Valentine's Day: Roses, chocolate, and what's new?

(VLO) Valentine's Day on February 14th offers a wide variety of gifts to express affection, but roses remain a popular choice, even if the price is higher than usual. However, this year's Valentine's Day market also features a new trend.

Many stores design gift sets according to current trends.

At GiftGarden flower shop (Ward 4, Vinh Long City), the atmosphere is very lively. Beautiful baskets of bright red flowers are on display, and staff are busy wrapping gifts and preparing orders. Ms. Duong Truc Mai, the shop owner, said that this year the price of raw flowers has increased by 10-15% compared to last year, especially red roses - the "key" item for Valentine's Day.

Some flower suppliers require wholesale buyers to include red roses with other colors, making this type of flower even scarcer and driving up prices. Despite the price increase, the quality of flowers this year is considered good, lasting longer and being beautiful.

According to Ms. Mai, Valentine's Day falling on a weekend has significantly increased the demand for gifts. Bouquets and gift baskets are constantly being pre-ordered up to 5 days in advance. In particular, the trend of combining fresh flowers with baby teddy bears is creating a sensation, with many shops quickly capitalizing on the trend with "hot trend" gift sets to please loved ones.

“The segment of flower bouquets priced from 300,000 VND and up is currently popular. Besides roses, customers also like edible fruit gifts such as strawberries, cherries, and red apples – symbolizing love. In general, people are increasingly favoring practical gifts that are edible, enjoyable, and can be displayed for a long time,” Ms. Mai said.

According to some flower shops, imported roses from Ecuador and the Netherlands cost between 100,000 and 120,000 VND per stem, while domestic roses range from 15,000 to 25,000 VND per stem.

A wide variety of gifts for Valentine's Day.

As of February 13th, the price of Da Lat roses offered by traders to flower shops ranged from 395,000 to 450,000 VND per bunch (50 flowers), depending on the type and origin. Besides fresh flowers, the market also offers many other options such as wax flowers, glitter flowers, and dried flowers, which have a delicate beauty, a light fragrance, and a longer display time.

At Diep Suong Shop (Ward 9, Vinh Long City), customers are coming and going in droves, and staff are busy processing both in-store and online orders. Ms. Tran Thi Diep Suong, the shop owner, said: "The number of customers has increased by about 50% compared to normal days. Popular products include perfumes, lipsticks, shower gels, etc., with gift sets priced from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND."

To meet diverse needs, the store has added chocolates, artificial flowers, and decorative lights, making it easier for customers to choose romantic and beautiful gift combos. The price of materials such as artificial flowers and gift packaging has increased by about 5% compared to normal days. However, the store still strives to keep prices reasonable.

“Instead of just giving perfume, many customers prefer to combine it with artificial flowers to make the gift box more luxurious and keep it as a memento. Notably, this year the number of female customers giving gifts to men is almost equal to the number of male customers giving gifts to women. For gifts for men, the shop prioritizes shades of blue, black, and red in a minimalist and sophisticated style,” Ms. Suong shared.

Following the general trend, chocolate is also a popular sweet gift. According to surveys, high-end Valentine's Day chocolate boxes cost from 500,000 VND/box upwards, while smaller boxes (10 pieces) cost 150,000-300,000 VND/box.

According to a pastry shop on 2nd September Street (Ward 1, Vinh Long City), the shop took advantage of importing fresh chocolates before Tet to get lower prices, with a variety of designs and luxurious gift boxes to serve the Valentine's Day market.

During this time, products such as stuffed animals, cosmetics, jewelry, and cakes are also very popular. Many stores also launch promotional programs such as greeting card writing and free shipping to attract customers.

Valentine's Day arrives, bringing with it passionate flowers, sweet gifts, and unforgettable emotions. From meticulously prepared bouquets of roses and trendy gift sets to handmade presents, everything contributes to making this holiday even more special.

Whether it's a couple in love, friends, or family, everyone has their own way of expressing love. And while gift-giving trends may change, the most important thing remains the joy and appreciation shared on this special day.

Valentine's Day in your own way

In the festive atmosphere of Valentine's Day, everyone has their own way of expressing love. Ngoc Tran (Ward 4, Vinh Long City) didn't choose gifts for her lover, but instead dedicated meaningful bouquets of flowers to her mother and best friend. "In my opinion, Valentine's Day isn't just for couples; it's also an opportunity to show affection to family and friends. A bouquet of flowers or a small gift can make the recipient happy," Tran shared.

Huynh Huu Linh (Ward 9, Vinh Long City) wanted to offer a special experience through a handmade bracelet workshop. According to Linh, making gifts by hand not only expresses sincere feelings but also helps preserve beautiful memories. He organized the workshop on February 14th at Daklao Cafe & Roastery (Ward 3, Vinh Long City). "I want to give everyone a workshop where they can experience the feeling of creating a handmade gift, a memento of love," Linh shared on his personal page.

Text and photos: THAO TIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/kinh-te/202502/valentine-hoa-hong-socola-va-co-gi-moi-27c571a/