People in Binh district are busy tending to flowers and ornamental plants in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Chất Bình commune was established by merging three former communes: Xuân Chính, Chất Bình, and Hồi Ninh. This administrative merger has helped Chất Bình expand its area, plan concentrated development zones, and create conditions for commodity-oriented production. Currently, the commune continues to maintain and develop the traditional flower and ornamental plant cultivation industry, thereby contributing to increased income and improved living standards for the local people.

The peach orchards of the people in Chat Binh commune are ready to serve the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

The profession of growing flowers and ornamental plants in Chat Binh commune has existed for a long time, preserved and developed by the local people. Currently, the main types of flowers and ornamental plants that the people are maintaining and growing include: apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, peonies, betel nut trees, white camellias, etc., with a total area of ​​about 100 hectares.

The final months of the year leading up to the Lunar New Year are considered the "final push" for farmers in Chat Binh. Every household and every person is busy tending to flowers and ornamental plants to ensure they are ready for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

Mr. Le Duc Thien has nearly a decade of experience in cultivating ornamental peach blossom trees. He meticulously searches for, selects, and transports the peach trees from Son La province to plant, care for, prune, and shape them into beautiful forms to meet the high demand for peach blossom trees during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). On an area of ​​approximately 2 hectares, he has planted 800 double-petaled peach blossom trees, combined with growing some vegetables to increase income. Over the years, his family's peach blossom products have become well-known, resulting in stable sales. Mr. Thien shared: “Growing ornamental peach trees has its own difficulties, but it brings high economic value. At the end of the year, peach tree farmers usually have to spend a lot of time in the garden caring for them. The most important issue is stripping the leaves so that the flowers bloom at the right time for the Lunar New Year. With the weather like this year, the peach trees will be stripped of their leaves 55-60 days before Tet. Currently, the leaf stripping work in the garden is complete. The good news is that 80% of my family's peach trees have already been ordered, with prices ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 million VND per tree, estimating a profit of about 700 million VND.”

Mr. Le Duc Thien (from Chat Binh commune) is focusing on taking care of his peach trees.

In Chất Bình commune alone, the area dedicated to peach cultivation is approximately 60 hectares. The local people mainly grow peach blossoms in a variety of shapes and styles, such as: shaped peaches, cascading peaches, and pine-shaped peaches. This is the time when growers begin pruning roots, removing leaves, and inhibiting growth to concentrate nutrients on the buds. In addition, they also carefully trim the branches to ensure even distribution, plump buds, and many small, straight shoots, so that each peach tree delivered to customers is satisfactory. With skillful and meticulous care, the peach trees will quickly begin to sprout buds, signaling the imminent arrival of spring.

Besides peach trees, farmers in Chat Binh commune have also boldly introduced and propagated other flower and ornamental plant varieties, focusing on applying many scientific and technical advancements to the planting and care process, thus continuously improving quality.

Mr. Pham Van Viet is one of the few households that chose to grow apricot blossom trees to develop their family's economy. This plant, which prefers warm weather and is usually grown in the South, requires different care techniques when brought to the North, demanding knowledge and understanding from the grower. To create unique and beautifully shaped apricot blossom trees, Mr. Viet has invested time and effort in learning from apricot blossom growing centers across the country. From 200 apricot blossom trees when he started, he has now increased the number fivefold to 10,000. He also grows peonies to supply the market during Tet (Lunar New Year). Due to the large number of plants, he has to hire extra workers whenever he needs to remove leaves to ensure timely completion.

Mr. Pham Van Viet (from Chat Binh commune) is stripping the leaves from apricot blossom trees.

With extensive experience in growing ornamental plants, Mr. Pham Van Viet has mastered the techniques, resulting in healthy, well-developed plants with beautiful shapes and long-lasting flowers. It is estimated that his stable annual revenue is around 2 billion VND, yielding a profit of 1.5 billion VND after deducting expenses.

Mr. Pham Van Viet shared: “Apricot blossom trees thrive in temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Growing apricot blossom trees in the North requires complex techniques because the North has a cold winter with low temperatures, which can affect the tree's growth. However, to overcome the weather challenges, I have proactively built a system of arches and covered them with plastic sheeting in case of unfavorable weather. At the same time, I have also designed a charcoal-fired heating system, which can be used when needed to raise the temperature, ensuring ideal conditions for the apricot blossom trees to grow and bloom at the right time. Apricot blossom trees usually need to have their leaves stripped about 35 days before Tet (Lunar New Year), so we are currently starting this process to serve customers who want to enjoy ornamental plants early.”

Mr. Pham Van Viet (from Chat Binh commune) designed a charcoal-fired heating system to care for his apricot blossom trees.

According to surveys, the price of peach blossom branches this year will range from 300,000 to 500,000 VND; peach blossom trees with a cascading shape from 700,000 to 1 million VND; peach blossom trees in various shapes from 1 million to 2 million VND; potted apricot blossom trees from several hundred thousand to several million VND, depending on size, shape, style, buds, etc. The value per hectare of flower and ornamental plant cultivation is estimated at 500 million VND/hectare, significantly higher than many other crops such as rice, corn, potatoes, beans, etc.

To develop the ornamental plant and flower cultivation industry in the area, the local government has, in recent years, created favorable conditions regarding land, capital, technology transfer, and many timely support mechanisms and policies to help farmers feel secure in their production and become more committed to the profession. The locality is striving to build the brand of Chất Bình ornamental plants and flowers, especially peach blossoms, to expand the market and increase economic value.

Local authorities are concerned about and supportive of people in their production activities.

Mr. Pham Van Sang, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chat Binh commune, said: “Growing flowers and ornamental plants in the area is an effective economic development direction, bringing stable income to the people. We will continue to accompany and support the people in production, orienting agricultural development towards commodity production, applying scientific and technical advancements and digital transformation. Especially for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the locality will organize a flower fair right in the commune to introduce and promote beautiful peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, etc., to consumers inside and outside the province.”

For many years, the profession of growing flowers and ornamental plants has become a sustainable and effective livelihood, developing the potential and strengths of the locality. It is also a traditional occupation that has been inherited and developed through many generations. In Chat Binh commune, some households grow a few dozen plants, while others grow hundreds, even thousands of plants of various kinds. However, in the minds of the people here, it is a serious approach to developing the profession, driven by passion and enthusiasm.

With less than two months until the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the people of Chat Binh commune are still diligently tending to each flower bud and ornamental plant, hoping for a warm, prosperous, and abundant Tet holiday, a brighter future for the people, and contributing to building a beautiful and livable rural area.

Text and photos: Dinh Huyen

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/chat-binh-ron-rang-cham-care-of-flowers-and-ornamental-plants-for-Tet-260101083128323.html