Market on the 2nd day of Tet: Salt and lighters sell well, betel and areca nut prices increase dramatically

Fruit prices are still quite high. Photo: Viet Phuong

At some markets in Vinh City, people do not gather in the market hall but sell right on the roadside. The items for sale are not as diverse as usual but mainly focus on some vegetables, tubers, fresh foods such as grass carp, beef, tofu, etc.

Through the survey, the selling prices of items are the same as before Tet but higher than usual: Grass carp price fluctuates between 90,000-100,000 VND/kg, pork shoulder price is 100,000-120,000 VND/kg.

Grass carp for sale on the morning of the second day of Tet at the gate of Hung Dung market, priced at 100,000 VND/kg. Photo: Viet Phuong

Fresh shrimp prices are high at VND500,000/kg; Grade 1 beef is priced at VND300,000/kg, VND20,000-30,000/kg more expensive than before Tet and much higher than normal days (normal days are around VND210,000-230,000/kg).

Especially this year's Tet is hot so the supply of vegetables is abundant, vegetable prices have not fluctuated much compared to before Tet: mustard greens 5,000 VND/bunch, kohlrabi 20,000 VND/kg, cauliflower 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg,...

Pork prices are the same as before Tet, purchasing power is not high. Photo: Viet Phuong

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan in block 10, Ha Huy Tap ward said that every year she prepares a lot of food, but because the market opens on the second day of Tet, the weather is hot and the food cannot be stored for long, so this year her family learned from experience and did not stock up much.

"To have fresh food, I went to the market on the morning of the second day of Tet to buy some fish, beef, and vegetables; food prices these days are at the same level as before Tet," Ms. Thuan shared.

Salt and lighters are sold in some markets. Photo by Viet Phuong

However, the prices of fruits, flowers, especially betel and areca nuts for offerings at temples and pagodas at the beginning of the year are quite high. Chrysanthemums cost 7,000 VND/flower, areca nuts cost 15,000 - 20,000 VND/fruit.

Ms. Ha in Hung Phuc ward, Vinh city said, during the year I bought betel and areca nuts for only 5,000-7,000 VND/plate, but on the first day of Tet, I bought them for 20,000 VND.

“Buy salt at the beginning of the year, buy lime at the end of the year” is a Vietnamese custom during the new year, so this year, people buy and sell a lot of salt and lighters. Photo: Viet Phuong

With the ancient belief that salt brings good luck to the family and prosperity in business, people always sell salt at temples, grocery stores, markets, etc. This item sells better than usual.

In addition to salt, there is also a gas lighter because according to traditional beliefs, fire brings warmth and happiness to the family.