Diverse markets during the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 7th lunar month)

This year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), many vegetarian food producers and processors have accelerated production to meet market demand. The shopping atmosphere at markets and supermarkets has become more bustling.

This year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), many vegetarian food producers and processors have accelerated production to meet market demand. The shopping atmosphere at markets and supermarkets has become more bustling.

The market during the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 7th lunar month) is bustling, with high demand for goods.

Prices rose slightly, and goods were abundant.

In the days leading up to the full moon, the shopping atmosphere at markets and supermarkets becomes lively, with a wide variety of goods on display and stable prices, especially for green vegetables, fresh flowers, and fruits. Besides familiar flowers used for decoration such as yellow chrysanthemums, gladioli, and marigolds, fruits with attractive designs and vibrant colors like green pomelos, red apples, mangoes, custard apples, and tangerines are also selling well.

Currently, the prices of vegetables, fruits, and steamed dishes have increased by 5-10% compared to normal days, but goods are still abundant and there is no price surge. Ready-made vegetarian dishes are also stable, giving consumers many choices.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ton, a small trader at Vinh Long market (Long Chau ward): “The demand for vegetables has increased slightly, and I predict that the price of vegetables will increase by 5,000-10,000 VND/kg on the full moon day. This year, the full moon falls on a weekend, so there are more customers. However, due to the unpredictable weather, vegetables spoil easily, so I am still considering not importing too much stock.”

Specifically, the prices are as follows: gourd 15,000 VND/kg; cabbage 15,000 VND/kg; okra 18,000 VND/kg; winter melon 20,000 VND/kg; cucumber 20,000 VND/kg; bitter melon 20,000 VND/kg; watercress 25,000 VND/kg; leafy vegetables 35,000 VND/kg… while straw mushrooms are priced at 100,000-150,000 VND/kg, an increase of 20,000-50,000 VND/kg compared to normal days.

Fruit prices also increased by 5,000-10,000 VND/kg. Specifically, longan (Tieu Da Bo variety) is 25,000 VND/kg; dragon fruit 25,000-30,000 VND/kg; pomelo (Nam Roi variety) 35,000-40,000 VND/kg; green-skinned pomelo 45,000-50,000 VND/kg; Hoa Loc mango 45,000 VND/kg; Thai rambutan 45,000 VND/kg; tangerine 40,000-50,000 VND/kg; pear 60,000 VND/kg; apple 90,000 VND/kg; grapes 70,000-120,000 VND/kg…

Ms. Le Hong Ngoc, a small vendor at Cua Market (Phuoc Hau Ward), said: “Purchasing power has increased since September 2nd. This is a major festival, so customers are buying more fruit for offerings than usual. I arrange my goods attractively, with a wide variety of types, including imported fruits with clear labels so that customers can choose with confidence.”

The price of cut flowers has started to increase in the days leading up to the full moon festival due to rising import costs, currently 5,000-10,000 VND higher per bunch than usual. Specifically, chrysanthemums are 5,000-7,000 VND per flower; apricot blossom chrysanthemums 30,000 VND per bunch; netted chrysanthemums 35,000 VND per bunch; diamond chrysanthemums 40,000 VND per bunch; lilies 150,000-160,000 VND per bunch... According to many small traders, although purchasing power has not increased dramatically, the demand for flowers for the festival remains stable. However, if prices continue to escalate, sellers will face difficulties in managing their finances as customers tend to think carefully before buying.

Vegetarian products see increased orders.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Truc Linh, Director of Thuan Duyen Food Co., Ltd. (Song Phu commune), shared: “The company currently has 17 products including taro fermented bean curd, coconut fermented bean curd, ready-made fermented bean curd, fatty fermented bean curd, vegetarian chili sauce, garlic chili vinegar sugar sauce, sesame chili sauce… This year's Vu Lan festival season, to meet orders on time, the company has hired more than 10 additional regular workers and started overtime work two months ago.”

Currently, orders have tripled compared to normal days, and both production facilities are operating at full capacity. Despite a 10-20% increase in raw material prices due to new import policies, the company is still striving to maintain stable selling prices to share the burden with consumers.”
In addition to working overtime, the company has also stepped up its marketing efforts. Promotional vehicles have visited numerous markets and supermarkets in various localities, giving customers peace of mind when choosing safe and delicious vegetarian food, ready for the upcoming full moon festival.

At My Hoa Tofu Skin Village (Cai Von Ward), the atmosphere is equally bustling. Inside the workshop, some people are quickly scooping up batches of golden bean curd skin, others are meticulously arranging each piece of tofu skin, and still others are carefully affixing labels to the products…

Mr. Dinh Cong Hoang, head of the My Hoa Tofu Skin Cooperative, said: “The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is the biggest offering of the year, so orders increase by 10-20%. Since the beginning of the month, the cooperative's average productivity has reached about 3 tons/day, creating jobs for more than 100 workers in the processes of cooking tofu, scooping, drying, and packaging… The products are diverse, including tofu skin sheets, dried strips, young strips, tofu curds, tofu tongue, and anchovies. However, the prices of soybeans and charcoal have both increased by more than 10%, causing a decrease in profit. We are considering long-term partnerships to maintain production, both preserving the traditional craft and meeting consumer demand.”

A variety of fruits, fresh flowers, and vegetarian dishes are offered as sacrifices during the full moon of the seventh lunar month.

Many people also took advantage of going to the market early to prepare for the festival season. Ms. My Duyen (Phuoc Hau ward) shared: “Afraid that prices of goods would increase as the full moon approached, I started preparing fruits and flowers for offerings from the middle of the week. To have a vegetarian offering with enough dishes and safe for the whole family, I usually choose unprocessed vegetarian food with complete labels and expiration dates.”

According to recommendations from relevant authorities, the increased demand for shopping during the full moon festival easily leads to the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard goods. Consumers should choose products with clear origins and complete packaging information, and avoid buying cheap, unregulated goods to prevent health risks. At the same time, small traders and businesses are encouraged to maintain quality and reputation, contributing to market stability during the Vu Lan festival.

Text and photos: THAO TIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/thi-truong/202509/da-dang-thi-truong-ram-thang-7-2410e5b/