Bustling shopping scene for the Mid-Autumn Festival in July.

(Baohatinh.vn) - During the full moon of the seventh lunar month, the market for offerings in Ha Tinh is bustling. Consumption of items such as fruits, betel nuts, fresh flowers, and ready-made offering trays increases sharply compared to normal days.

Observations at traditional markets show that the shopping atmosphere began to become bustling and lively from September 4th (the 13th day of the 7th lunar month). Stalls selling food, fresh fruits, betel nuts, and votive paper attracted large crowds.

To meet the increased customer demand, small traders have imported large quantities of popular items during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

People carefully select each flower and fruit to offer as incense during this important full moon festival of the year.

Betel nuts and votive paper are indispensable offerings on the ancestral altar during the full moon of the seventh lunar month.

Ms. Le Thi Hoa, a vendor selling votive paper and betel nuts at Ha Tinh market, said: " This year, purchasing power has increased significantly, with many people coming to buy. On the 13th day of the 7th lunar month, there were times when I ran out of stock and had to call someone to replenish many items."

According to observations, the prices of items for the full moon festival remain relatively stable compared to normal days. Betel nuts and leaves cost from 3,000 to 10,000 VND per plate (including one betel nut and one betel leaf). Chrysanthemums cost 8,000 to 9,000 VND per flower, while gladioli and lilies cost 9,000 to 10,000 VND per flower. In general, the price of fresh flowers is 1,000 to 2,000 VND higher per flower than usual, with lotus flowers priced at 12,000-17,000 VND per flower, nearly double the usual price due to limited supply.

Fresh fruits are displayed in a wide variety and attractively presented by vendors for customers to choose from. Prices for basic fruits remain the same as usual or increase by 5,000 - 10,000 VND/kg. Some popular fruits include: dragon fruit (35,000 - 45,000 VND/kg), four-season mangoes (35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg), pomegranates (60,000 VND/kg), longan (30,000 VND/kg), and cantaloupe (35,000 - 50,000 VND/kg)...

Bananas harvested during the full moon festival are priced from 30,000 to 80,000 VND per bunch, and some bunches can even reach 150,000 VND, depending on their quality.

Besides traditional offerings, shops also sell many beautifully presented food items and offerings such as su se cake sets, mochi cakes, etc.

According to small traders, besides preparing for the ancestral altar ceremony in each family, during the full moon of the seventh lunar month, people also prepare many offerings to present at their family temples, thus increasing purchasing power.

Ms. Thuy Hang (Thanh Sen ward) shared: “ The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is an important occasion for people to remember their ancestors and origins. Every year on this occasion, I always prepare the offerings very carefully. Some offerings, such as the sacrificial chicken and the set of glutinous rice balls, I ordered in advance at the beginning of the month, while some offerings like fruits, betel nuts, etc., I bought and prepared myself.”

With their convenience, aesthetic appeal, and guaranteed quality, ready-made offering trays such as sticky rice and chicken trays, sacrificial chicken, lotus-shaped steamed bun sets, vegetarian food trays, pre-made fruit trays, glutinous rice balls in sweet soup, lotus seed sweet soup, etc., are also chosen by many people. These sets of cakes and sweet soups cost around 100,000 VND, while sticky rice and chicken trays start from 500,000 VND and up.

Due to the large number of orders, food service establishments are busy during this period, mobilizing all available staff to ensure timely delivery to customers. Ms. Nguyen Quy, owner of Tuan Quy fruit shop (Tran Phu Street, Thanh Sen Ward), said: “ Each pre-arranged fruit platter costs from 300,000 VND to over 1 million VND. On the 13th day of the 7th lunar month, we sold about 30-40 platters, and the number of customers ordering for pickup on the 14th and 15th of the lunar month reached hundreds. To meet the deadline, we had to work even at night.”

The full moon of the seventh lunar month is an important holiday in the spiritual life of many Vietnamese families, and also an occasion for people to prepare for the Vu Lan festival, expressing filial piety of descendants to their ancestors. Therefore, everyone wants to choose and buy the best offerings to present to the ancestral altar of their family lineage.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhon-nhip-mua-sam-le-ram-thang-bay-post295048.html