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| People's buying and selling activities at the traditional market on the morning of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year). |
The rumbling of delivery trucks and the cheerful laughter of women arriving at Tuy Hoa market from 3 or 4 in the morning on the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year) brought a fresh rhythm to the place. Although Tuy Hoa market is large, today it wasn't overly crowded, not due to a shortage of goods, but rather because of the tradition of buying lucky items on the first day of the year. The vendors leisurely set up their stalls and cheerfully greeted customers, hoping for good fortune in the coming days.
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| White salt and betel nuts are preferred purchases by women at the New Year's market, with the hope of bringing good luck. |
After two days off, on the morning of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), Ms. Tran Thi Hang, a small vendor at Tuy Hoa market, arrived at the market early to set up her stall. She wasn't worried about selling a lot; she just hoped someone would come to her stall to be the first customer – one or two buyers would be fine. "According to annual tradition, vendors always open their stalls on the third day of the first lunar month. At the beginning of the year, there might not be much merchandise at my stall, but I still have to sell to start the year off right and hope for a prosperous year," Ms. Hang said enthusiastically.
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| At dawn, people were already coming to Tuy Hoa market to buy fresh fruit. |
Not only Ms. Hang, but also Ms. Luong Thi Minh Phuong, a small vendor at Binh Kien market, opened the newly imported fruit from Da Lat at dawn and arranged it on the display shelves. Along with the fruit were betel nuts, white salt, and offerings, next to a shelf of fresh chrysanthemums and gladioli that had just been delivered to her stall by the gardeners. Ms. Phuong shared: “On the third day of Tet, many families offer prayers to their ancestors, so they need to buy fruit and fresh flowers for the ceremony. Therefore, I display these things so that anyone who needs them can buy them conveniently. Selling on the first day of the year is mainly for good luck and fortune, so whether I sell well or not, I'm still happy, as long as I'm at the market to start the new year.”
The first market of the year holds great significance for the people, as they hope for good fortune at the beginning of the year, and pray for a year of peace, luck, and prosperity. Going to the market and making the first sale of the year is also a beautiful custom, a tradition, and considered a cultural feature of the people in the eastern localities of the province.
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| Responding to local demand, vendors at the market in Ward 7 supply a wide variety of fresh and delicious seafood. |
Living near the market and having witnessed and felt the bustling atmosphere of buying and selling for many years, Mr. Tran Thien (Tuy Hoa ward) shared: “Instead of waking up early to exercise with friends nearby as usual, today I chose to go to the market with my wife. We bought white salt, betel nuts, fruit, and some green vegetables. We bought whatever the vendors were selling for, without haggling, hoping that both we and the vendors would have good luck and success.”
The first day of the market was bustling with activity, and a wide variety of goods were displayed. Fresh flowers, fresh produce, seafood, salt, and betel nuts were the most popular items, attracting many buyers. Many people believe that on the first day of the year, all kinds of food are fresh and prices have dropped significantly compared to the last day of the previous year.
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Many housewives also buy fresh flowers at the first market of the year to decorate their homes for Tet. |
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, a small trader at Tan Hiep Market (Tuy Hoa Ward), said: "If on the 29th of the 12th lunar month, gladiolus flowers cost 130,000 VND/pot (10-12 stems), then on the 3rd day of Tet, they only cost 30,000-40,000 VND/pot. Fruits also decreased by 10,000-15,000 VND/kg (depending on the type). However, fresh fish, shrimp, and squid are still expensive due to continued high demand."
Information from the market management boards indicates that after the market session on the morning of the 3rd day of Tet (Lunar New Year), food vendors will resume normal business as usual; however, stalls selling shoes, accessories, clothing, household goods, etc., may remain closed for an extended period due to a lack of customers. The market management boards also announced and arranged business areas to facilitate convenient trade and better serve the needs of the people.
In the western localities of the province, traditional markets open earlier, some as early as the afternoon of the first day of Tet or the morning of the second day. Supermarkets and stores also begin to open, ensuring a sufficient supply of goods to meet consumer demand.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202602/gui-may-man-vao-phien-cho-dau-nam-db00769/
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