The morning of August 28th, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, marks the start of Vu Lan, a significant day for Vietnamese people to honor their ancestors. Traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City were bustling with vendors offering a variety of products to meet the needs of those preparing for this important day.
Our correspondent observed that merchants had stocked up on a wide range of fruits, ceremonial flowers, and votive paper goods. “We’ve only had a large supply of goods for the past two days,” said Ms. Tham, a trader at Hoa Hung Market in District 10, “but we contacted our suppliers about a month ago to ensure we had enough flowers and fruits for this occasion.”
Markets across Ho Chi Minh City, such as Hoa Binh in District 5, Phu Lam in District 6, Ba Chieu, and Thi Nghe in Binh Thanh District, offered a diverse selection of flowers and fruits. Prices were slightly higher than usual, with increases ranging from 10% to 15%. For example, mangoes were priced at 45,000-55,000 VND/kg, mangosteen at 60,000 VND/kg, dragon fruit at 20,000 VND/kg, chôm chôm at 50,000 VND/kg, oranges at 65,000 VND/kg, longan at 80,000 VND/kg, and green grapefruit at 60,000 VND/kg.
The prices of ceremonial flowers also saw a slight increase, with lotuses priced at 35,000 VND per stem, chrysanthemums at 45,000 VND per bouquet, and money plants at 5,000 VND per stem.
Vegetables also experienced a price hike, with fresh mushrooms leading the way. Nấm rơm (straw mushrooms) were priced at 130,000 VND/kg, while nấm đùi gà (oyster mushrooms) were 80,000 VND/kg. Various types of lettuce were sold for 65,000 VND/kg, while beans were 45,000 VND/kg, and cucumbers and tomatoes were 35,000 VND/kg. These prices reflect a 5,000 VND increase compared to the beginning of the week.
A flower vendor on Trang Tu Street in District 5, near Cho Lon Bus Station, expressed surprise at the subdued buying activity on this important day. “From morning until noon, I could count the number of customers who bought ceremonial flowers on one hand,” she sighed. “In previous years, during major occasions like this, I would need my entire family to help out, and we would still be selling well into the night.”
A traditional Chinese bakery in District 5, which used to see long lines of customers, now only has a handful of patrons. The bakery offers a variety of cakes and pastries priced between 30,000 and 50,000 VND each.
Customers purchased offerings in small quantities, a noticeable difference from previous years when they would buy in bulk.
Even the votive paper goods hub at Cho Thiec in District 11 was unusually quiet.
A vendor selling ready-made bundles of sugarcane for Vu Lan offerings expressed concern about slow sales. “If I don’t sell them today, I’ll be stuck with the inventory and lose money because no one will buy them tomorrow,” she worriedly shared.
A busy tofu stall maintained its regular prices, with tofu sheets selling for 4,000 VND each. However, the vendor noted that sales and customer numbers had dropped by more than half compared to previous years.
Inside Cho Thiec in District 11, many stalls were closed.
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