70 percent of styled kumquat and peach trees have found owners

Tet will come only in three weeks, but nearly all kumquat and peach trees in the gardens of the famous flower villages of Nhat Tan, Tu Lien and Dong Ngac have been sold.

People, who drop into flower villages of Nhat Tan, Tu Lien and Dong Ngac now see small plates hanging over many kumquat and peach trees saying “sold.”

A gardener commented that some 70 percent of kumquat and peach trees have been sold and only a few trees are left.

Fastidious customers came to the villages two months ago to choose kumquat and peach trees, paid deposits and trusted the gardeners to care for the trees until they take the trees to their home to display for Tet.

A kumquat or peach tree is seen in every house of Hanoians on Tet days. Owners of smaller houses have small kumquat trees or peach branches, while the owners of bigger homes purchase large trees to beautify their houses.

The busy kumquat gardeners

Hung, the owner of Hung-Binh kumquat garden, has been staying in the garden from early morning to late at night to receive customers. Conversation between Hung and a VietNamNet reporter was interrupted regularly by customer phone calls.

“It was my loyal client. They called to ask about the kumquat trees,” Hung apologized.

Hung calculated that there are 300 kumquat trees in his garden, 60 percent of which have been booked. “The most beautiful trees found their owners two months ago,” he noted.

At Hieu’s garden in Dong Ngac Village, “sold” notices were seen on all the big trees with large leaf canopies. Hieu estimated that he has only ten trees unsold.

On average, a big and beautiful styled kumquat tree with heights of two or three metres is priced at 4-8 million dong, before transportation fees are added. These trees have been booked mostly by very rich people or companies, because the trees need large spaces for display and they are very expensive.

Thuc, the owner of a kumquat garden, remarked that beautiful trees can sell very well, even though they are expensive. It takes 5-7 years to grow a beautiful kumquat tree with a well-styled design.

“If you come here several days from now, you will not have a tree to purchase,” he warned.

Mai, an officer of Hoan My Company, told VietNamNet that she learned her lesson last year. When she came, there were not many trees left.

Only smaller trees, priced at some one million dong, fit for family display, are still awaiting customers.

90 percent of peach trees reserved for lease

There are less visitors to peach tree gardens these days than to kumquat gardens. However, peach tree gardeners said that half of the peach trees have been booked.

Gardeners observed that customers now tend to lease trees rather than making purchases. If the trees that customers choose do not blossom at Tet, the gardeners must provide other trees.

People prefer leasing peach trees because they do not know what they will do with them after Tet.

Examining a big peach tree, Minh, who works for Agribank, pointed out that there is nowhere in Hanoi to put such a big tree. “If you lease the tree, gardeners will take care of it,” he commented

In fact, gardeners also prefer leasing trees. On average, it takes 6-7 years to grow a beautiful tree. “How can we provide enough peach trees if everyone likes beautiful and long-lasting trees?” one gardener mused.

Yet leasing trees is also expensive, running a mere 500,000 to one million dong lower than the sale price.

Showing a six year-old tree, Hien estimated that he would sell the tree at four million dong, and lease it at 3.5 million.

Tags: Vietnam business news