Hanoi residents are excitedly shopping and looking forward to the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024.

Hanoi residents are excitedly shopping and looking forward to the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024.

In the final hours of the Year of the Rabbit, markets of all sizes in Hanoi were bustling with people shopping for Tet (Lunar New Year) from early morning.

At Hang Be Market (Hoan Kiem District), a large crowd of people flocked to buy offerings and food to prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony on New Year's Eve.

Shippers are working at full capacity to deliver orders to customers.

Street vendors selling coriander leaves are in high demand. Everyone wants to buy coriander to use in cooking, so that the distinctive aroma of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) fills their homes.

With a wide variety of ready-made dishes on display, housewives have plenty of options to choose from for their New Year's Eve feast.

Sticky rice cakes (Bánh chưng) and braised fish (cá kho) – familiar dishes during Tet – were the most popular purchases.

People also flock to buy various kinds of fruits to prepare for arranging the five-fruit offering tray on the altar - a familiar custom of the Vietnamese people during the traditional Lunar New Year.

"Every year, I make sure to go to the market on the morning of the 30th of Tet to buy fruit to offer as incense for the three days of Tet and New Year's Eve. Going to the market on the days leading up to Tet is not just for shopping, but also to feel the moment when the New Year's Eve is approaching. This is a very unique feeling that I can't experience on any other day," a customer shared.

These unique and visually appealing fruits attract buyers.

On the 30th day of the Lunar New Year, many people buy peach blossoms to decorate their homes.

The vibrant red of peach blossoms at Hang Luoc flower market (Hoan Kiem district) creates a lively spring scene.

Small peach blossom branches, priced at 100,000 - 200,000 VND per branch, are often chosen by people to display on their altars during Tet (Lunar New Year).

"This year's weather has been erratic, not lasting as long as in previous years, so the peach blossoms bloomed early, causing prices to drop sharply. However, many people in Hanoi still like to display peach blossoms because when talking about Tet in Northern Vietnam, you can't help but mention peach blossoms," said a peach blossom seller.

Colorful decorative items are also in high demand.

A traditional candied fruit and jam shop on Hang Duong Street was packed with customers.

After the shopping spree, people are rushing to bring the Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts home, waiting for the moment the New Year's Eve countdown begins, and the Year of the Dragon is about to arrive.

Source: https://vtc.vn/nguoi-ha-noi-no-nuc-mua-sam-cho-don-tet-giap-thin-2024-ar852359.html