According to reporters' records on the morning of March 1st (ie, the 13th day of the first lunar month), near the full moon of the first lunar month, the fruit selling area at Hang Be market (Hanoi) began to become busier.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu - a small trader selling vegetables and fruits at the market - said that the prices of fruits serving the full moon ceremony this year are quite stable; in which, bananas are a popular item.
Western bananas range from 25,000 - 30,000 VND/bunch, pepper bananas 35,000 - 40,000 VND/bunch, large bunches about 50,000 VND.
By the closer days of the full moon of the first lunar month, the price may increase slightly but not significantly, only differing by a few thousand VND per bunch," Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu said.
Other fruits such as mangoes about 50,000 VND/kg, dragon fruit 45,000 VND/kg, oranges,... are also chosen by many people to display on the five-fruit tray.
According to small traders, a plate of five fruits including 5 basic types costs more than 100,000 VND. Customers mainly come to buy directly, choosing each type of fruit themselves, instead of ordering online.
Usually from the 12th and 13th of the lunar month, people start buying. Every household must have some fruits, so these days are always crowded with customers," Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu added.
Ms. Tran Minh Hanh (Hanoi) said that every year her family goes to Hang Be market to buy fruits and food for the full moon of the first lunar month because the market is near home and convenient for travel.
I have been used to buying here for many years, I can choose clothes myself and be assured of the quality. Going to the market on the days near the full moon is also a habit, a beautiful cultural feature at the beginning of the year that my family always maintains," Ms. Hanh shared.
In contrast to the bustling atmosphere at the fruit stalls, the stalls selling boiled chicken with roses are quite quiet. Ms. Pham Thu Yen - a small trader at Gia Ngu street market - shared that this year the number of pre-orders has decreased significantly.
Compared to the same period last year, demand decreased by about 30%. People still buy, but mainly sticky rice, chicken is less, and spring rolls are only bought for 1-2 taels to be enough for offerings," she said.
The current price of boiled chicken ranges from 400,000 - 500,000 VND/chicken, large chickens weighing about 3kg can be up to 600,000 VND. Sticky rice has two popular prices: 30,000 VND and 50,000 VND/plate.
However, according to Ms. Yen, on the full moon day, the number of chickens sold may only reach a few dozen, while sticky rice and spring rolls are consumed better: "Perhaps because the economy is still difficult this year, people worship more simply, not as elaborately as before.
Also according to Ms. Yen, by the full moon, the amount of sticky rice purchased increases compared to normal days because every family worships at the beginning of the year. It is expected that the 15th day will be the most crowded, the 14th day is about 80% compared to the peak.
According to estimates, the store can sell 50 - 70 plates of sticky rice on the full moon day. In addition to sticky rice, the store also serves spring rolls, roasted birds and full trays of 9 dishes, priced from 1.4 - 1.5 million VND/tray. However, the number of package trays ordered this year has not increased sharply.
