insignificant. This year, I invested hundreds of millions of dong in apricot blossom trees, but when I brought some to the market to test the market, I noticed that demand had decreased compared to last year. Partly because the apricot blossoms bloomed early, so today I've only sold a little over 10 pots."

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 9

At the spring apricot blossom market in An Nhon, there were only a handful of visitors strolling around, looking at the apricot blossoms, asking about prices, and then turning away.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 10

According to Mr. Tran The Hoa, a bonsai tree grower in Nhon An commune, An Nhon town, only about 10% of the bonsai trees have been sold so far.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 11

"Last year, the lowest price was 1.5 - 2 million VND per five-year-old apricot blossom tree, but this year, apricot blossom growers are collectively selling them for 700,000 - 800,000 VND per tree, hoping to recoup their investment, but not many people are buying," shared artisan Hoa.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 12

Farmers specializing in growing apricot blossom trees work year-round, relying solely on the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). However, observations show that the apricot blossom trees in the gardens of An Nhon town remain largely untouched. The growers only display a small portion for sale on the streets. This is because they are hesitant to pay for space rental, environmental sanitation fees, and the effort involved in setting up tents to guard the trees overnight.

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 13

To promote the apricot blossom season for Tet (Lunar New Year), the An Nhon Artistic Apricot Blossom Exhibition, combined with the 2024 Artistic Apricot Blossom Shaping Skills Competition, was held in Trung Dinh traditional apricot blossom village (Nhon An commune, An Nhon town).

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 14

With 5,300 apricot blossom trees on display, including 300 works of various types of yellow apricot blossoms: large apricot trees over 2m tall, apricot trees with traditional shapes, mini apricot trees, apricot bonsai...

Binh Dinh's apricot blossom growers: Still anxiously waiting for customers as Tet approaches, hoping to recoup their investment - 15

The apricot blossom exhibition festival aims to boost revenue from the apricot blossom industry and promote apricot blossom products throughout the year...