Mr. Bui Tan Hiep, owner of Le Uyen fabric flower making facility in Tan Mai ward, Bien Hoa city, said because lantern makers in HCMC stopped or reduced their production this year, traditional lanterns for Mid-fall Festival in Bien Hoa city was not as abundant as last year.
This year costumers ordered lanterns half month earlier, quantities were much more than other years, said Mr. Hiep. His facility has so far received 1000 orders of lanterns. It’s expected to have more 1000 others till the festival. Even some clients in HCMC placed an order for lanterns in Bien Hoa city.
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| Traditional lanterns will run shortage in this mid-fall festival |
Due to sharp rise in price of materials for making traditional lanterns, as double or three times as last year, price of lanterns itself also increases. Specially 8-shaped zinc bar was at VND16,000/kilo last year, now at VND19,000; zinc wire at VND15,000 from VND9,000; fringing and bamboo prices doubled while price of final product is just VND2000-3000 higher. The price of one lantern is available at VND10,000 to VND25,000, depending on sizes. The bigger ones have price-tag of VND70,000-80,000 while supper sized custom-built lanterns measuring more than one meter cost VND200,000-250,000.
L.H (N. Thuong)
