Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Days before the International Women’s Day (March 8) are often the best for flower sellers atTay Tuu Flower Village in Hanoi, but the continuing COVID-19 epidemic has cutsales of flowers in half this season.

Nguyen Cong Cuong andhis wife have prepared 1,000 roses to deliver to customers. Unlike in otheryears when they had to hire more people to cut the plants, this season theyhave done all the work themselves to reduce costs.

Cuong said: "Prices offlowers this year have dropped by half. Normally, after Tet (Lunar New Year) we can sell flowersfor Valentines’ Day, temple rituals, Spring festivals, and forInternational Women’s Day. This year, COVID-19 stopped all those things,dumping the prices of the flowers. Most of us face losses."

His wife, Nguyen Thi Nga, said:“Now we sell each bouquet of 100 roses at 100,000 VND (4.3 USD). Last year, theprice was 200,000 VND or more.”

Planting flowers in 1,440sq.m of land, Nga said:"The sales we make this season may not cover rent for land, fertiliser andothers.”

Growing more flowers and alsomore expensive ones, Le Thi Ki is facing bigger losses.

Ki said: "My family hasmore than 3,600sq.m oflilies that are ready to harvest. At present, a bunch of lilies (with fiveflowers) are about 20,000 VND each. Compared to the prices from Tet holiday, the prices of eachdecreased by 35,000 VND.”

She thinks the COVID-19epidemic and postponing of festivals greatly reduces the need to buy flowersfor temples and pagodas, adding that ordinary people are worried about the epidemic’s influence onthe economy and have started tightening their spending.

Tay Tuu Flower Village is inBac Tu Liem district, some 20km from the city centre. The 250ha-villagesupplies flowers to Hanoi and other northern provinces for big festivals andevents./.