In previous years, the prices always went up right after Tet when not many suppliers resumed the supply after long holidays. However, the situation is quite different this year. While the supplies remain profuse, the demand is low as consumers have been tightening their purse strings after they spent a lot of money on Tet already.
The prices of foodstuff like shrimp, crabs, fish, pork, and beef have all seen slight decreases over pre-Tet days. Meanwhile, the chicken prices remain at very high levels and have been forecasted to see further price increases in the near future.
A kilogram of black tiger shrimp is selling at between VND 280,000-300,000/kg, down by VND 3,000/kg over the pre-Tet week, but this represents the 30 per cent increase in comparison with the same period of 2008. Black carp fish is selling at between VND 120,000-125,000/kg, down by VND 5,000/kg, while the best quality pork is selling at VND 120,000/kg, down by VND 8,000/kg.
Other foodstuffs have also seen prices decrease. Beef, for example, has seen the decrease of between VND 5,000-10,000/kg.
Tet Brings Slippery Fish Prices
VIET NAM - The prices of most of food in Hanoi have been decreasing, except chicken and some kinds of seafood.
