After Tet (Lunar New Year), food prices skyrocket.

Vegetable prices have doubled or tripled compared to normal days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At Do Luong market, from the morning of the third day of Tet, many small traders have reopened their businesses. The goods on display are mainly various kinds of items.fresh foodSuch as: Shrimp, fish, eel, beef, veal, and various green vegetables.

According to the survey, tThe item with the sharpest price increase is vegetables.Specifically, chrysanthemum greens cost 7,000-8,000 VND/bundle (four times the usual price), celery 15,000-20,000 VND/bundle (double the usual price), cauliflower 17,000 VND/head (three times the usual price)... Beef, veal, and pork all increased in price, rising by 30,000-40,000 VND/kg compared to normal days.

After the Lunar New Year, many food-related activities such as New Year's gatherings, spring banquets, class reunions, celebrations, weddings, etc., are organized, leading to a sharp increase in demand for fresh food. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Duong Thi Nhung, a housewife in Tao Son commune (Anh Son district), said: “This Tet holiday, I didn't stock up on much food. On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, my family is having a gathering, so I went to buy vegetables and meat for a hot pot meal. After walking around Dinh market, I saw that the prices of all items, such as vegetables, meat, and shrimp, have all increased significantly. Some items have increased two to three times compared to normal days.”

In Vinh City, although markets have not yet reopened, some food vendors have already set up shop in front of the market gates, attracting a large number of buyers. Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh, a vendor selling fresh fish in front of Hung Dung market, said: “After the Tet holiday, people were eating stockpiled food and dishes made from meat, so fresh fish is selling very well. In just three hours, I sold 30kg of carp, tilapia, snakehead fish, etc. The price of fish has increased by 20,000-30,000 VND/kg.”

Meat prices have increased by 30,000-50,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With that mindset,Eating eel at the beginning of the year.With the belief that things will go smoothly and successfully, eels are in high demand, selling out even at high prices. Normally, live eels cost only 170,000-200,000 VND/kg, but now the price has risen to 350,000-400,000 VND/kg and many people are still looking to buy them.

Ms. Phan Thi Nam, the owner of an eel stall at Do Luong market, said: "To have eels to sell at the first market day of the year, we have to collect them from the end of the twelfth lunar month, raise them in tanks, and wait until the second day of the new year to start selling. Although the price is higher than usual, they sell very well. Buyers don't haggle much because this is the beginning of the new year, and everyone wants to eat eel dishes for good luck for the whole year."

Live eels, despite doubling in price, are still selling out. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Explaining the sharp increase in food prices, small traders said: After Tet, many activities related to food and drink, such as New Year's gatherings and birthday celebrations, have led to restaurants and food stalls reopening, resulting in a high demand for fresh food.

Meanwhile, with only a small number of businesses reopening, farmers not yet harvesting their crops en masse, and slaughterhouses not yet operating, supplies are scarce, demand exceeds supply, and prices have risen significantly compared to normal days.

Many seafood items have also seen price increases, with whiteleg shrimp costing 270,000-300,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The price increase only occurs a few days after Tet, once the markets reopen, traders return to business, supply stabilizes, and prices return to normal.