Market trends for the Vu Lan Festival 2025:

The Vu Lan Festival – a season of filial piety – has become one of the most important holidays, not only holding profound spiritual significance in the lives of Vietnamese people but also strongly impacting the market for goods serving the needs of religious ceremonies.

People shop for offerings for the Vu Lan festival. Photo: Quoc Luy

Since the beginning of the seventh lunar month, the number of people shopping for offerings for the Vu Lan festival has increased sharply in many streets, traditional markets, supermarkets, and convenience stores throughout Hanoi . Ms. Dang Huyen Trang, residing on Nguyen Tuan Street, Thanh Xuan Ward, shared: “This year, the goods are diverse, beautiful, and the prices are the same as usual, so it’s easy to choose. Fresh flowers are slightly more expensive, but I didn’t buy a lot, so the increase is negligible.” According to Ms. Ha Thi Phuong, owner of a flower shop at Nhan Chinh Market, Thanh Xuan Ward, the price of fresh flowers has increased by 10-15% compared to normal days, coupled with recent heavy rains and flooding affecting the quality and quantity of flowers.

Meanwhile, supermarkets and modern retail systems are launching many convenient "Vu Lan combo" packages with prices ranging from 300,000 to 800,000 VND per set, meeting the diverse needs of consumers.

A notable trend this year during the Vu Lan festival is the increased demand for vegetarian and eco-friendly products. Vegetarian food stores and supermarkets selling organic goods have seen a 30-40% increase in consumption compared to the same period last year. Ms. Vu Quynh Mai, owner of a vegetarian food store on Tran Thai Tong Street, Cau Giay Ward, said: "Compared to a few years ago, customers now not only care about price but also pay special attention to the origin and quality of the products."

Not only bustling at traditional markets, supermarkets, and stores, the market for offerings during the Vu Lan festival this year is also vibrant on e-commerce platforms. Many families, especially young people and office workers, choose to order offerings online, even opting for "complete packages" of Vu Lan offerings through apps like Shopee, Lazada, and Tiki… with flexible pricing and home delivery. Retail market expert Nguyen Thi Thanh commented: "This new consumer habit shows people's rapid adaptation to technology. However, consumers need to be vigilant in choosing reputable suppliers to avoid buying low-quality goods of unknown origin."

Previously, buying votive paper offerings during the Vu Lan festival was a popular trend. However, in recent years, following recommendations from the Vietnam Buddhist Association and state management agencies, people have gradually reduced the burning of votive paper offerings, instead focusing on incense, flowers, and simple but sincere offerings.

Ms. Vu Thi Mai, a small business owner on Hang Ma Street, Hoan Kiem Ward, shared: “Although the demand for votive paper has decreased, customers are focusing on choosing beautiful, sophisticated products with high aesthetic value. This is also a positive sign, showing a change in consumer habits, moving towards a more civilized, economical, and sustainable approach.”

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thi-truong-mua-le-vu-lan-2025-soi-dong-da-dang-nhung-van-giu-net-truyen-thong-715255.html