People in Quang Ninh go to the market from 4 am to prepare offerings to send the Kitchen God off to heaven.

TPO - At 4 am on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the wholesale market in Quang Ninh was bustling with people rushing to shop for Tet, especially buying items to prepare offerings to bid farewell to the Kitchen God and to prepare for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

On the morning of the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (February 10th), the wholesale market located in front of Ha Long Market 1 in Hong Gai ward (formerly Ha Long City), Quang Ninh province, opened for people to shop for Tet (Lunar New Year). This is one of the large wholesale markets located in the bustling urban area of ​​Quang Ninh province.

Small traders from all over bring their goods to this wholesale market to sell. They say they come from large wholesale markets in provinces such as Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Lang Son, Hanoi , etc., importing specialties from each region, but most of them are fruits, to bring here for people to buy for Tet (Lunar New Year).

According to Tien Phong newspaper reporters, from 4 am onwards, the market was crowded with traders and early shoppers preparing offerings to bid farewell to the Kitchen God.

Goods are displayed right in the market yard so that buyers can freely choose.

The items sold here are very diverse, ranging from fruits and vegetables to other essential food items.

This is also a major market supplying fresh flowers for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), such as chrysanthemums (yellow and white), roses, lilies, gladioli, peonies, etc.

Among the essential items for this day is the goldfish, used to send the Kitchen God back to heaven. According to vendors, these goldfish sold at the market range from 10,000 to 15,000 VND each.

In addition, items only available at this wholesale market during Tet include banana leaves for wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), coriander for fumigating the house, and sets of clothes for the Kitchen God. A small set of clothes, hat, and shoes for the Kitchen God costs 50,000-75,000 VND, while a larger set costs 100,000-120,000 VND.

Speaking to a reporter from Tien Phong newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thu Phuong, residing in Ha Long ward, said that today she went to the market early to prepare offerings for the Kitchen God's ascent to heaven. The offerings include sticky rice, chicken, flowers, betel nuts and leaves, and, of course, a goldfish and a set of paper effigies.

"This is an opportunity for families to express gratitude to the gods who protect the kitchen and the family, and to prepare to welcome a prosperous new year," Ms. Phuong shared.

According to the management board of Ha Long Market 1, the wholesale market will operate for about 3 hours, from 4 am to 7 am, then close for cleaning to make way for the main market which opens at 7:30 am. Besides the lower prices compared to traditional markets, people shopping at the wholesale market also find a wider variety of goods, mainly food items.

Besides serving as a trading hub for the local population, wholesale markets also provide an opportunity for small traders and business partners to meet, exchange information, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the new year more fully.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguoi-dan-quang-ninh-di-cho-tu-4h-sang-sap-co-tien-ong-tao-ve-troi-post1819798.tpo