From the afternoon of the 4th day of the 5th lunar month, at Pom Han market, buyers and sellers have been jostling in the bustling atmosphere. Unlike normal days, the Doan Ngo festival has two indispensable things: banh gio (ash cake) and sticky rice, so these items are sold the most at the market. Banh gio - a simple cake made from sticky rice soaked in ash water, when cooked has a clear yellow color, a rustic, cool taste; sticky rice has a strong, sweet taste on the tip of the tongue, and is believed to have the ability to "kill insects".
Nguyen Thi Thuy's stall (Group 5, Pom Han Ward) is one of the most popular attractions at Pom Han Market. With her hands nimbly wrapping cakes and a smile on her face, Thuy said that every year on this day she sells banh gio and sticky rice wine. To prepare for this year's Doan Ngo festival, her family has made hundreds of banh gio and about 100 kg of sticky rice. "Although it's hard work, it's fun. The buyers are all regulars, who order every year. I do this not only to increase my income, but also to preserve the profession and the taste of the old Tet," Thuy confided.
At Nguyen Du market (Goc Mit market), Kim Tan ward, from the afternoon of May 4, the flow of people coming to buy flowers and fruits was equally crowded. The stalls were all brightly colored with white lilies, yellow chrysanthemums, and pink lotuses - flowers that many people choose to offer to their ancestors' altars. Ms. Dao Thi Tinh, a flower vendor at Nguyen Du market, said: "The Doan Ngo festival is an important occasion, so I import more flowers than usual. Many customers ordered flowers a few days ago."
Not only flowers, sour fruits such as plums, lychees, and green mangoes are also consumed strongly on this day because of the belief that they kill insects and diseases in people, however, the prices of these items do not change compared to normal days. Traders said that the amount of goods sold on the afternoon of May 4 and the morning of May 5 can be 3-4 times higher than normal days. Choosing to buy fruits is not only for worship, but also a way for each family to express their wishes for health and peace for the whole year.
Ms. Cao Thi Sen, a resident of Kim Tan ward, shared: "The Doan Ngo festival is a beautiful tradition of Vietnamese people. Every year I go to the market to buy things to display on the altar for my ancestors on this day. This year, flowers, fruits, and cakes are all fresh, clean, and the prices do not fluctuate much compared to normal days."
In addition to traditional markets, the online market is equally vibrant. Beautiful and convenient flower and fruit trays are posted on many social media platforms and are ordered by many people.
Ms. Nguyen Trang, owner of a fruit shop in Coc Leu ward, shared: “From the afternoon of May 4, I started arranging fruit and flower trays to sell to customers. Customers placed many orders, some called, some sent messages via Facebook. In one morning, I could sell more than 40 trays, prices ranging from 150,000 VND/tray to more than 700,000 VND/tray, depending on the type of fruit and how it was displayed.”
Each fruit tray is carefully prepared by Ms. Trang, full of fruits: bananas, pomegranates, custard apples, lychees, plums... The arrangement is not only beautiful but also carries the meaning of wishing for abundance, happiness, and luck for the homeowner.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhon-nhip-mua-sam-phuc-vu-tet-doan-ngo-post402611.html
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