Popular items in high demand during pest-killing festival 2025

Tết Đoan Ngọ, also known as the "Pest Killing Festival" or "Mid-year Festival", is a traditional Vietnamese holiday that takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month each year.

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It marks a seasonal transition period when the weather becomes hotter and pests multiply, so people traditionally perform rituals and eat certain foods to "kill the pests" and protect health and crops.

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The festival that is observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and falls on May 31 this year is not linked to a specific deity but has spiritual significance. It's a time for purification, health protection, and agricultural wisdom.

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People offer sacrifices to ancestors and deities, with common offerings including ash cakes, fruits, and incense.

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Fermented sticky rice (rượu nếp) is a signature dish that costs around VND25,000 (approx. US$1) a portion.

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The first fruits of the season, like plums, lychees, and mangoes, are considered lucky and associated with good health.

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Boiled chicken for offerings is also in high demand on this day.

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Jasmine is also much sought after by many people for offering on the thanksgiving altar, as the flower symbolizes purity and good fortune, and is regarded as an emblem of gratitude.

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“As in previous years, on the ‘Pest-Killing Festival’ day, the quantity of goods sold is usually ten times higher than on regular days, so our family gets up at around 4–5 A.M. to prepare and serve local customers,” says Ms. Le Anh Tuyet, a vendor at Nghia Tan wet market in Cau Giay district.

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On this day, the offering tray would be incomplete without lotus. According to Vietnamese beliefs, the lotus is a flower that possesses both beauty and fragrance. Its pure and elegant scent symbolises nobility, purity, and virtue. The flower is believed to bring good fortune and success.

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For those who don't have time to prepare offerings, many wet markets offer ready-made trays of flowers and fruits, typically costing between VND150,000 and 300,000, depending on the customer’s preferences.

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The festival which has been passed down from generation to generation is not only an occasion to give thanks to the deities but also a meaningful moment to offer incense to ancestors and remember one's roots. This tradition embodies the cultural beauty of Vietnam and deserves to be preserved and promoted for future generations.

Popular items in high demand during pest-killing festival 2025

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