Hanoians "hunt" for the scent of the "giam" tree to use in baths to cleanse themselves of worldly impurities, hoping for good fortune.

TPO - To shake off the misfortunes of the old year, people in Hanoi take advantage of the last day of the year to go out and "hunt" for fragrant herbs to bathe with during the New Year's Eve ceremony. This is a long-standing custom, deeply rooted in the spiritual and cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around.

On the last day of the year, people in Hanoi go to the streets and markets to buy coriander leaves to boil water for their New Year's Eve bath. According to folk beliefs, bathing with coriander leaf water on the last day of the year symbolizes cleansing away impurities and bad luck to welcome good fortune in the new year.

According to our reporter's observations, on the afternoon of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), it was easy to spot stalls selling coriander at local markets in Hanoi . Customers lined up to inquire about buying, and vendors were busy selling non-stop.

Coriander leaves used for bathing are usually mature leaves with flowers, scattered small fruits, and stems that have changed from green to purplish-brown.

According to vendors, coriander is usually grown in the suburbs and transported to the city center early in the morning.

Not only is bathing with coriander water a long-standing tradition, but it also has many health benefits.

The water boiled with coriander can be used for regular baths, beneficial for people with skin conditions due to its good antiseptic properties. Bathing with water boiled with coriander helps to soften and brighten the skin. Using coriander water to wash hair helps to make hair shiny and beautiful, reducing hair loss...

Each person buys coriander leaves for a different reason, but they all hope this custom will help cleanse away the bad things of the old year and usher in a happy and lucky new year.

Each bunch of coriander costs between 10,000 and 20,000 VND depending on the quantity. A large bunch costs 80,000 VND.

Old coriander leaves are always a best-selling item during the end-of-year holidays.

Baskets of vibrant green coriander are an indispensable part of the year-end festivities at markets and streets in the capital city.

A truck loaded with bundles of coriander was brought from the suburbs down to the streets of Hanoi.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguoi-ha-noi-san-mui-gia-ve-tam-got-rua-bui-tran-mong-cau-may-man-post1821331.tpo