Dak Nong bustling market for Ong Cong, Ong Tao Tet

According to belief, carp is the "vehicle" to take the Kitchen Gods to heaven, so it is sold in many places on the 23rd of December.

The ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods is a traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people that takes place on the 23rd of December every year with the concept of seeing off the old year and welcoming the new year with good luck.

Carp prices range from 30,000 to 50,000 VND/3 fish depending on size.

Offerings are often carefully and fully prepared by families. Therefore, on this occasion, the market for fruits, betel nuts, fresh flowers, votive paper, etc. is quite bustling.

According to folk belief, carp is the vehicle to take the Kitchen Gods to heaven, so it is sold in many places on this occasion to meet customer demand.

Carp made from sticky rice with gac fruit is popular with people.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Quyen, an ornamental fish business in Gia Nghia City, said: “On the occasion of the Kitchen God Festival this year, we sold about 200 kg of red carp for people to buy for worship and release. This year, the fish are bigger and more beautiful, the price ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 VND/3 fish. During the 22nd and 23rd days of the 12th lunar month, there were a lot of customers buying.”

Gac sticky rice is made quite beautifully, serving people to buy for the offering tray to Ong Cong and Ong Tao.

In addition to traditional red carp, carp made from sticky rice, rice flour, and agar are also quite popular during the Ong Cong and Ong Tao festival. Carp products are beautifully handcrafted with prices ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 VND/fish.

Along with carp, other offerings are also chosen by people to prepare for the ceremony to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven.

Many other offerings are chosen by people to prepare for the ceremony to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven.

Fruit stalls are crowded with buyers. Some popular fruits include: grapefruit, orange, dragon fruit, mango with an average selling price of 45,000 VND/kg; watermelon 20,000 VND/kg; Thai custard apple 70,000 VND/kg; pomegranate 60,000 VND/kg…

People choose to buy fruit for the offering tray on December 23.

Fresh flowers attract buyers, especially chrysanthemums which are chosen by many people, with prices ranging from 20 - 50,000 VND/bunch.

Fruit prices remain unchanged compared to normal days.

Ms. Nguyen Van Ba, a fruit vendor in Gia Nghia City, said: “ The price of fruit remains basically the same as before, only a few types of fruit have increased slightly. To serve people buying for the holidays, we have imported many types of fruit and in larger quantities than usual.”