Even as Tet approaches, green bananas are selling out at exorbitant prices.

This year, at local markets in Vinh City, the price of green bananas used for the traditional five-fruit offering has skyrocketed compared to previous years. Mr. Tran Huu Thai (Hung Loc Ward, Vinh City) said: “On the day of the Kitchen God ceremony, I bought a bunch of bananas for 150,000 VND, which I thought was quite expensive. Now, after browsing the market, even the cheapest bunch costs 200,000 VND; bunches with individual, beautiful bananas can reach 400,000-500,000 VND.”

Surveys conducted at numerous green banana vendors (such as honey bananas and royal bananas) in Vinh City over the past few days show a sharp increase in prices. Accordingly, green bananas are being sold for between 130,000 and 850,000 VND per bunch, depending on shape, color, and the number of bananas (even or odd). Bunches with an odd number of bananas (15, 17, 19... bananas) are significantly more expensive, as according to ancestral worship beliefs, odd numbers are considered auspicious and bring good fortune to the household.

Ms. Trinh Thi Lien, a small trader from Thanh Chuong who brings green bananas to sell at Coi Market (Hung Loc Ward), said: "Every year I only sell green bananas at this market for two occasions: the Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao (Kitchen God) festival and the Lunar New Year. The price of bananas increases from before the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month due to the high demand for bananas to decorate the five-fruit offering tray, and in the days leading up to Tet, the price of bananas skyrockets."

Since the end of November, I've been placing orders with suppliers and growers to get the most beautiful bunches of bananas for Tet (Lunar New Year). In this banana stall, the cheapest bunch costs 180,000-200,000 VND, while the most expensive one costs 500,000 VND. Even the smaller bunches with beautiful, high-quality fruit are unavailable. The whole stall only has 3-5 bunches."

According to traders, banana prices usually increase sharply during Tet (Lunar New Year), but this year the increase is unusually high due to limited supply. "This year, key banana-growing regions like Thai Binh, Hung Yen, and Bac Ninh were severely damaged by Typhoon No. 3. Therefore, the scarcity of supply has driven up banana prices," said Trinh Van Thanh, a trader specializing in green bananas at Vinh wholesale market.

Due to the scarcity and high prices of bananas from the North, many small traders are importing Cavendish bananas from the South to sell. Although the price of Cavendish bananas from the South is quite cheap, only 80,000-130,000 VND per bunch, they are not favored by consumers. This is because people are worried that bananas transported in refrigerated containers will spoil quickly when brought home for Tet (Lunar New Year).

“Even though the bunches are small, the bananas are beautiful, shiny, and only one-third the price of Northern bananas, I still choose to buy Northern bananas. Firstly, Southern bananas look unripe, and they are transported in refrigerated trucks, so the stems easily turn dark and rot during Tet. If the fruit offered during Tet rots like that, it's considered unlucky. Therefore, I don't buy Southern bananas to display on the altar,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Que, a local resident.

While green banana prices have surged in Vinh City, in rural areas, the price of bananas only ranges from 50,000 to 150,000 VND per bunch. However, according to many small traders, merchants have been scouring orchards, selecting only the best bunches of bananas to sell at larger markets, resulting in lower prices for bananas in rural markets.

Not only green bananas, but the prices of other fruits for the traditional Tet fruit platter have increased by 10-30%. Grade 1 Cat Chu mangoes are currently priced at 120,000 VND/kg, and green pomelos at 50,000 VND/kg, a 20% increase compared to last week.

Fruits like custard apples and papayas are also increasing in price daily, fluctuating between 70,000-80,000 VND/kg, red dragon fruit 60,000-80,000 VND/kg, white-fleshed dragon fruit 60,000 VND/kg, and Buddha's hand citron 200,000-600,000 VND/fruit depending on shape, size, and color.

According to vendors at traditional markets, purchasing power this year has decreased compared to previous years. However, due to limited supply, the prices of various fruits have still increased significantly compared to normal days.