Vietnam Orchids:
Untapped potential

Recently, an orchid contest was held in Hanoi. The contest was not organised by Hanoi Orchid Association, but launched by a club. With no compulsory requirements in geography and region, the contest ended with more than 100 works in the final round, including those of orchid associations from various provinces and cities such as Dien Bien, Ha Tay and Quang Ninh.

 

The movement to grow orchids is currently flourishing across provinces and cities in Vietnam, with the participation of thousands of members. Most provinces and cities have formed their own orchid associations. Hanoi Orchid Association has up to five clubs with hundreds of members. The organisation board plans to hold the contest annually in April, starting this year.

 

Presently, planting orchids in Vietnam is developing and showing high economic value. Although Vietnam has potential in natural genes and advantageous climate areas for intensive cultivation of industrial orchids, research activity on seed production and commercial cultivation is just in the initial phase so far. Some enterprises have invested in orchids, but their investments are still small and unable to focus on intensive seed research.

 

Dalat is a city which has succeeded in cross-breeding and producing flowers. However, they still face a lot of difficulties in export because Vietnam does not have any orchid copyright overseas. Meanwhile, orchids need to be registered for copyright and trademarks through international associations and trading businesses to penetrate international markets.

 

While forest orchids are getting rarer, more and more forest orchid farming houses are emerging in provinces and cities. A lot of people are earning profits from forest orchid business. Vietnam is one among a few countries which allow uncontrolled exploitation of the natural forest resources. The situation has resulted in the possible extinction of plant systems in general, and endemic plants that need preservation.

 

With nearly 1,000 different orchid varieties and dozens of unique species, Vietnam is among leading countries in biological diversification, especially orchid varieties. Vietnam also has great potential in orchid planting and exporting. However, Vietnam has to spend millions of U.S. dollars annually to import flowers in order to meet the domestic market demand.