The Buzzing Snakehead Street
The God of Wealth Festival (on the 10th day of the first lunar month) is a special occasion when Vietnamese people often buy grilled snakehead fish to pray for good fortune and prosperity. At the “grilled snakehead street” on Tan Ky Tan Quy (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City), the atmosphere has been lively since the evening of the 9th day of the first lunar month.
The bustling scene at Tan Ky Tan Quy’s grilled snakehead street on the evening of the 9th day.
A Rushed Atmosphere on the Snakehead Street
Since noon on the 9th day of the first lunar month, shops along this street have been busy preparing for the important festival. Red-hot charcoal grills continuously operate, filling the area with smoke. Staff members are busy cleaning the fish, skewering them on sugarcane sticks for grilling, and sorting out herbs and rice noodles into small bags for customers.
Staff members prepare snakehead fish before the peak hours.
The snakehead fish is sourced from the Binh Dien wholesale market (Binh Chanh District). After being cleaned, the fish weighing between 1-2 kg are skewered on sugarcane sticks for grilling. This method not only enhances the sweetness of the fish but also prevents the skewers from burning during cooking.
Reduced Demand but Still Thriving
According to Mr. Le Van Hung, owner of a grilled snakehead shop here, his family plans to grill around 200-250 kg of fish this year, which is less than in previous years. The reason given by Mr. Hung is the slight decline in consumer demand and the increase in the price of fish imports.
“This year, we are concerned that grilling too much might lead to excess inventory, so we decided to import fewer fish to ensure product quality,” Mr. Hung said.
Grilled snakehead displayed neatly, ready to serve customer needs.
Mr. Nguyen Trung, owner of another large snakehead shop on the street, also mentioned that his shop imported about 1,500 snakehead fish (around 2.5 tons) this year. Although the quantity is lower compared to previous years, he remains confident that the demand from consumers will be sufficient to maintain stable revenue.
Grilled Snakehead – A Traditional Dish for the God of Wealth Festival
Grilled snakehead fish is sold here at prices ranging from 200,000 to 220,000 VND per fish, depending on size, and includes all herbs, dipping sauce, and a package of rice noodles. Each batch takes approximately 35-40 minutes to grill. Once done, the burnt scales are removed, and the fish is reheated with added spring onions before being carefully wrapped in aluminum foil to keep it warm.
Grilled snakehead wrapped carefully to serve customers.
Ms. Lai Thi Lieu (Binh Chanh District) shared, “This year, my family only bought one grilled snakehead fish to offer tomorrow morning. I am afraid there will be too many people buying, causing congestion, so I came to buy today.” This sentiment is common among many residents, contributing to the early hustle and bustle in this area.
Conclusion
The God of Wealth Festival is not only a time for people to pray for good fortune and prosperity but also an opportunity for snakehead street vendors to thrive. Despite a slight decrease in demand this year, the atmosphere at the “grilled snakehead street” Tan Ky Tan Quy remains vibrant. Visit to enjoy this meaningful traditional dish and experience the unique atmosphere of this special festival.
Source: Dan Tri
