The God of Wealth Day (the 10th day of the first lunar month) is a special occasion in Vietnam when people often buy grilled snakehead fish for offerings to pray for luck and prosperity. On “Grilled Snakehead Fish Street” on Tan Ky Tan Quy Street (Tan Phu District, HCMC), the atmosphere has been lively since the afternoon of the 9th day of the first lunar month.
Bustling Atmosphere on Grilled Snakehead Fish Street
Since noon on the 9th day of the first lunar month, grilled snakehead fish shops here have been in full swing preparing for the important holiday. Charcoal grills are constantly burning, emitting thick smoke throughout the area. Staff are busy cleaning fish, skewering sugarcane stalks through them for grilling, and sorting herbs and vermicelli into small bags for customers.
Snakehead fish are imported from Binh Dien wholesale market (Binh Chanh district). After cleaning, fish weighing 1-2kg each are skewered with sugarcane stalks for grilling. This method not only enhances the sweetness of the fish but also prevents the skewers from burning during preparation.
Slightly Decreased Sales, Yet Still Bustling
According to Mr. Le Van Hung, owner of a grilled snakehead fish shop here, his family expects to grill about 200-250kg of fish this year, less than in previous years. He attributed this to a slight decrease in consumer purchasing power and a slight increase in fish import prices.
“This year, we are concerned that grilling too much might lead to unsold inventory, so we decided to import a smaller quantity to ensure product quality,” Mr. Hung stated.
Mr. Nguyen Trung, owner of another large fish shop on the street, also mentioned that his store imported about 1,500 snakehead fish (about 2.5 tons) this year. Although the quantity is reduced compared to previous years, he remains confident that consumer demand will still be sufficient to ensure stable revenue.
Grilled Snakehead Fish – A Traditional Dish for God of Wealth Day
Grilled snakehead fish here are sold for 200,000-220,000 VND/fish depending on size, including fresh herbs, dipping sauce, and a pack of vermicelli. Each batch of fish is grilled for about 35-40 minutes. After grilling, the burnt scales are scraped off, then the fish is reheated and topped with scallion oil before being carefully wrapped in foil to retain warmth.
Ms. Lai Thi Lieu (Binh Chanh district) shared: “This year, my family only bought one grilled snakehead fish for offerings tomorrow morning. I’m afraid it will be crowded tomorrow, so I went to buy it today.” This is also the common sentiment among many residents, contributing to the early hustle and bustle in the area.
Conclusion
God of Wealth Day is not only an occasion for people to pray for luck and prosperity but also an opportunity for grilled snakehead fish vendors to thrive. Although purchasing power shows a slight decrease this year, the atmosphere on “Grilled Snakehead Fish Street” Tan Ky Tan Quy remains incredibly vibrant. Visit to enjoy this meaningful traditional dish and experience the unique atmosphere of the special holiday.
Reference: Dân trí
