Services catering to Tet rituals are bustling.

These days, items for religious ceremonies such as "fairy-winged" chickens, platters of five fruits, and ready-made meals are in high demand.

The atmosphere is bustling with activity at Luong Van Can Market, famous for its seafood and processed foods.

Chicken for ceremonies and platters of five fruits are in high demand.

On the 27th and 28th of the twelfth lunar month, many food businesses in Hai Phong city were operating at almost full capacity. In particular, the service of preparing ceremonial chickens shaped like "fairy wings" was very popular. On average, each establishment received 50-70 chickens per day, priced from 270,000 to 400,000 VND per chicken, depending on weight and the beauty of the shape. According to vendors, the number of advance orders increased significantly this year. Many families proactively placed orders early to avoid overcrowding closer to the time of the year-end and New Year's Eve ceremonies.

At Co Hang's Kitchen (An Bien ward), the "fairy-winged" ceremonial chicken is one of the best-selling products in the days leading up to Tet. The shop owner said that the chickens are carefully selected, free-range chickens with beautiful yellow skin. After being boiled until cooked through, the chickens are elaborately shaped, with their heads held high and their wings spread evenly, symbolizing solemnity and reverence on the altar during Tet.

The price of ceremonial chickens with "fairy wings" ranges from 270,000 to 400,000 VND per chicken, depending on weight and the beauty of the chicken's appearance.

Besides the "fairy wing" shaped chickens, other shaped sticky rice products and steamed buns used for offerings are also selling well. At a shop specializing in Western-style cakes on Cam Street (Gia Vien Ward), steamed buns shaped like gold bars symbolizing prosperity and lucky golden cats are sold for 65,000 VND/5 pieces. In addition, customers have many other options such as lotus-shaped sticky rice, multi-colored sticky rice, large boxes priced at 80,000 VND, and small boxes at 60,000 VND. The compact and convenient designs ensure that even small families or simple offerings can still have a complete and visually appealing presentation.

Traditional fruit platters are also entering their peak consumption season. While in the past many families personally selected and arranged each type of fruit, the trend of ordering pre-made fruit platters is becoming increasingly popular. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, owner of Thanh Beo Fruits store (Le Thanh Nghi ward), said: “Every day leading up to Tet, I receive orders for 40-70 fruit platters, priced from 1.2 to 1.5 million VND per platter, depending on the design and decoration requirements. At times, I have to temporarily stop accepting orders because I can't keep up with the demand. This year, customers are requesting more elaborate decorations, in addition to basic fruits like pomelo, banana, dragon fruit, and watermelon, they are also incorporating fresh flowers, bows, and New Year greeting cards. They sell out as soon as they're made.”

According to our reporter's observations, the trend of choosing pre-made offerings that still maintain aesthetic appeal is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young, busy families. Ordering in advance not only saves time but also reduces the pressure of preparing for the end of the year, which is already filled with worries.

Processed foods are on the rise.

The trend of ordering pre-made fruit platters is becoming increasingly popular.

Along with services catering to religious ceremonies, the market for ready-to-eat food is equally vibrant. At Luong Van Can Market, famous for its seafood and ready-to-eat food, the atmosphere of buying and selling is even more bustling these days.

Popular items include squid patties, seafood spring rolls, and battered fried shrimp. Squid patties are priced at 420,000 - 530,000 VND/kg, seafood spring rolls at 12,000 - 15,000 VND/piece, and battered fried shrimp at around 400,000 VND/kg. Compared to normal days, prices have increased slightly but there is no price surge. Many small traders said they proactively imported goods early to ensure a stable supply to meet the increased demand during the Tet holiday season.

The trend of choosing ready-made food is becoming increasingly evident. Instead of spending hours preparing and marinating, many families choose to buy squid patties, seafood spring rolls, battered and fried shrimp, etc., and simply fry, steam, or reheat them before serving them on the feast table. This solution saves considerable time and effort while still ensuring a complete and appealing feast.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue (Ngo Quyen ward) shared: “With the modern pace of life, balancing year-end work and Tet preparations is not easy. Ready-made services, from ceremonial chickens and fruit platters to processed foods, are truly helpful. More importantly, the products are increasingly well-presented, meeting the aesthetic requirements of Tet.”

It's evident that the market for food and catering services for Tet (Lunar New Year) feasts is evolving in a flexible manner, adapting to real-world needs. Consumers are no longer overly concerned with "doing everything themselves," but are willing to pay for convenience, meticulous preparation, and time savings. However, behind this change, the core values ​​of traditional Tet remain preserved: a complete feast, familiar flavors, and moments of family reunion.

Men

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/soi-dong-dich-vu-phuc-vu-cung-le-dip-tet-535921.html