The HCM City People's Committee will organise 131 flower markets in 21 districts to serve and entertain residents and visitors during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays which this year last fromFebruary 6-14.

According to flower growers in the Mekong Delta provinces of Dong Thap, Ben Tre and Can Tho, the need for flowers and ornamental plants for Tet will increase by 20-30 per cent.

The city's three biggest markets will be located at September 23 Park with 900 plots, Gia Dinh Park with 700 plots, and Le Van Tam Park with 500 plots.

There are 128 markets in central and outlying districts including Binh Thanh, Can Gio, Thu Duc, 7, 8 and 10.

They will open from February 1 to 7.

The flower mart at Binh Dien wholesale market and floating markets at Binh Dong and Tran Xuan Soan wharves will take place from January 24 to February 7.

All the markets will offer flowers from gardeners in southern provinces and HCM City's suburban districts of 12, Thu Duc and Go Vap.

According to flower growers in the Mekong Delta provinces of Dong Thap, Ben Tre and Can Tho, the need for flowers and ornamental plants for Tet will increase by 20-30 per cent.

Traditional flowers like roses, daisies, carnations and marigolds are expected to be best-sellers this year. They are priced from VND25,000-60,000 (US$1.1-3) per pot.

"My family is preparing 5,000 pots of daisies, marigolds and hydrangea to sell to flower fairs in HCM City," said Nguyen Van Co, a member of the Binh An ornamental plant cooperative in Can Tho City.

This year, the Binh An cooperative has grown new kinds of flowers which have never been planted in the region, he said.

They are growing 17 new kinds of flowers like strawberry, seven-coloured daisy, large carnation and hydrangea. They plan to provide nearly 320,000 pots of these flowers for Tet.

"We hope to attract people in HCM City who like to show unique flowers during Tet," said Co.

Apricot blossom flower growers in the districts of Thu Duc, Go Vap and 12 are expected to get good profits in Tet.

Florist Tran Van Quyet in Thu Duc said: "Because this year's weather is good and sunny, apricot blossom trees will bloom in time."

His garden will bring 1,000 trees to the market for Tet, priced from VND1-10 million ($45-450) per tree.

Some gardens are offering huge apricot blossom trees for rent at VND4-15 million ($180-680).

"I hope our garden trees sell well this year," Quyet said.

The 131 flower markets are expected to attract thousands of local and provincial florists, and hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors.

The City's authorities have issued a plan to organise its biggest annual flower fair, the Tao Dan Spring Flower Festival and Nguyen Hue Street Flower Street.

The festival at Tao Dan Park in District 1 will open from February 3-14.

The event will display more than 5,000 indigenous and foreign flowers, ornamental fish, bonsai plants and trees.

Local and foreign artisans will give presentations on floriculture at the event.

There are also painting, photo and calligraphy exhibitions on the City and spring.

Musical performances, circuses and traditional games will also be offered.

This year, the 700-metre flower street will return to Nguyen Hue Boulevard from February 5-12.

The street will be decorated by millions of flowers from all over the country to depict an overall theme, which is chosen each year.

Last year, the flower street was held on Ham Nghi Boulevard because Nguyen Hue was under construction to turn it into a pedestrian street.

VNS