This year, many gardeners in Ho Chi Minh City are bringing ancient ornamental trees to early consumer stimulus fairs. Bonsai works aged 40-60 years are on display, priced from tens to hundreds of millions of dong. This early market entry suggests a slowdown in purchasing power, as buyers are more cautious with large expenditures.

Mr. Dan, owner of Hoang Tung garden in Dong Hung Thuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City, stated that he owns about 100 bonsai trees, mainly banyan trees with upright and horizontal forms. According to him, banyan trees are easy to grow but challenging to shape beautifully. Growers must prune roots, cultivate canopies, and adjust their form annually to ensure the trunk is seamless, the base flares evenly, and the canopy is clearly layered. For this occasion, he brought tens of ornamental pots to the fair, including a pair of banyan trees about 50 years old, with trunks embracing ceramic pots, bases nearly as wide as an arm's embrace, and canopies spreading horizontally. The asking price is 260 million dong, but so far, most activity has been viewing and inquiries.

A 50-year-old banyan pot displayed at the fair in Go Vap ward on 31/12. Photo: Thi Ha

Among plant enthusiasts, banyan trees belong to the "Da - Sung - Sanh - Si" group, favored for their durable wood, vigorous aerial root development, and long-term shaping potential. In folk beliefs, banyan trees symbolize vitality and longevity, often chosen for display in front of homes or offices at the beginning of the year, with the desire to bring stability and sustainable development.

In addition to banyan trees, many gardeners are also offering other types of ancient trees to the market. Mr. Hoang, owner of an ornamental garden in An Lac ward, is showcasing a "flying" style orange jasmine tree about 60 years old. The tree's base is as wide as an adult's arm, its trunk leans to one side, and its canopy extends about three meters, creating a sense of movement. Orange jasmine is highly valued by enthusiasts for its small leaves, year-round greenery, and subtle fragrance. In folklore, this tree is associated with good fortune and success.

According to Mr. Hoang, the tree was once valued at about 200 million dong, but has now been reduced to nearly 120 million dong due to weak purchasing power.

Mr. Hoang's "flying" style orange jasmine tree is being sold for 120 million dong. Photo: Thi Ha

At another stall, Mr. Nhon, owner of a garden in Long Phuoc ward, Tay Ninh, brought ancient star apple and star fruit trees, about 50 years old. The star apple trees feature round canopies and evenly distributed branches, popular among buyers for symbolizing abundance and family reunion. Meanwhile, the star fruit trees have gnarled trunks and low-spreading branches, associated with the "eating star fruit, returning gold" legend, symbolizing luck and prosperity. These potted trees are currently priced at 15-40 million dong, significantly lower than the 60-70 million dong seen a few years ago.

According to garden owners, buyers this year are no longer purchasing early to secure items as before. Instead, they primarily wait until closer to Tet to compare prices and make selections, forcing gardeners to display their trees earlier to find buyers. Concurrently, many gardeners are boosting their livestreaming and video content on social media to reach more customers, especially those from distant areas and younger buyers.

A 60-year-old star apple tree is priced at 40 million dong. Photo: Thi Ha

Beyond the ancient tree segment, the Tet ornamental flower market in Ho Chi Minh City is also starting early. Since late december, many major roads have featured flower stalls for Christmas and New Year's Day. Chrysanthemum pots, kumquat trees, and flowers from the Mekong Delta are brought to the streets in exploratory quantities. Currently, chrysanthemum pots are priced at 180,000-200,000 dong each, while Korean chrysanthemums range from 140,000-160,000 dong.

Gardeners and traders report that while this year's Tet flower and ornamental plant market began early, purchasing power remains cautious. Consumers are carefully considering high-value decorative purchases, while unseasonal rain and rising maintenance costs could impact supply and prices as Tet approaches.

Thi Ha