Speaking at a Thursday meeting, the vice director of the department, Le Truong Hien Hoa said that the move aimed to share difficulties with local bonsai traders and farmers and avoid the scene of left-over flowers and bonsai trees being destroyed.
"The programme will be piloted at the floating flower market around the Binh Dong Wharf and Tau Hu - Ben Nghe Canal in District 8 with funds raised from firms and organisations," Hoa said. "We're going to use the flowers and bonsai trees to decorate a flower street near the Binh Dong Wharf.
The official said that they're going to work with the traders soon to agree on the quantity and prices.
"We'll purchase the products from all traders available at the market on the final day of the lunar year," he added. "If the programme works, we'll continue in the next year and expand to other areas."
However, some people have voiced opposition to the programme, saying that there is no reason to support the flower traders who should be treated the same as all other traders in the market.
"Traders from many sectors are also facing difficulties this year," an internet user commented on an article on the issue in Du Lich Newspaper. "So there is no reason why only flower traders receive support from the government."
Another comment said that the government should only support traders by issuing suitable policies and regulations, and it's against the fair market competition rules to help purchase any product on a market.
"What happens when more people will invest in growing flowers and bonsai trees to enjoy the support next year," the comment said.
The floating flower market around the Binh Dong Wharf and Tau Hu - Ben Nghe Canal is a famous Tet traditional bonsai market in District 8 which gathers traders and farmers from the Mekong Delta region.
