The Dragon Boat Festival market is bustling, many items have slightly increased in price.

Fresh fruits are in high demand during the Dragon Boat Festival, with prices rising slightly due to increased transportation costs as gasoline prices rise. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Survey at markets in the province,fruit market during the Dragon Boat Festivalquite lively, the selling price depending on the type increased by an average of 5,000-10,000 VND/kg. Since the afternoon of the 4th of the 5th lunar month, many fruit stalls in the local markets in the city have been bustling with buyers. Many stalls have had to continuously replenish their products to serve the needs of consumers.

Many fruits have increased slightly in price from 3,000-7,000 VND/kg, specifically: Plums are priced at 40,000-50,000 VND/kg; Thai rambutans are priced at 40,000 VND/kg, mangosteens are priced at 50,000 VND/kg, mangoes are priced at 50,000 VND/kg. Particularly, local fruits that are in harvest season such as: Watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, pineapple... have less fluctuation in price and are selling better.

Ready-made Dragon Boat Festival offerings are also very popular. Each set costs between 200,000 and 300,000 VND. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Le Thi Tam, a fruit trader at Hung Dung market (Vinh city), said: “Compared to last year, the market is more bustling, with many buyers and double the amount of goods sold. From the afternoon of the 4th of the 5th lunar month, the number of customers coming to buy fruit increased sharply. Particularly from 6-8am on the 5th of the 5th lunar month, we had to increase our staff and increase the amount of goods to meet the needs of customers.”

Besides fruits, fresh flowers are also in high demand. In rural markets, fresh flowers are in short supply and sell out early.

Ms. Truong Thi My, a flower trader next to Dinh market, Do Luong district, shared: "Last year's Doan Ngo festival, the flowers did not sell well, this year the imported price is high so I only dare to buy a small quantity. However, on the afternoon of the 4th of the 5th lunar month, everything was sold out. This morning, I called to get the goods from the wholesaler in Vinh city but there was only a small quantity."

Betel and areca nuts are indispensable items in the Doan Ngo festival. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Traders selling this product said that fresh flowers are in high demand, with some types seeing double or triple the purchasing power of normal days. The selling price has also increased by 10,000-15,000 VND/bunch.

Similarly, food products during the Dragon Boat Festival also have higher purchasing power and selling prices than usual. In particular, the purchasing power of poultry, especially duck, has increased dramatically.

Ducks sell very well during the Dragon Boat Festival. Duck prices this year have increased slightly compared to previous years. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Duck prices are high these days. Live grass ducks cost 160,000-180,000 VND/duck, mallard ducks cost 180,000-200,000 VND/duck; and mandarin ducks cost 260,000-280,000 VND/duck (an average increase of 20,000-50,000 VND/duck compared to normal days).

Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, owner of the Beijing roast duck oven on Phan Dinh Phung Street (Vinh City) said: "The number of customers buying roast ducks has tripled compared to normal days. On the 4th of the 5th lunar month alone, our establishment sold about 100 roast ducks, and from 7am to 9am on the 5th of the 5th lunar month, we sold more than 100 more. Most of them were customers who had pre-ordered."

Besides, cakes such as: ash cake, coconut cake, mung bean cake, floating cake, five-color sticky rice, ham, etc. have increased purchasing power and slightly increased prices compared to normal days.

In order to meet the needs of customers who do not have time to shop, many fruit and food businesses have prepared a set of offerings for the Duanwu Festival, including: Vegetarian trays with fruits, ash cakes, floating cakes, fermented rice wine, chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, betel nuts, votive papers priced from 170,000-300,000 VND/set; salty trays including: Five-color sticky rice, floating cakes, ham, roast duck with fruits, votive papers priced from 500,000-700,000 VND/set.

Many people choose to order pre-made offerings for the Dragon Boat Festival. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Pham Thi Thuc Quyen, a customer, said: “I ordered online from a food store to prepare the offering tray. They delivered the food on time at 10am on May 5. The price is higher but it is convenient, beautifully presented and clean.”

In general, this year, the supply of goods at the markets is quite abundant, with a variety of products, meeting consumer demand well. Prices of goods increased slightly, purchasing power increased 2-3 times compared to normal days.