The scent of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in a rural market.

As the final market day of the Year of the Snake 2025, the rural market seems to carry a sense of nostalgia. While the city is bustling with bright, modern shopping malls, the rural market retains its rustic, familiar charm. The simple stalls, the baskets of local produce, and the cheerful laughter between buyers and sellers create a rich and unique atmosphere of the rural Tet holiday.

The atmosphere at the morning market on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake (2015) at Chua Market (Lien Chung hamlet, Cat Ngan commune) and Hang Phuong Market (Hamlet 1, Nam Son, Do Luong commune). Video : Thanh Quynh

From 6 am on the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, Chùa Market (Liên Chung hamlet, Cát Ngạn commune) was bustling with buyers and sellers. This market has existed since ancient times, and because it's near a temple, it's called Chùa Market. Previously, the market met 9-10 times a month, but now it's open every day. Goods are products from the entire Cát Ngạn region, transported by river and road, creating a vibrant trading hub for the whole area. Photo: Thanh Quỳnh

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), incense sticks are in high demand. The owner of an incense stall at Chua Market said that during the peak period before Tet, the shop can sell 7-8 million VND worth of incense per day, serving the needs of people burning incense and preparing altars for the end of the year. (Photo: Thanh Quynh)

Items used for religious ceremonies, such as candles, votive paper, and oil lamps, are also selling well. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Vegetables and root crops are abundantly displayed at Chua Market, mostly grown by local people and brought in early in the morning. Bundles of fresh green cabbage, carrots, and scallions, still glistening with dew, meet the demand for preparing traditional dishes during Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Thanh Quynh

Simple, rustic goods from the countryside add to the vibrant, traditional atmosphere of the year-end market. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Eel is in high demand. Many families choose to buy eels to cook porridge or prepare traditional dishes, hoping for a smooth, prosperous, and successful new year. Photo: Thanh Quynh

A year has passed with no shortage of difficulties and hardships, but at the year-end market, smiles still shine brightly on the faces of buyers and sellers. Amidst the bustling preparations, the hope for a peaceful and prosperous new year continues to be kindled. Photo: Thanh Quynh

At Sa Nam Market (Nam Dan commune) – famous for the verses “Sa Nam, with its boats on the docks and the rice cakes in rows, and the delicious beef” or the song “Whoever goes to Sa Nam Market to see the boats and the docks…” – the atmosphere is bustling and lively these days. Buyers and sellers mingle in the end-of-year preparations, creating a traditional market before Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Thanh Quynh

Bananas, an indispensable item in the traditional Tet fruit platter, are widely available at Sa Nam market, priced from 150,000 to 250,000 VND per bunch. Despite the relatively high price compared to normal days, demand remains stable. People are willing to pay to choose their preferred bunch of bananas, symbolizing wishes for abundance and family reunion in the new year. (Photo: Thanh Quynh)

Although the bustling scene of boats and ships at Sa Nam is gone, the atmosphere of buying and selling in the final days of the year remains lively and bustling. More people than usual flock to the market, keeping the Tet market full of life and the spirit of spring. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Fresh betel nuts are widely sold at the market, serving the needs of people during the traditional Lunar New Year. Photo: Thanh Quynh

While the abundance of peach and apricot blossoms this year has somewhat slowed down consumer demand, kumquat trees are the preferred choice for many families. On the morning of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), the last remaining kumquat trees were taken home by customers, ready for Tet decorations, adding a vibrant yellow color and the joy of welcoming the new spring. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Meanwhile, at Hang Phuong Market (Hamlet 1, Nam Son, Do Luong Commune), the bustling atmosphere of the year-end market remains characteristic of a market before Tet (Lunar New Year). The market mainly operates in the outer stalls, where vendors sell vegetables, fruits, food, confectionery, and essential goods for Tet, creating a simple yet warm scene. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Whether in rural markets or at stalls in craft villages, the atmosphere of buying and selling in the final days of the year remains vibrant and warm. The last shipment of the year carries the hopes and dreams for a peaceful and prosperous new year. Photo: Thanh Quynh

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/huong-tet-trong-phien-cho-que-10324015.html