Fresh flower market on November 20: Prices increase, online orders dominate

Photo caption — A parent took the opportunity to buy fresh flowers at a traditional market to give to his child's teacher on November 20.

According to Tin Tuc and Dan Toc newspaper reporters, the roads leading to Ho Thi Ky flower market are always crowded. Traders are present from 2-3 am to receive flowers, set up stalls and prepare for the increased number of customers.

Here, many types of flowers such as Da Lat roses, sunflowers, Japanese cotton flowers or hydrangeas... have doubled or even tripled their prices compared to normal days. Specifically, roses are sold for 250,000 VND/bunch (50 flowers), sunflowers are priced at 150,000 VND/5 flowers, gerberas are priced at 100,000 VND/bunch (5 flowers)...

Similarly, at Dam Sen flower market and Thu Duc agricultural wholesale market, wholesale fresh flower prices also increased sharply, especially popular flower varieties for Vietnamese Teachers' Day such as roses, sunflowers, lilies, gerberas...

According to traders, the sharp increase in fresh flower prices is due to many flower growing areas in Lam Dong, Dong Thap, Ben Tre , etc. facing prolonged storms and floods. Some gardens are flooded, the supply of goods has decreased sharply, so the amount of flowers coming to Ho Chi Minh City is also limited. In addition, heavy rains make harvesting, packaging and transportation difficult, and transportation costs increase by 20-30% compared to normal days.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, a flower vendor at Thu Duc agricultural wholesale market, said: “The price increase of flowers is inevitable because we have to buy them back from the garden at a high price. The trip back to the market also takes more time due to flooded roads and traffic jams caused by prolonged heavy rain in the Central and Western provinces and Da Lat.”

According to the reporter, on November 19 and 20, at Ho Thi Ky market, despite the high prices, the number of customers buying directly was still quite large. Many people said that buying at the market helps them check the freshness, color and choose each bouquet of flowers to their liking. Ms. Doan My Hanh, living in Xuan Hoa ward, said that she often goes to the market to buy flowers, sometimes the flowers are more expensive than ordering online, but she likes to choose each fresh flower branch for peace of mind.

The image of buyers and delivery people moving continuously in the small aisles creates a bustling atmosphere that is only found in traditional flower markets. Many shops have to mobilize more staff to wrap flowers, pack boxes and deliver them to meet orders from the previous night. Bouquets of roses, lilies, gerbera daisies... are transported throughout the city to serve the needs of giving to teachers on the day of gratitude.

In contrast to the bustling scene at wholesale markets, traders at traditional markets all said that purchasing power this year has decreased significantly. The main reason is that the trend of ordering flowers through online platforms is becoming more and more popular, especially among young people and office workers. With just a few steps to choose a model, pay and wait for delivery within a few hours, customers do not have to jostle or waste time traveling.

Many flower stall owners at Ho Thi Ky market have combined both direct and online sales to meet the new trend. Mr. Lam Tung, owner of a fresh flower shop here, said that the demand for ordering flowers online has increased sharply, but the pressure for delivery is also higher. "Customers ordering online have very strict requirements such as the right model, the right color, and the right time. Even a small mistake will be judged immediately, so we have to be careful in every step," Mr. Lam Tung said.

Meanwhile, according to many customers who regularly buy flowers at traditional markets, despite the sharp increase in flower prices, they are still willing to buy them because this is the most meaningful gift on November 20. Ms. Thu Uyen, residing in Thu Duc ward, shared: "On Vietnamese Teachers' Day, there must be a bouquet of fresh flowers to give to teachers. Fresh flowers are a bit more expensive, but it is the heart of students who want to send to their teachers, this is an indispensable gratitude on Vietnamese Teachers' Day."

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Minh Hoang, living in Tan Phu ward, often buys fresh flowers at Dam Sen flower market, said that the price of fresh flowers increases is normal on holidays, but the important thing is that on this day he still chooses the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to give to relatives and teachers of his children. Because, the psychology of women, everyone likes to receive a bouquet of fresh flowers on the meaningful day of the education sector.