Recorded in the seafood business area at Binh Dien wholesale market, fish stalls operate at full capacity, buyers and sellers exchange quickly, creating a bustling trading picture. Dozens of trucks carrying snakehead fish from the Mekong Delta provinces continuously flock to the market, delivering goods in time to serve the needs of worshiping the God of Wealth (January 10th).
Compared to normal days, the amount of snakehead fish arriving at the market has increased significantly, many warehouses have to mobilize more workers to classify and deliver goods to wholesalers in time.
The owner of Cuc Loc fish stall said that the facility has supplied snakehead fish to grilled snakehead fish selling points on the occasion of the God of Wealth for more than ten years. About a month before the worshiping day, the wholesalers actively contacted to order.
On normal days, we consume about 500 kg, but at peak times it can increase to 3-4 tons. Last year, at one point, importing more than ten tons of snakehead fish still sold out" - this person shared.
Snakehead fish after being imported into the market are weighed and classified by traders according to size for convenient delivery to wholesalers and distribution to markets in Ho Chi Minh City. The selling price ranges from 35,000-50,000 VND/kg (depending on type), not increasing compared to normal days even though purchasing power enters its peak.
Although output is forecast to decrease slightly, traders and wholesalers believe that this year's supply is still quite stable and expect favorable consumption during this period.
Not only small traders, wholesalers from retail markets and restaurants are also present early to choose goods. Many people take advantage of importing enough quantities in advance to avoid goods shortages or price fluctuations on holidays.
Ms. Tran Thi Mai (Tay Thanh ward) said that every year her family buys snakehead fish to sell on God of Wealth Day. "I usually buy one or two days early to easily choose fresh fish, and the price is also softer. This year, seeing that the price of snakehead fish has not increased too high, it is easy to choose" - Ms. Mai said.
Binh Dien wholesale market is one of the largest centers supplying seafood and fresh food to the city and neighboring provinces. Every Tet holiday - the 10th day of the first lunar month - the God of Wealth, purchasing power here increases sharply, and the trading atmosphere is bustling throughout the night. The amount of goods imported into the market, especially items serving rituals such as snakehead fish, fruits... has increased significantly to meet market demand.
