Heo quay giá 400.000 đồng/kg, cá nướng 250.000 đồng/con được ưa chuộng trong dịp cúng Thần Tài

From early in the morning of the day of Thần Tài (10th of the first lunar month), people were bustling in and out of the two roast pork stores at the Bong Bridge area, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Roast pork is one of the popular offerings on the altar for Thần Tài worship.

Mr. Son, the owner of a roast pork store at Bong Bridge, said the store had prepared a large amount of finished meat to supply for this occasion. The prices of the products are relatively stable compared to normal days, with roast pork pieces (bacon or thigh) being sold for 400,000 VND/kg, and whole roast pigs varying in price depending on weight.

From the early morning, many customers came to buy, but Mr. Son estimated that the number of customers was not as high as last year, decreasing by about 20%, attributed to the difficult economy and tighter household budgets.

A whole roast pig weighing about 2.5kg is sold at this store for 1.9 million VND, a 3.5kg pig costs 2.1 million VND, and pigs over 4.5kg are priced from 430,000 VND/kg. Mr. Dat mentioned that several dozen roast pigs had been ordered and sold, but small suckling pigs were more preferred.

The price of roast pork pieces ranging from 200,000-300,000 VND/kg is also sold at many small local markets. Mrs. Hong, the owner of a pig slaughterhouse at Do Đạc Market (Thu Duc City), does not usually sell roast pork, but starting from the 8th day of Tet, she put up a sign to inform customers about this product.

Every day, she roasts about 10kg of meat early in the morning so that customers know that the product is available and can place orders early. She had received orders for about 20kg before the day of Thần Tài, and today (the actual day of worship), the slaughterhouse was preparing about 50kg.

Many roast pork stalls at Ba Chieu Market, Binh Thanh District, also saw crowds early in the morning. The price of roast pork belly ranged from 250,000 VND/kg to 200,000 VND/kg for thigh meat.

Mrs. Lien, a stall owner, skillfully chopped meat for customers waiting in line and said she had been selling since yesterday with several hundred kilograms of cooked meat. Today, she prepared over a ton of goods and had sold almost all of it, even though it was only 6 a.m.

Mrs. Lien mentioned that she had sold several hundred kilograms of cooked meat since yesterday, and today she was preparing over a ton of goods and had sold almost all of it. Meanwhile, in Phan Van Tri Street, Ward 7, District 5, the price of roast pork this year ranged from 380,000-400,000 VND/kg.

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, a staff member at a roast duck restaurant, said that the restaurant had started preparations since 4 a.m. with 2,500 ducks being prepared for Thần Tài day.

Along with roast pork, snakehead fish is also a popular offering on the altar for Thần Tài worship.

At traditional markets, live whole snakehead fish is priced around 80,000-100,000 VND/kg, depending on size. Many sellers mentioned that the prices are stable compared to normal days, as snakehead fish is a common dish and the supply from the Mekong Delta is abundant.

The grilled snakehead fish market at Tan Ky Tan Quy (Tan Phu District) has been bustling for the past few days. The price per fish ranges from 200,000-250,000 VND/piece, including dipping sauce, vegetables, and rice paper, which is favored by customers, who line up early to buy.

At Ba Chieu Market (Binh Thanh District), grilled snakehead fish is also sold at various small stalls. The prices range from 80,000-150,000 VND/piece for weights ranging from 700 grams to 1.5kg.

Grilled snakehead fish for worship is particularly unique as it is not processed, with scales and intestines intact, tail and fins uncut. The preparer simply inserts a sugarcane stick into the fish’s mouth, keeps the body straight, and grills without marinating.