Food prices fluctuate, purchasing power is still slow
After the long Lunar New Year holiday, the pace of life in Hanoi is gradually returning to normal. In many residential areas, traditional markets and food streets, the buying and selling atmosphere is starting to become more bustling.
According to reporters' records, purchasing power at people's markets has not really accelerated, while the prices of some food items, especially pork and beef, tend to increase slightly.
On February 23 (the 7th day of Tet), at My Dinh market (Tu Liem ward, Hanoi), the number of customers going to the market was more crowded than on the 4th and 5th days, but still sparse compared to the time before Tet. Many stalls opened early, but small traders said consumption was still slow, mainly serving the needs of family cooking.
At the pork stall, Ms. Le Thi Nu - a small trader at My Dinh market informed that she opened from the 6th, but purchasing power has not increased sharply: "The purchase price after Tet increased compared to before the holiday, but the market is quite sluggish, partly because businesses and eateries import goods are still limited.
According to Ms. Nu, the current pork price is 150,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 20,000 VND/kg compared to the time before Tet. Although the price has increased, consumption has decreased. On the same morning, she sold about 20kg of meat, while the day before Tet it could reach 60-90kg at the same time frame. Restaurants have not imported many goods, causing large consumption sources not to restart.
In contrast to meat, the price of green vegetables at My Dinh market is quite stable. Mr. Do Hoang Ha - a vegetable trader said that the local price increase at the end of last year has passed, before Tet prices have stabilized and after Tet they still maintain equivalent levels. The abundant supply helps many types of vegetables maintain low levels, creating conditions for people to balance spending in the first days of the new year.
Bustling eateries, diners go to "relieve boredom" at the beginning of the year
If at the people's market, purchasing power is still cautious, then on the culinary streets, the atmosphere is much busier. Many breakfast stalls, vermicelli, pho, and office rice stalls start to become crowded from early morning when people return to their daily routine.
Mr. Pham Le Quy (Cau Giay ward) said that after many days of eating banh chung, gio cha and traditional Tet dishes, he chose to go out to eat to change his taste. According to Mr. Quy, yesterday, the 6th day of Tet, some restaurants slightly increased prices, keeping holiday surcharges. However, by the 7th day, prices had returned to a stable level.
Recorded at a bun cha restaurant in Tu Liem ward, customers come in and out continuously from 11 am. The kitchen area is on hot fire, staff are divided to serve, some grill meat, some serve... Tables and chairs are quickly filled, but also rotate continuously when customers finish eating and leave.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, owner of a bun cha restaurant, said that the number of customers today increased 2-3 times compared to the 6th day: "Because many kitchens and company canteens have not been operating, the demand for eating out has increased, we cannot handle it, and even have to cancel some online orders because we cannot do it in time," Ms. Duong shared.
Regarding prices, Ms. Duong said that input material costs have increased compared to before Tet, especially pork. However, the restaurant still maintains the same selling price to retain regular customers and create a comfortable psychology for diners when returning after a long holiday.
Not only bun cha restaurants, many pho, bun rieu, and popular rice shops around My Dinh, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan areas are also in a similar situation, especially during peak hours of morning and noon. Some restaurants announced that they were sold out early because they had not had time to prepare a large quantity of goods.
According to small traders and shop owners, in about one to two days, when the entire system of restaurants, eateries, and businesses operate normally, the food and food service market will be even more vibrant. Increased purchasing power not only helps shops and eateries flourish but also leads to demand for imports from wholesale markets and people's markets.
