According to folk beliefs, Vieng market is a market to pray for good luck at the beginning of the new year, so everyone who comes to the market tries to buy an item to get good luck at the beginning of the year. Among them, braised veal (beef) is also a popular item. The belief that buying beef at the beginning of the year is for good luck, praying for a year of good luck, makes this item always attract customers.
It is known that many small traders prepared large quantities to serve customers but were "out of stock" right before the market session ended.
As the owner of a store serving grilled veal at Vieng market for more than 10 years, Mr. Tran Van Dung (born in 1970, Tien Huong village, Vu Ban commune) said that during Vieng market, purchasing power increased sharply, so in the 2 main days of the festival, Mr. Dung's store sold about 5 calves, equivalent to nearly 1 ton of meat.
Every year, every time Viềng market comes, beef is very in demand. My house sells it out as soon as it is cut, many times when there are crowded customers, some people have not had time to buy and it's sold out. On market days to serve customers in time, I have to hire more workers," Mr. Dung said.
Not only sellers are excited, many tourists also consider buying beef at Vieng market as buying "red fortune" at the beginning of the year. Ms. Ha Thu Lan (a tourist from Hanoi) said: "Although I have to wait quite a long time, I still try to buy a few kilograms of meat because I believe that buying beef at the beginning of the year is red meat will bring good luck".
According to beef traders at Vieng market, the price of beef this year is slightly higher than last year, the price ranges from 250,000 - 300,000 VND/kg.
In addition to buying beef to get "red fortune", many people going to Vieng market at the beginning of the new year also choose peanut candy and sticky candy as gifts to send sweet wishes for the new year.
With more than 40 years of attachment to the confectionery making profession, Mr. Tran Ngoc Quang (Tien Huong village, Vu Ban commune) said that to prepare to serve tourists during Vieng market, Mr. Quang's family's main items are peanut candy and doi candy. Although products are sold year-round, during Vieng market, the number of customers increases sharply, making consumption many times higher than usual. This year's market, his family sold about 50 - 70 boxes of various types of candy.
Vieng market only meets once a year, so all buying and selling activities are bustling. For small traders, this is the most important occasion of the year to earn extra income.
