Food prices after Tet in some places are "double" than usual.

After Tet, in Vinh city, green vegetables increased in price, many types of vegetables are double the price compared to normal days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

From early morning on the 4th day of Tet, many vendors have been selling essential foods in front of Vinh market such as vegetables, fruits, beef, pork, fish, etc. There are also quite a lot of buyers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam, a resident of Hong Son Ward (Vinh City) said: "I knew that there would be an early market this year, so I didn't buy much food during Tet. Moreover, the weather this year is hot and the food can't be kept for long, so from the 3rd day of Tet, I went to the market to buy fresh vegetables and meat to serve meals for the whole family. The prices of these items are higher than usual."

According to a survey at some markets in Vinh City, vegetable prices have increased compared to the days before Tet. Specifically: Carrots 15,000 - 17,000 VND/kg, kohlrabi 17,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, potatoes 16,000 - 18,000 VND/kg, green beans 20,000 - 25,000 VND/kg... (increased by 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg compared to normal days).

There are even many types of vegetables that have doubled in price, such as chrysanthemum greens at 6,000 VND/bunch (normally 2,000 - 3,000 VND/bunch), celery at 20,000 - 25,000 VND/bunch (normally 10,000 - 12,000 VND/bunch); cauliflower at 16,000 VND/piece (normally 8,000 - 10,000 VND/piece).

In some rural markets, demand for green vegetables increased after Tet but prices only fluctuated slightly. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only green vegetables have increased in price, some meats have also increased in price compared to normal days: Grade 1 beef and veal cost 300,000 - 320,000 VND/kg, pork costs 130,000 - 150,000 VND/kg, chicken costs 120,000 VND/kg.

Especially with the concept of eating eel at the beginning of the year to "go well", many people buy eel to prepare dishes, so the price is one and a half to double compared to normal days, ranging from 270,000 - 300,000 VND/kg (normally only about 150,000 - 170,000 VND/kg).

Not only in city markets, but also in district markets, prices of food have increased slightly compared to the days before Tet. Ms. Trinh Thi Thuan, a vegetable seller at the Hospital market (Dung town, Thanh Chuong) said: "After Tet, many families organize banquets for the elderly, weddings, parties, class reunions, spring meetings, etc., so the demand for food increases, while the supply is not much, so prices fluctuate slightly. Because in rural areas, most people have their own source of vegetables, so there is not too much scarcity, so the price of vegetables does not increase too high."

Prices of some other foods such as fish and meat have increased slightly. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In Do Luong, since the afternoon of the 2nd day of Tet, along the road around Dinh market (Do Luong town), many people have been selling vegetables, meat, fish, and shrimp of all kinds. Prices have increased but not too high. Mr. Pham Dinh Nam, a fish seller in Dinh market area, said: After Tet, the demand for fresh fish to "change the menu" is quite high, on the 3rd day of Tet alone, he sold nearly 100 kg of fish of all kinds. Prices of types such as snakehead fish, carp, grass carp, and bighead carp are only 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg higher than usual; especially for giant freshwater prawns, it is about 10,000 VND/kg higher than usual...

Explaining the reason for the higher prices of these items compared to normal days, Ms. Phan Thi Huong, a trader at Hung Dung market, said: Firstly, at the beginning of the year, there are few sellers; secondly, farmers have not harvested vegetables and fish, and slaughterhouses for livestock and poultry have not resumed operations, so the supply of goods is scarcer, so the wholesale price is more expensive; thirdly, in the days after Tet, when people are bored with banh chung, braised meat, and frozen goods, the demand for fresh foods increases, so prices also increase.