The market for offerings to Tao Quan is abundant and prices are stable.

According to folk beliefs, on the 23rd of December, Ong Cong and Ong Tao will go to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor about the old year and prepare for the new year. Therefore, Vietnamese people have the custom of worshiping on this day. The market for offerings to Ong Cong and Ong Tao is always bustling every year from early morning, with customers flocking to shop.

Ms. Chu Thi Thanh, a resident of Hung Binh Ward (Vinh City) said: “This year, because December is one day short, many people worship Ong Cong and Ong Tao earlier. To avoid crowds, I went to the market early. Goods at the market are abundant, from food, vegetables to fruits, areca nuts, votive offerings, etc., all are abundant, prices have increased slightly compared to normal days.”

According to the survey, the prices of fresh fruits have increased slightly: custard apple 85,000 - 110,000 VND/kg, dragon fruit from 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, melon 65,000 - 75,000 VND/kg, watermelon 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg, Vinh orange 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, Envy apple from 150,000 - 180,000 VND/kg...

Red carp and votive paper offerings to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao are indispensable offerings on this occasion. Prices are also stable, not increasing compared to last year. Specifically, carp costs from 25,000 to 75,000 VND/3 fish depending on size; a set of funny hats and votive paper costs from 50,000 to 150,000 VND/set depending on type.

The price of fresh flowers has increased these days, but not much compared to normal days. Specifically, the price of roses has increased from 5,000 VND/flower to 7,000-8,000 VND/flower, chrysanthemums from 4,000 VND/flower to 5,000 VND/flower, lilies from 22,000 VND/flower to 25,000 VND/flower...

As for green vegetables, due to favorable weather, the prices of green vegetables are also quite low. Specifically, kohlrabi is 6,000 - 8,000 VND/root, broccoli is 12,000 - 15,000 VND/piece, carrots are 8,000 VND/kg - 10,000 VND/kg, bok choy is 14,000 VND/kg, bell peppers are 30,000 VND/kg, cucumbers are 15,000 VND/kg, radishes are 8,000 VND/kg...

For fresh seafood products, the prices of these items have not increased compared to normal days, such as tiger prawns from 250,000 - 400,000 VND/kg, squid from 150,000 - 250,000 VND/kg, mackerel 260 - 280,000 VND/kg. Currently, the price of pork is from 130,000 - 150,000 VND/kg depending on the type; beef price is from 220,000 - 270,000 VND/kg depending on the type, pork leg 220,000 VND/kg...

As for roosters, although the demand for them at the end of the year increased dramatically, this year the price of chickens is quite stable, roosters are from 110,000 - 120,000 VND/kg, hens are lower at about 90,000 - 100,000 VND/kg... Mr. Vuong Van Viet, a chicken trader from Do Luong said: "Near Tet, chicken prices have hardly increased compared to normal days. There are many farms raising roosters, so the supply is abundant."

This year, the Kitchen God Festival falls in the middle of the week, so many people, mostly office workers, choose to order pre-made offerings. Ms. Nguyen Tra Giang, a supplier of offerings on Phan Chu Trinh Street (Vinh City), said that customers placed orders from Sunday (December 20) to Wednesday, December 23. According to Ms. Giang, this year the prices of offerings range from only VND1,000,000/tray to VND1,500,000/salty dish; VND450,000-500,000/chicken sticky rice dish, and the number of customers ordering offerings has increased sharply.

In addition to ordering trays of food, many people choose to order dishes. Therefore, stores selling ready-made food are more crowded these days. Shops selling banh ngot, banh chung, gio xuyen, carp-shaped buns, etc. are selling very well.

Not only traditional markets have high purchasing power these days, but supermarket systems have also seen a sharp increase of 20-30% compared to normal days, especially with stable prices and abundant and diverse goods.

Thanh Phuc