Despite prices increasing 5-7 times, bananas offered as Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts are still in high demand.

Currently, each bunch of bananas offered as a sacrifice costs between 120,000 and 350,000 VND, 5-7 times more expensive than usual. Photo: Thanh Phuc

To have bananas for offerings during Tet (Lunar New Year), from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, Mr. Nguyen Van Ha (Thanh Duc commune, Thanh Chuong district) and his brothers went all the way to Hung Yen to reserve beautiful banana orchards. After the Tet Ong Cong, Ong Tao (Kitchen God) festival, they drove there to cut and transport the bananas back to Vinh.

On the morning of the 25th day of the 12th lunar month, 300 bunches of bananas were transported to Vinh and distributed to selling points on Dinh Le and Tue Tinh streets (Hung Dung ward). Mr. Ha said: “This year, banana plantations in Hung Yen, Ha Nam, and Quang Binh are experiencing shortages. The reason is unfavorable weather conditions, with heavy rains causing the bananas to ripen later than usual, so they won't be ready in time for Tet. Therefore, banana prices have also increased by 20-30% compared to previous years.”

A stall selling bananas for offerings on Tuệ Tĩnh street (Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Phúc

According to Mr. Ha, the price of each bunch of bananas ranges from 100,000 to 200,000 VND. The most expensive are bunches with odd numbers of bananas, with tendrils, and evenly sized, beautiful fruits, costing up to 250,000-300,000 VND. This is because, according to folk beliefs, bunches with an odd number of bananas symbolize fertility and good fortune. Furthermore, odd-numbered bunches are rare, making them more expensive.

With decades of experience in selling bananas for offerings, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet (Hong Yen village, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district) said: “This year's bananas aren't as beautiful, but the price is higher than last year. Banana prices also vary by segment. Hung Yen honey bananas, with their bright color and large, uniform fruits, retail from 120,000 to 300,000 VND per bunch; Dai Hoang royal bananas (Ha Nam) cost 100,000 to 150,000 VND per bunch; Quang Binh Cavendish bananas cost 80,000 to 100,000 VND per bunch; and Quy Hop and Nghia Dan bananas range from 70,000 to 110,000 VND per bunch.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet (Hong Yen village, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district) said that during the peak 7 days of Tet (from the 23rd to the 29th of the 12th lunar month), he supplied tens of thousands of bunches of bananas to the market. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In addition, the price of each bunch of bananas depends on the color, size of the fruit (even or odd number), whether the tendrils are intact, and whether there are any deformities. Over the past three days, I have sold approximately 10,000 bunches of bananas, both wholesale and retail. Demand will increase in the coming days, so the price of bananas will certainly not decrease.”

Despite the high price of bananas, people are still crowding into local markets to buy them. As an indispensable item on ancestral altars, bananas used for offerings see a sharp price increase during Tet (Lunar New Year), yet they remain in high demand and are scarce. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thinh, a customer, said: "The price of bananas is 5-7 times higher than usual, but it's very difficult to find a bunch that meets my expectations."

Despite the high price, people still crowded to buy bananas. Photo: Thanh Phuc