The 2010 spring flower market opened in Dong Nai province’s Bien Hoa city on February 6, with 170 pavilions displaying flowers from central and southwestern provinces. It will remain open until February 13, Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Most participants in the event are owners of garden houses in Ben Tre and Dong Thap provinces, who are showing hundreds of flowers, some of them priced at more than VND100,000 per pot.

This year’s Dong Nai flower market does not offer as many golden apricot flowers as in the previous years; instead, there are mainly apricot trees planted in big pots. Some traders say this year people are tending to choose green ornamental trees and bonsai trees. Some trees with edible fruits are also being displayed.

Owners of garden houses say the prices of familiar flowers such as daisies, peonies, cycads and carnations have risen by 20-50 percent to VND30,000-50,000 per pot as a consequence of weather changes and higher costs in caring and transport. Apricot prices alone have increased by 40 percent.

The Dong Nai flower market also has some varieties of flowers imported from places abroad, such as the Netherlands.

The Hai Long company has set up 14 venues providing goods for people living in the communes of Dau Tieng, Tan Uyen, and Phu Giao rural districts in the southern province of Binh Duong. Nearly 90 percent of the goods at these venues were domestically produced. Twelve venues selling raw fresh food have also opened in 7 other districts and towns in the province.

n the north, Hung Yen province opened a week-long trade fair on February 6 to stimulate the consumption of domestic goods by Vietnamese people. The fair had nearly 120 booths displaying a wide range of goods and services by manufacturers and companies inside and outside the province. It also served as a venue for promoting commodities, introducing investment opportunities and listening to customers’ ideas. Many activities such as art shows, and folk games will take place on the sidelines of the event, which can be visited free of charge.

(VOVNews)