With slow consumer demand, farmers are increasing online sales.

With more than three weeks left until the Lunar New Year, demand for Tet flowers remains quiet, even from wholesale buyers. Therefore, many flower growers have proactively started livestreaming to sell their products and have indicated they will invest heavily in this sales channel in the future.

Besides selling directly, many apricot blossom growers in Ho Chi Minh City are also increasing livestreaming sales and offering delivery services - Photo: N.TRÍ

Having worked in the business for many years, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, owner of Ngoc Hien orchid garden (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), said that although traders have placed deposits to buy dendrobium and mokara orchids for Tet sales, the prices have increased compared to before, but are still quite low compared to the same period in previous years, possibly down by about 40%.

"Dendrobium orchids usually demand earlier, around mid-December, with customers placing orders after knowing the quality of the flowers. Conversely, Mokara orchids are usually bought more closer to Tet (Lunar New Year). But overall, the purchasing power for these two main types of orchids in Ho Chi Minh City this year is slow," Mr. Hien worried, adding that despite the reduced production, growers are still maintaining wholesale prices as in previous years.

Mr. Pham Anh Dung, chairman of the Cu Chi Ornamental Plants Association (Ho Chi Minh City), confirmed that the demand for locally grown orchid varieties such as dendrobium, mokara, and phalaenopsis is quite slow compared to previous years.

"Most wholesale customers are traders, but this year, due to concerns about weak purchasing power, they didn't dare place orders early or in large quantities. Hopefully, demand will pick up closer to Tet," Mr. Dung said, affirming that the prices of orchids are unlikely to increase during this year's Tet season (except for Phalaenopsis orchids).

Many flower growers cultivating ornamental plants like chrysanthemums, cockscomb, and marigolds are facing a similar situation. While wholesale buyers used to proactively contact them to inquire and place deposits early, the market remains quite quiet this year. Furthermore, farmers are under pressure as production costs have increased by about 10% compared to last year, but they dare not raise selling prices, and risk even a decrease if there are fewer customers.

To avoid the risk of being stuck with unsold stock, many garden owners have chosen to promote and sell flowers and ornamental plants for Tet (Lunar New Year) on social media platforms such as TikTok, Zalo, and Facebook, attracting a large number of interested customers. The plants mainly advertised include apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, kumquats, orchids, and chrysanthemums.

Constantly posting videos and livestreaming to sell ornamental plants, a representative from Bonsai Nghia nursery ( Ben Tre ) said that the nursery currently has tens of thousands of chrysanthemum pots for the Tet holiday season, so they are increasing online sales to quickly attract more customers.

Accordingly, the selling price is 250,000 VND per potted plant with a canopy of about 1 meter, or 450,000 VND for two pots, including delivery fees. In addition, the company sells large quantities of yellow apricot blossom trees at prices ranging from several hundred thousand to several million VND per tree through online channels and delivers nationwide.

"Around January 15th, nurseries stop selling retail, and wholesale customers who want to buy must place a deposit early so the nurseries can reserve the plants. However, it's best to buy early because at the end of the season, whatever is left is usually sold," this person said.

According to Mr. Trinh Thanh Hien ( Hanoi , specializing in selling peach blossoms), due to slow direct sales, he has focused on selling through online channels. However, demand is still not high, with individual customers accounting for only 10-20%, so he plans to continue increasing sales in the coming time.

"Small trees priced from 500,000 to 1 million VND are relatively easy to sell. Customers can have them shipped via post or courier service. For those buying in bulk or larger trees, they can hire a private vehicle or combine shipments for delivery to their location. We can sell nationwide," Mr. Hien said.

In Binh Loi apricot blossom village (Binh Chanh district), considered the largest in Ho Chi Minh City, many gardeners also utilize social media platforms, especially livestreaming, to promote and sell apricot blossoms for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, the owner of a kumquat blossom garden here said that many gardeners are receiving support from the agricultural sector to livestream on social media platforms, especially Facebook and TikTok, to reach more customers. In addition, many businesses are also partnering with farmers to facilitate the delivery of kumquat blossoms to customers during Tet (Lunar New Year).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/suc-mua-cham-nha-vuon-tang-ban-online-2025010708284869.htm